Vagirux

I’ve had Vagirux pessaries (2 a week) for about 6 months - prescribed after almost 9 months of endless UTIs / antibiotics.. So far, so good! No UTIs, no obvious side effects. I’m 75.

If by 'taking their natural course' means your 'bits' gradually get more and more dry and cracked, more and more UTIs and possibly unbearable itching, which is the result of lack of oestrogen, then surely using a cream or pessary is a very small price to pay? It is perfectly safe, no side effects?

I have vagifem and have found that a great help.

kittylester

I have vagifem and have found that a great help.

Used Vagifem got fed up of inserting it with a very vagina unfriendly applicator so stopped that.

I use Gina and its been transformational because I am no longer itchy and sore. Inserter is not a problem.

B9exchange

If by 'taking their natural course' means your 'bits' gradually get more and more dry and cracked, more and more UTIs and possibly unbearable itching, which is the result of lack of oestrogen, then surely using a cream or pessary is a very small price to pay? It is perfectly safe, no side effects?

My bits are not dried up and cracked as you put it. Ive been post meno since 52 and I assure you Im fine in that part of my anatomy. So yes my natural course seems to be okay for the minute.

LucyAnna

I’ve had Vagirux pessaries (2 a week) for about 6 months - prescribed after almost 9 months of endless UTIs / antibiotics.. So far, so good! No UTIs, no obvious side effects. I’m 75.

Thank you your post is encouraging but I really cannot be bothered shoving those things in twice a week. I had utis even when on vagifem. Having a cystoscopy on 12 th Jan perhaps I will find out then if the bladder lining is harbouring bacteria because I believe it can.

Fethiye53

LucyAnna

I’ve had Vagirux pessaries (2 a week) for about 6 months - prescribed after almost 9 months of endless UTIs / antibiotics.. So far, so good! No UTIs, no obvious side effects. I’m 75.

Thank you your post is encouraging but I really cannot be bothered shoving those things in twice a week. I had utis even when on vagifem. Having a cystoscopy on 12 th Jan perhaps I will find out then if the bladder lining is harbouring bacteria because I believe it can.

It takes all of 30 seconds!

greenlady102

Fethiye53

LucyAnna

I’ve had Vagirux pessaries (2 a week) for about 6 months - prescribed after almost 9 months of endless UTIs / antibiotics.. So far, so good! No UTIs, no obvious side effects. I’m 75.

Thank you your post is encouraging but I really cannot be bothered shoving those things in twice a week. I had utis even when on vagifem. Having a cystoscopy on 12 th Jan perhaps I will find out then if the bladder lining is harbouring bacteria because I believe it can.

It takes all of 30 seconds!

PS it won't turn you into a raging sex fiend either

I have used first vagifem but now prescription has changed to Vagirux, both do the job. It takes seconds twice a week - wouldn't be without it!

greenlady102

greenlady102

Fethiye53

LucyAnna

I’ve had Vagirux pessaries (2 a week) for about 6 months - prescribed after almost 9 months of endless UTIs / antibiotics.. So far, so good! No UTIs, no obvious side effects. I’m 75.

Thank you your post is encouraging but I really cannot be bothered shoving those things in twice a week. I had utis even when on vagifem. Having a cystoscopy on 12 th Jan perhaps I will find out then if the bladder lining is harbouring bacteria because I believe it can.

It takes all of 30 seconds!

PS it won't turn you into a raging sex fiend either

Oh, that’s disappointing

I use Estradiol also inserted twice a week and no more irritation and dry discomfort. Very happy with it.

I use pessaries twice weekly. It’s helped with dry discomfort and urgency issues. It isn’t a demanding thing to do 🌞

I am also 70, and have been using these for nearly 12 months, but for pelvic prolapse, not UTIs. It took a long time for them to make a difference, but I'm much better now, so well worth the hassle for me.

chrissie13

I am also 70, and have been using these for nearly 12 months, but for pelvic prolapse, not UTIs. It took a long time for them to make a difference, but I'm much better now, so well worth the hassle for me.

My GP suddenly suggested I stop Vagirux - no idea why, probably due to cost - and my prolapse came back down again. I was furious with him, but anyway, I've managed to pull it back up again with advanced pelvic floor exercises and more Vagirux.

Vagirux has made a big difference for me. Personally I would do anything to avoid a UTI. The applicator is tiny, narrower than a pencil. You could always use some lubricant to make insertion more comfortable. Give it a try

Good luck with your procedure in January. I think there is a cream/ointment version of Vagirux, which might suit you better.

I have been using vagifem, then vagirux (changed by the GP due to cost difference I understand). I've rarely suffered from UTIs, so can't comment on that but haven't noticed any improvement in sudden urges (for a wee, not to leap on Mr GO!).
However, I have had to ask to be returned to vagifem, as due to hand problems, I was constantly dropping the little pills when attempting to load it into the applicator, and losing them into gaps in our ungrouted bathroom floor tiles, or them rolling into other inaccessible places in the bathroom. So might be something for GNers with hand arthritis to bear in mind if offered an option.

I've been on Vagifem for years - can't imagine life without it now, takes seconds to insert - no hassle. Other options:

www.nhs.uk/medicines/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/vaginal-oestrogen/how-and-when-to-use-vaginal-oestrogen/

This is magic stuff so please give it a try. I don’t have that horrible itch and no side effects.

Thanks, this is potentially a useful thread for me. I have recently had a UTI and was prescribed 3 days of AB which did nothing, so was prescribed another 5 days. Still bad so had a single killer dose of another AB. I asked the GP if I could have vagifem but she said that I had to have a scan first.
This was ok so now I have to have another go at getting the vagifem.
You have to be fit to fight for even a telephone appointment!

Having had oestrogen related breast cancer, I can't use any of these creams or pessaries and was plagued by constantly recurring UTIs. The numerous antibiotics were making me ill and I didn't know what to do until a friend who'd had the same problem while living in Italy told me what her doctor had advised. This was that e coli, the cause of the UTIs, could never be beaten but could be kept at bay by a strong vaginal immune system and that could be achieved by taking the appropriate probiotics. I now take a probiotic"for women" capsule daily and, touch wood, have been UTI free for four months whereas I had been getting an infection about every three weeks before. It certainly seems to be working for me.

Who comes up with these names 🤣!
I think the easy availability prescriptions of vagifem && && is the best thing ever . Why it wasn’t sanctioned years ago ?

Not a mention of Mist pot cit in this thread=potassium citrate mixture Available in chemists without prescription in liquid or capsule form Choose the former if you are interested. It is cheaper by far and works well for me

I promote this as it is rarely mentioned in any talk of treating UTIs in females and I found it 100% successful when younger

I am now 83 and married to an ex GP and then Hospital doctor and had suffered frequently from UTIs when I met him
He mentioned that when a house doctor on female wards in Liverpool in the 1950s he noticed that there was a huge bottle of Mist.pot.cit available and frequently used for UTIs
A dose of that showed an immediate result and the condition usually cleared up rapidly with no concerns about antibiotics or about being over - treated
When I feel a UTI attack is approaching I take a dose of Mist pot cit in water.
For me, it has worked far more effectively and more speedily than an antibiotic with far fewer worries to me about my system and side effects
I also tried cranberry juice etc but Mist pot cit beats everything else into a cocked hat AND I have had no antibiotic for a UTI in the past 50+ years