What is Ovesse and how do I use it?

Ovesse, a brand of vaginal oestriol, is a topical cream that you can apply to your vagina. It is used to treat vaginal dryness, soreness and itching, and is available for some women without a prescription in the UK.

How does Ovesse work?

Ovesse contains oestriol, which is a type of oestrogen made naturally in your ovaries. The hormone oestrogen keeps your vagina healthy by acting as a natural lubricant. When levels of oestriol decline in perimenopause and menopause, the tissue lining your vagina can thin and become drier, which can cause symptoms such as itching, burning and soreness, and lead to painful sex.

When you apply Ovesse, the oestriol is released where it is needed most, helping to relieve soreness and irritation.

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When and how do I use Ovesse?

Ovesse cream is applied directly to your vagina using a reusable applicator but some women apply it without using the applicator. Fill the applicator up to the red ring mark with Ovesse, then apply as you would a tampon. A good time to do this often is before going to bed.

For the first two weeks, you apply it once a day. After that, you can usually move to a maintenance dose of one application twice a week, leaving three or four days between each dose.

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What doses does Ovesse come in?

Ovesse contains 1mg of oestriol per 1g of cream.

What are the benefits?

Ovesse is the only vaginal oestriol cream that’s available to some women to buy over the counter in pharmacies in the UK without a prescription (you can also buy it online), which makes it convenient for those women who it’s deemed suitable for.

By replacing lost oestriol, symptoms should begin to resolve – it can take up to a few months – natural elasticity and moisture are restored.

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Who is Ovesse suitable for?

Ovesse can be bought by women aged 50 and above who have not had a period for at least a year.

As Ovesse is available over the counter, the pharmacist will need to ask you a few questions from a checklist to make sure that it’s suitable for you under the criteria they use for it to be bought over the counter. You can expect to be asked about your symptoms, your age, how long it has been since your last period and if you are taking any other medications. If you would rather not answer these questions at the counter, you can ask to speak with the pharmacist in their consultation room.

Some women may still need a prescription of this preparation from a healthcare professional. This includes women who have had breast, endometrial or ovarian cancer, blood clots, heart disease, liver disease or stroke. Also, younger women will need a prescription.

Ovesse can be used in addition to HRT patches, gels, sprays or tablets and testosterone or it can be used on its own.

Can I expect any side effects?

Like all medicines, Ovesse can cause some side effects – but not everyone is affected. At first you may notice some irritation and discharge, but this usually settles. Speak to your healthcare professional if you experience side effects.

If your symptoms do not improve or worsen then you should see your doctor.

Resources

Ovesse

EMC: Ovesse

NHS: About vaginal oestrogen