Confused! vagina atrophy= estrogen ring minus the patch?

Hi, I am so confused. I have read and researched this vaginal ring and it sounds fine and all for vagina atrophy, but what about the vivelle dot. patch I take?? I am happy with the patch and my progesterone cream, just have a problem with the atrophy, well you know the symptoms, but wondered why my practioner said to quit the patch if I am going to use the ring? I thought it was in addition to the patch?..it's low dose but Im not sure of other benefits it has for the body, its so new. I dont want to use the moisturizing stuff all the time, what a waste of money it seems just to get relief for a day or two..anyone know what's the best way to go with this, the perscription is waiting for me at the drugstore, but I'm not ready to take my patch off till I know for sure..thanks and hope someone can tell me something?..Hugs to you all, annie

I use the e-string and also use a compounded gel with est. prog & test. It is my understanding that the estrogen from the e-string is very minimul and basically gives estrogen to the vaginal area only. It can be left in place for 3 months and then a new one inserted. It has made a hugh difference in the way my vaginal area feels. I intend to use the e-string as long as necessary to keep the area feeling healthy. If you have vaginal atrophy, I am not sure why you would only want to use a product every couple days for moisture.

I also think that you should ask your Dr. these questions just to give yourself peace of mind with using the e-string. I have no ideaa why he/she would have you stop the patch while using the e-string. I'd like to hear what his thinking is on thaat question.

Yes, your doctor's plan would mean a significant drop in your estrogen levels. The ring releases about 2 mg. of estrogen across 90 days.

Here's the news release from the manufacturer describing the product:

http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/80de.htm

You could print that out and ask your doctor about why he thinks your total dose should be so much lower. My understanding is that the idea of the ring is that very little estrogen gets into the blood stream that way but a lot of benefit happens vaginally.



Let us know what he says.

Well you have just cleared up what I "thought" to be true in the first place. I don't know why or where the doc got the idea that the ring would be sufficient enough and to do away with the patch. I asked her before I posted this and she just said it would be too much estrogen with the both, and that the ring will get in the blood stream and it will be enough. For a second there I thought I might be able to lower the cost of all these hormone replacements I am going to send her the information article you sent Trish, thanks so much, and nffries too for your help. Whenever I see or talk to the doc again, I will find out more on how she was thinking and where she got the information from. You want to know the funny part? she (the doc) is using the estring herself..
thanks again, Annie
Have a good 4th of July!

Annie,

I just did a search on Estring and found your early July post. I'm curious what your doctor and you ended up doing.

I have been on estring and Climara .1 mg since early April. I am concerned about "double" dosing the two estrogens, but have been told that the estring was only affecting my vaginal tissue, not getting into my whole body system. I would think the climara because it is systemic, would help with the vaginal tissues, although my MD said that it might take a few rounds of estring to get the vaginal tissues healthy again.

I, too, love my patch and would do battle if I had to give it up now after going without any hormones for 9 months. And I noticed when I tried to go a few weeks without estring after my first 3 months was over that I started to get the old twinges of pain from the vaginal atrophy, so I did get the estring rx refilled last week and re-inserted it and was feeling better by Saturday (yesterday).

Anyway, just curious, what you ended up deciding to do.

Theresa