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Vaginal atrophy and painful intercourse: What helps?
Women's Health | Last Active: 3 days ago | Replies (146)Comment receiving replies
This thread is very interesting. I read the entire thing as I started using Estradiol twice a week a few months ago, I didn’t think I needed it, because I had not noticed any vaginal dryness or irritation. I hadn’t had a yeast infection nor UTI in years! But, I requested it from my primary after watching several you tube videos with women Urologists! I was blown away by what these dictors said. Basically, they said bladder problems in post menopausal women is a huge issue due to vaginal atrophy/loss of estrogen. They promote local estrogen in almost all cases and even say they can’t imagine any cases where it’s not advisable. I’ll have to find the link, if it’s allowed. Anyway, I don’t know if that is true. But, it got my butt in gear to address it before I encountered problems, like my mom who has huge incontinence and irritation issues.
I saw the difference pretty fast. It’s like the old me is back! I am so glad I found it and ticked off no doctor ever suggested it to me! Why? I now feel very sexy and feel aroused a lot of the time.
I also got my dilator kit on my own, I actually already had a vibrator the size of the next to largest size dilator and so I went straight to the largest the second day and maintain with that one. I prefer the hard surface type as they are easier to clean and smoother on the skin. Personal preference I guess.
My last intimate relationship was a few years ago and I want to fix that soon. That’s a major goal for me and I want to be ready. Any tips? I’ve checked it out myself and have practiced self care all of my life, when not with a partner, so I’ve had almost daily orgasms for years. Even since menopause. I’m still apprehensive. I’ve considered seeing a PT person for pelvic floor evaluation. I’ve gotten annual pelvic exams and PAP tests, but I don’t think they check on what I need checked. Lol Has anyone gone in specifically for that reason? I just want to make sure I’m ready. Is the dilator a good indication of accommodation?
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@celia16 I'd like to validate every thing you are doing to maintain function. Like you, I used estradiol twice a week and I will tell you it really helped. Several years after I began using estradiol I learned from a nurse educator at the Minnesota Mayo Menopause and Women's Sexual Health Clinic that it wasn't necessary to plunge all the cream all the way up the vagina. That's messy and not needed. Instead, I applied a smaller amount the opening and about the lower 1/3 of the vagina and that worked very well. I also saw a pelvic floor physical therapist and followed up with the exercises at home. This also helped as I incorporated those exercises into my yoga practice.
Unfortunately I can no longer use estradiol because I had endometrial cancer 4 years ago. I was advised by my doctors not to use it anymore. I now use HyaloGyn which is an over the counter vaginal lubricant. It can only be purchased through the website. It works but not nearly as well as the estradiol.
Hyalo Gyn
-- https://hyalogyn.com/
I've used a vaginal dilator as I had vaginal brachytherapy for the endometrial cancer. The dilator worked very well however that type of radiation therapy shortens the vagina and there is scar tissue at the site of brachytherapy so sexual intercourse is painful for me. That's a huge disappointment however there are many other ways to be together and have orgasms. So that's what we do. I should add that we always use a lubricant and there are many over the counter choices for that.
I was told by the nurse educator I saw at Mayo Clinic that vaginal health is important whether or not you are sexually active. Since we, as women, will. have pelvic exams for a variety of reasons over the years these measures will make us more comfortable and provide a good "view" for the medical provider.