Vaginal Estrogen?

Vaginal Estrogen?? For bladder and vaginal health??

Never heard about it!! Please give me some info !!

Why is it necesary?? What happens to bladder and vagina???

It is heartbreaking how often this issue is overlooked by doctors.

The vaginal and urethra/bladder tissues are loaded with estrogen- responsive cells. Estrogen increases blood flow and maintains thickness and elasticity (think cushion-y). It keeps the vagina moist and able to lubricate.

Lack of estrogen in the vagina, vulva and urethra can cause Urogenital Atrophy. It is also called Vaginal Atrophy or Atrophic Vaginitis, but these terms exclude the effect on the urinary tract.

Symptoms may include:

Vaginal dryness
Vaginal and genital pain
Narrowed vaginal opening
External and internal irritation
Itching, severe burning, discharge
Vaginal tissue more easily damaged: thinner and dryer, sores on the vaginal walls can occur
Some women develop fear of pelvic examinations
Changes in pH and mucous can lead to more yeast infections
Painful intercourse
Decreased sex drive
Decreased responsiveness (lowered sensitivity to stimulation)
More difficulty achieving orgasm

The bladder and urethra are also affected:
Increased urinary tract infections
Painful urination,
Increased urinary frequency
Incontinence

Estrogen can be applied directly to the vaginal tissue in cream, suppository, or inserted ring. It acts directly on the tissue and only a tiny bit gets into the general circulation.
Oral or patch estrogen also helps. One, the other, or both forms may be helpful. The presence of estrogen can reverse these changes to a great extent.


Check out:
http://organizedwisdom.com/Atrophic_Vaginitis

Wow thanks for the fast response!!

Sorry for my ignorance!!

I have one last question, If I am taking oral estrogen do I need vaginal too ??

Its interesting I had alot of those symptoms my first year after the Tah/Bso but have gotten better over the years is it due to the HRT??

Hi!

Not everyone needs vaginal estrogen. If your systemic estrogen dose is sufficient for all estrogen-related symptoms other than vaginal dryness/atrophy, it makes sense to use vaginal estrogen in addition to the systemic estrogen. That's what I do. Too much systemic estrogen has undesirable symptoms so it makes sense not to increase the systemic and use a local, low-dose estrogen vaginally. There's information about vaginal estrogen options in this link: Vaginal Dryness.

s

No need for apologies! It's not discussed enough. I agree with April Dawn about systemic/vaginal: one, the other, or both, (or none) depending on what works for a woman.
The body does adjust to hormone changes, maybe partly why your symptoms got better and why estrogen replacement is considered transitional. But the vaginal form might be safe for longer term treatment : )

I am on both systemic (Climara patch) and vaginal (Vagifem) estrogen. The patch really didn't help my vaginal dryness at all--the vaginal does that quite well.

I am so thrilled with this website!!

I have learned so much in the past weeks, then with my gyno the past years , sad to say!!