Hi Maggiecttr, I use Estrace Vaginal Cream for Vaginal Atrophy. Symptoms are dryness, burning and itching on outside and painful intercourse. My life was miserable before starting this medication. The Vagifem worked but not as well as Estrace. I use about 1gm everyother day inserted into the vagina. I was told that by inserting medication into the vagina, it doesn't cross the blood stream like HRT oral pills do. It is a lot less harmful than HRT but yes it is still estrogen.

I am so glad this discussion is on here! I am 52, and was just told to go off the combo pill in August, after being on it nearly continuously since 17 when I picked it up in college. My blood pressure had started to go up last year, so we figured this was the cause. I had never had high blood pressure before - usually the opposite. I tried reducing salt and increasing exercise for a bit, but it had little impact. So, I was recommended going off or switching to the mini-pill progesterone-only. The first two weeks were fine, then I had a couple of weeks of constant overheating(no 'flashes', just constant hot). I read about how sometimes when you go off the combo pill, your insulin levels can be weird as your other systems take over estrogen and general thermostat regulation, so I cut out all the high spiky insulin foods(think sugar and white rice along with the rest of the online lists of foods to avoid) and reduced some caffeine, and the heat problem turned off completely. Now it has been three months of progesterone only, and I can see my skin aging, and hair growth slowing. I had been having a lot of brain-fog issues the past few years, and those have not changed, sadly. It's very annoying, and I hope that part at least sorts itself out by 60. Bonus and unexpected - my internal base stress level has gone down. It's just easier to cope. I have added rice and sugar back with no problems, and overheating is completely gone. I am sleeping better, although now I have weird little dreams, when I have never been one to remember dreams much at all. I do not have more energy, and some of my hand strength is just gone. Also, mentally, I find I am more detached from things and people, but not in a depressed or destructive way. More the feeling of having a choice about being involved or not, rather than having an immediate reaction (like wanting to scream at the grocery clerk that eye-rolled when asking a valid question). Hoping I am just done, but it's too soon to tell. I get mild cramping with no period, and some spotting during the week I would have normally had one in the '4th week off' time. But it's too soon to write off periods altogether. I am hoping most of the worst of it was masked during the past 5 years. But...I do have female relatives that didn't hit menopause until 56-65. One would have thought with half the planet going through this in their lives that there would be more medical study and progress on this in the last 50 years, but apparently no. lol I think starting a better workout routine and nutrition plan is next on the agenda. Wondering how much of my personality and priority-setting is hormone related. Will be interesting to see who I become now. Maybe my ten year old self has a chance again. :) She was fun.

Deb, I can't thank you enough for this post. And yes, I want to help and participate. And I agree, women need to help other women, cause the doctors stink at this. You and I must be twins!! Here's my story and my present quest, I hope this helps. I fell apart in 1999 during perimeno, I was 42 1/2. Tried everything I could think of from birth control pills to bioidentical hormones. Side effects were simply horrible, So I white knuckled it back to my home grown hormones. Fast forward to 2008. Periods had been slowing down, coming in further and further apart. Last menus was June 2008. By that fall, I was in GPs office complaining about severe low back pain, sciatica, frozen shoulder and wrist pain. Did MRI in January 2009, hoping for some answers. Best that could be offered, was oesto arthritis. Told to take ibuprofen. This quickly went into chronic muscle and ligament pain, wide spread throughout my body. It was so bad, I couldn't spoon with my husband for 10 minutes, my hips hurt too bad. I went to every specialist, alternative therapy, chiropractor, physical therapy, or medical specialist available. Problem is, I don't fit into any of their boxes. I also, do not have any inflammatory markers. Fast forward again, to August 2014. I was given vaginal Estrace for vaginal atrophy and dryness. Could not take the 1 g prescribed without getting severe head rushes. Used less, about 1/2 g, as I wanted to restore moisture. Some lovely side effects, my nails and hair grew and were wonderful. The nodules on the sides of my fingers went away, unbelievable! Slept much better. And here's the BEST part..........ALL MUSCLE AND LIGAMENT PAIN VANISHED. Now hold on, because there was a down side. Within three weeks, my scalp started itching horribly, and then my hair started falling out all over my head. Had to stop the vaginal Estrace (estradiol). Nodules are back on my fingers and I am fatigued. Muscles are starting to slightly hurt. At least for me, I know there is a connection. But my problem is how to get the estrogen in, without brain dizziness and head surges. I will be happy to give you labs, treatments I have tried and anything you need to start your spreadsheet. Thank you from every woman suffering with the pain of menopause.

Yes chisue,that is exactly what I am saying...however,keep in mind,I was in my 30's..not sure if that would make that much of a difference,but I had PMS and menopause on my side..hard to believe,but I went thru the both of them at the same time--for years..and the thinning vaginal walls was a real problem..the really good thing about that time was that the Old Lad(ex husband now) worked away for months at a time my gyno put me on that stuff..it worked..and I never had or have had any cancer scares or issues regarding the hormonal treatments I have had to have..good luck!