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Vaginal atrophy and painful intercourse: What helps?

Women's Health | Last Active: 2 days ago | Replies (146)

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@naturegirl5

@marjou I agree with you that vaginal atrophy is not addressed in the medical community. I was told in radiation oncology to use a vaginal moisturizer because of the radiation therapy. I also use a dilator a minimum of twice a week as this keeps the tissue healthier because the radiation therapy both scars and shrinks tissue. The main reason for doing this in oncology is to make sure the vagina can be easily viewed during exams. There are apparently women who do not do this after gynecological radiation therapy and then tissue at the top 1/3 of the vagina becomes constricted.

With all that said the nurse practitioner in the Menopause and Women's Sexual Health Clinic at Mayo told me that all women, sexually active or not, should use vaginal moisturizers to prevent vaginal atrophy. This allows the woman to feel more comfortable because sometimes vaginal atrophy can cause pain and discomfort. She compared it to moisturizer any part of your body. She asked me if I apply moisturizer to my face? I answered, yes (of course I do). So now I moisturize inside and out.

Do you think you might like to try this @marjou? If yes, I can post some links to products that were recommended to me and tell more about what I like to use (This post is already too long!).

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Replies to "@marjou I agree with you that vaginal atrophy is not addressed in the medical community. I..."

Hi, I am new to this group and will be finishing chemo soon and will be having radiology in about a month. I also saw a note in my files that I had vaginal atrophy. but no one talked to me about it and I have been too sick from the chemo side effects to research. @Helen, can I ask you to share the products you mentioned in you post? Thank you so much,
Sue

Yes pls forward links. Much appreciate.

After deciding not to use estrogen cream and being in pain from splits in the labia, I went to a GYN that recommended organic coconut oil applied externally only. I have used that for years now and no longer have discomfort. At all. However, I have not had sexual intercourse for many years so I can’t speak to that. I am 76. I had a vaginal hysterectomy at 42 and never could have intercourse again due to the pain. No doctors had an answer for me at the time so I gave up. The last doctor shrugged and said, “use it or lose it.” Ugh.

I would love those links!

I am very interested in a vaginal moisturiser.
I am in a high risk category for cancer in females thank-you

I’d love to have those links too. Thanks!