Post by susan on Aug 29, 2012 12:42:55 GMT
In anticipation of the withdrawal of the 25 mcg twice weekly maintenance dose of vagifem in December 2012, I have been looking around for viable alternatives for women who are concerned that the 2 x 10 mcg weekly maintenance dose may not work for them.
There has been no research undertaken on the multiple use of 10 mcgs vagifem pessary, according to the company's web-site, so no data available.
As ever all use of such preparations should be discussed with your own medical professional, who will decide on if they are appropriate in individual cases.
The Estring contains the same hormone as vagifem this being, estradiol and contains a continuous three month's treatment. It is a vaginal ring that is placed internally and is suitable for post menopausal women.
A staggering 47% of women between the ages of 45 and 65 report symptoms of vaginal atrophy. There are no figures readily available for the 65 plus age group but it is unlikely to be any less and likely to be many more.
When estrogen levels drop, vaginal walls become thin, fragile, and dry, the tissues lose their elasticity and their ability to naturally lubricate, making them prone to bleeding and inflammation. In some women this can cause continual discomfort. hence the need many have for topical oestrogen.
The Estring is available on the NHS by prescription and Privately, but as with many preparations individual medics have their own preferences, so it may be something that you need to make your own professional aware of if it is the preparation of interest to you.
My personal view is I think it would be worth discussing this as an option, along with other alternatives to the Vagifem 25 when the later is no longer available.
In some instances it could prove more suitable as it does not rely on remembering to take a product twice a week. However there will be a need to visit a GP four times a year to have the Estring inserted. However other women may have a resistance to something which they see as a 'permanent fixture'. on the plus side the SPC's state that whilst you need a medic to insert this, you can remove it yourself should you so wish.
It is something I will be considering, however I have been lucky enough to have a large supply of vagifem 25 due to my GP being a generous prescriber of it, so it may be sometime before it becomes an issue for me.
Rather than make a long post even longer I have decided to give the link to the Summary of Product Characteristics so that those interested can peruse them in their own time.
www.medicines.org.uk/EMC/medicine/1512/SPC/Estring/
There has been no research undertaken on the multiple use of 10 mcgs vagifem pessary, according to the company's web-site, so no data available.
As ever all use of such preparations should be discussed with your own medical professional, who will decide on if they are appropriate in individual cases.
The Estring contains the same hormone as vagifem this being, estradiol and contains a continuous three month's treatment. It is a vaginal ring that is placed internally and is suitable for post menopausal women.
A staggering 47% of women between the ages of 45 and 65 report symptoms of vaginal atrophy. There are no figures readily available for the 65 plus age group but it is unlikely to be any less and likely to be many more.
When estrogen levels drop, vaginal walls become thin, fragile, and dry, the tissues lose their elasticity and their ability to naturally lubricate, making them prone to bleeding and inflammation. In some women this can cause continual discomfort. hence the need many have for topical oestrogen.
The Estring is available on the NHS by prescription and Privately, but as with many preparations individual medics have their own preferences, so it may be something that you need to make your own professional aware of if it is the preparation of interest to you.
My personal view is I think it would be worth discussing this as an option, along with other alternatives to the Vagifem 25 when the later is no longer available.
In some instances it could prove more suitable as it does not rely on remembering to take a product twice a week. However there will be a need to visit a GP four times a year to have the Estring inserted. However other women may have a resistance to something which they see as a 'permanent fixture'. on the plus side the SPC's state that whilst you need a medic to insert this, you can remove it yourself should you so wish.
It is something I will be considering, however I have been lucky enough to have a large supply of vagifem 25 due to my GP being a generous prescriber of it, so it may be sometime before it becomes an issue for me.
Rather than make a long post even longer I have decided to give the link to the Summary of Product Characteristics so that those interested can peruse them in their own time.
www.medicines.org.uk/EMC/medicine/1512/SPC/Estring/