Hot flushes with vaginal oestrogen?

I have recently started using Ovestin estriol cream and am now using it once a week,after 2 weeks of daily usage, and it is doing a wonderful job on the vaginal/urethra tissues. I am also on the lowest estradiol patch(25).
But since using the cream weekly, I seem to be having hot flushes again. Not drastically, but as I never had them whilst just on the patch I wondered why.Could it be because of the fluctuating oestrogen levels between applications? Any views or experience of the same thing?

Hi!

I'm glad to hear that the vaginal estrogen is helping you! I wouldn't be without my Vagifem which is used for the same purpose as your cream. I never have had any systemic effects from using vaginal estrogen, but I have read that others have had that happen so I sure won't say it isn't possible!

When you were using it every day (or night) for the initial two weeks did you notice any symptoms or was it since dropping down to using it once a week that you have noticed symptoms? Hopefully someone who has experienced fluctuating levels while using a vaginal estrogen along with a systemic estrogen will come along to share her thoughts and experiences.

s

Hi Scriv,
I always get systemic results from vaginal creams and even the Vagifem. If I take Vagifem twice a week my ankles swell and I get hot at night and have to turn the fan on. The doctor said it's not common but it does happen. At first she thought it was due to the vaginal atrophy but not that I'm better I still get side effects from the vaginal creams. I even get it from the weaker one (estriol) and I really get it from Premarin.
Take care,
Trish M.

Hi both Aprils..thanks so much, that has really been helpful.
When I was using it daily for the first two weeks, I don't remember noticing symptoms, but definitely when I went down to once a week- although the weather was hot!I suppose by then the oestrogen levels had built up in the tissues enough for a drop down to be noticeable.

I am generally sensitive to meds, so why am I not surprised that I have systemic effects from this when many others don't?!I definitely do though. This week, I used the cream twice in a week and have suffered symptoms of too much oestrogen, eg painful breasts, bloating and a bit 'heady' - and flashes!
I will certainly continue using the estriol, but will go back to once a week and space it between my change of patch.

April22...I notice on a much earlier post of yours, you mention you sometimes experienced 'bladder pressure' when you felt the vaginal oestrogen cream get into your system.
What did you mean? Irritable bladder? Vaginal heaviness? The 'tampon' feeling?

Scriv,
Sometimes when I use a vaginal estrogen it starts a pubic pressure and leaking. With the new estriol cream I haven't had it lately. But, I haven't been using the applicator I've just been using just a little bit at a time. For me a little goes a long way. I think when I use the applicator I much irritate the urethra and it gets the bladder going. Of all my menopause sx the bladder has been the biggest complaint. I even had a scope as I thought something was wrong with my bladder. The scope didn't show anything but the urologist said I needed to keep the vaginal tissue healthy to help the urethra. She was right since I'm not having all the problems I used to have. I never had one bladder problem before my operation.
Trish M.

Thanks for that. It is just that I constantly worry that my feeling of sitting on something hard when I sit forward and the feeling of heaviness and pressure down there is another cystocele..I just hope it is the bladder or urethra giving me sensations like this.