Vagifem Vaginal Inserts

Vagifem is a medication that contains the female hormone oestrogen. It is given to women usually during premenopause or menopause to help reduce the symptoms of vaginal dryness, burning or itching. Vagifem is the brand name of HRT, so it acts in nearly the same way as other oestrogen medication.

Oestrogen is the main drug within Vagifem vaginal tablets, which is a natural hormone usually produced by the body. During menopause, the body does not create enough oestrogen, so Vagifem works to increase the levels of this hormone to reduce the symptoms of menopause. If you are concerned about any medications, you should consult your GP or pharmacist about the concerns you may have.

Vagifem delivers oestrogen directly to vaginal tissues to treat vaginal atrophy. The estradiol hormone in the tablet replaces oestrogen depleted during menopause or premenopause. It is absorbed into the vaginal lining, increasing blood flow, promoting cell maturation, and it restores moisture and elasticity. Mimicking natural oestrogen topically relieves vaginal dryness and discomfort from postmenopausal changes.

Vagifem is a vaginal insert tablet, meaning it must be inserted into the vagina, like a tampon. The instructions will be in the patient information leaflet, accessible online and within the packaging of the medication. Use one vaginal tablet each day for the first 2 weeks. Then use one vaginal tablet twice a week. Leave 3 or 4 days between each dose.

Vagifem should be taken by women who are in or have experienced menopause.

The following women should not take Vagifem as it could be detrimental to their health:

• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Women with vaginal bleeding
• Women with a history of certain cancers
• Women with liver disease, blood clots, stroke, or heart disease
• Smokers over 35 years old
• Women with endometriosis or uterine fibroids
• Women allergic to any ingredients in Vagifem

You should speak to your GP or pharmacist if any of these describe you, as they may need to make amendments to your prescription.

Store Vagifem out of sight and reach of children. Do not refrigerate Vagifem.

Do not use Vagifem after the expiration date printed on the carton and blister foil. The expiration date refers to the last day of that month. Properly dispose of unused Vagifem through a pharmacy or GP surgery and do not flush it down the toilet or throw it in the away in the bin

Ask your pharmacist about safe disposal of unused medication. Proper disposal helps protect the environment.

Vagifem can cause various side effects, as with most medications. Most side effects will be minimal and should go away with time, but in rare cases, they can be extreme. If you experience side effects that persist or worsen, you should contact a medical professional as soon as possible.

Common side effects of Vagifem (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

• Headache
• Stomach pain
• Vaginal bleeding, discharge or discomfort

Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• Vaginal fungal infection 
• Nausea
• Rash
• Weight gain
• Hot flashes
• High blood pressure

Very rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):

• Diarrhoea
• Fluid retention
• Acute migraine
• Severe allergic reaction (e.g. anaphylaxis)

You can buy Vagifem Tablets online through any registered pharmacy, such as e-Surgery. We aim to keep our medications and treatments as affordable as possible, as we believe everyone should have the access to the healthcare products they need.

Purchasing Vagifem tablets online does require a prescription from a licensed medical professional. E-Surgery aims to make getting the prescription easy and stress-free.

Our online consultation process is designed for simplicity. We also offer an “ask-a-pharmacist” service to provide patients with fast, free medical advice from our clinical team.

This allows patients to get answers to any questions about Vagifem and other medications we offer.

e-Surgery uses Royal Mail delivery with choices starting from Royal mail 48 tracked delivery, Royal Mail tracked 24 and Royal Mail 1 pm special delivery (discover more about e-Surgery delivery). When you order Vagifem Tablets online, they will arrive in discreet, recyclable packaging at a delivery address of your choice.