Hello everyone, I am quite frustrated with all this reddit stuff, I really need the menopause subreddit back. It’s literally my best resource for meno info and being inaccessible has caused me some grief the last few days. I’m on patches and pills but atrophy is bad so I need info about using creams vaginally, when to have sex etc.

Edit to add, I’m on .1 estradiol patch and 200mg micronized progesterone softgel. I just started a compounded estriol and testosterone vaginal cream.

Edit again to add. My most important question is, when do I have sex if I’m using a vaginal hormone cream? Most helpful thing I found is don’t use it before sex and one said 12 hours after is fine. I am confused. What do you do if you are using vaginal cream for atrophy?

  • lovelybee11@lemmy.worldOP
    7·
    1 year ago

    I should add that my doctor called in a compounded estriol and testosterone vaginal cream and just two days in, I’m having big improvement. I know compounded is like a dirty word for some, but I have to use what is accessible to me and this is all she gave me.

    • Justme@lemmy.world
      3·
      1 year ago

      I am using an estradiol cream 3 times a week but I am leaking at times, just a little but enough that I have to wear a pantiliner, I didn’t even have vaginal births and have never had this before. Why is this happening? Is this preventable and do I need an increase or something different?

      • lovelybee11@lemmy.worldOP
        2·
        1 year ago

        I’m definitely not an expert here but I think you do need more or a higher dose. Part of vaginal atrophy is bladder problems like frequency, urgency, uti, incontinence. You can put the cream (as long as it’s specifically made for vaginas) directly on the urethral opening using your finger and it should help. At least my two day experience with my cream says it will definitely help your bladder if you put it there. Best of luck. My cream also has testosterone so you could also try that.

  • catterbrained@lemmy.ml
    3·
    1 year ago

    I can relate. I feel like my menopause experience to date was recorded via my reddit account. Complete with responses from our wonderful community. If the subreddit is gone does that mean it’s all lost? I do support the move though. Just wish I’d been better prepared.

    • lovelybee11@lemmy.worldOP
      21·
      1 year ago

      I am upset really, the mods should make the subreddit read only so we have access to the information. I have questions about menopause literally every single day. I feel like it’s such a huge loss of a wealth of information and I have felt it every day since the blackout.

  • leftylibra@lemmy.worldM
    3·
    1 year ago

    The systemic estrogen (patch) should help significantly with atrophy, but it takes time…like months for some. So folks will also consider adding on localized estrogen, like Vagifem.

    It’s not that the term “compounded” is a dirty word, it certainly has its place for some things, like specifically, testosterone (since so many doctors won’t prescribe it AT ALL). But vaginally, there’s no telling what the cream mixture dosages are (even if the pharmacist tells you). So the “mixed”/compounded recipe might not be enough and there’s no way to know. Either way, results vary, you may notice improvements after a few weeks (for atrophy) and for others it can take months. But if you’re looking for libido help, then it can take months as well, and even then MHT/HRT and/or Testosterone may not work at all for some folks.

    As for how long between application and sex? The longest time between vaginal applications as possible. Obviously you may not be able to plan that, but longer is better for your partner, as transfer may occur. Otherwise, if you need something for lubrication before/during, consider using a non-hormonal option, like hyaluronic acid. Here’s a link to the various lubes, and one of them might help too.