1. < Women's Health

Vaginal Atrophy

Posted by daisysocal @daisysocal, Sep 27, 2022

Seems like vaginal atrophy is a taboo topic, yet so many women are suffering with this. I had breast cancer and was on anastrozole for 7 years. I’m not sure if my Intercourse pain is due to lack of estrogen from the estrogen blocker or from menopause or both. I have opened up about this with female acquaintances and have found there are so many women who suffer from this. It’s a subject so difficult to discuss with your husband, partner, doctors, etc. Many women have told me estrogen creams don’t work, Mona Lisa type treatments don’t help, and our sex lives are non-existent. I was a very sexual woman, wife, enjoyed sex so much. I am very active, attractive and fit at 60 years old. But quite honestly I feel almost worthless when it comes to being intimate. It’s really sad and I wish I could have normal sex again without feeling like I’m being stabbed by a knife, hiding my face crying, and swollen. In fact, I stopped having sex altogether about 2 years ago. It just really stinks.

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celia16 | @celia16 | Jan 7 10:31pm
In reply to @sbrown293 "I asked my primary care person if she would write an order for pelvic floor training...." + (show)
@sbrown293

I asked my primary care person if she would write an order for pelvic floor training. I probably went to 4 sessions and she printed out the pages of exercises with instructions and told me to continue them at home. I am scheduled to see my Gynecologist on Tuesday and I am hoping to have a discussion about why he didn’t recommend PFT. The therapist I saw said he probably wasn’t even aware of it. I am so thankful I didn’t have surgery to correct because there can be pretty bad side effects. Good luck!

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So, did your primary just prescribe it, or did they have to examine you to determine if you needed it. I have a feeling, they will require me to come in.

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1 reply
Mentor
Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | Jan 8 7:25am
In reply to @celia16 "So, did your primary just prescribe it, or did they have to examine you to determine..." + (show)
@celia16

So, did your primary just prescribe it, or did they have to examine you to determine if you needed it. I have a feeling, they will require me to come in.

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@celia16 In my case I needed a referral. I’ve had pelvic floor therapy in two locations and both venues required a referral. I saw my medical providers first in their respective offices and this came up during our visit. I don’t know if either would have required a visit before the referral/prescription. If you have access to a patient portal you could ask your physician for the referral/prescription. It’s worth a try anyway.

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sbrown293 | @sbrown293 | Jan 8 10:08am
In reply to @celia16 "Did you need a referral and did insurance cover it?" + (show)
@celia16

Did you need a referral and did insurance cover it?

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My primary provider did the referral. Yes, the my insurance. (Cigna)

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calygirl84 | @calygirl84 | Feb 5 6:22pm
In reply to @naturegirl5 "@marjou I agree with you that vaginal atrophy is not addressed in the medical community. I..." + (show)
@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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I am very interested in a vaginal moisturiser.
I am in a high risk category for cancer in females thank-you

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kpederso | @kpederso | Feb 6 2:21pm

I used premarin cream twice a week & it worked great. I can no longer take it due to the anastrozole I'm taking for breast cancer (lumpectomy stage 1A). I dried up just like you & intercourse is impossible & my partner understands, we just find other ways, forplay etc., it works. You just have to use it right, twice a week to keep your self pliable. Also, use a very small amount. I'd change doctors who are more knowledgeable on HRT. It's also been said that if you have taken HRT right after menopause you should be fine, but I'd only recommend the cream in very small dose.

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raining314 | @raining314 | Feb 10 7:21am
In reply to @naturegirl5 "@marjou I agree with you that vaginal atrophy is not addressed in the medical community. I..." + (show)
@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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I’d love to have those links too. Thanks!

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lhesse | @lhesse | Feb 11 9:42am
In reply to @ladonnaa "I had ovarian cancer, so, total hysterectomy. I also have Sjogrens Disease, (dry eyes, dry mouth,..." + (show)
@ladonnaa

I had ovarian cancer, so, total hysterectomy. I also have Sjogrens Disease, (dry eyes, dry mouth, dry skin….dry everything). I was so uncomfortable when I went to my gynecologist. I had not seen her for awhile, as, I saw my oncologist for checkups. My gynecologist diagnosed me, knew I could not take Estrace because of the cancer, so, suggested coconut oil. I have been using coconut oil for about 4 years now. It is wonderful. I purchased vaginal applicators online, and use it everyday, am & pm. No pain ever.

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I use coconut oil as a lube during intercourse, but am interested in hearing how you use it with a vaginal applicator. Since coconut oil starts as a solid, but becomes a liquid when it warms up, do you have a lot of drainage after application? How much do you use? Have you found coconut oil in a tube that you can attach to the applicator to fill it? If not, how do you fill the tube?

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1 reply
ladonnaa | @ladonnaa | Feb 11 5:47pm
In reply to @lhesse "I use coconut oil as a lube during intercourse, but am interested in hearing how you..." + (show)
@lhesse

I use coconut oil as a lube during intercourse, but am interested in hearing how you use it with a vaginal applicator. Since coconut oil starts as a solid, but becomes a liquid when it warms up, do you have a lot of drainage after application? How much do you use? Have you found coconut oil in a tube that you can attach to the applicator to fill it? If not, how do you fill the tube?

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I purchased Vaginal cream applicators from Amazon. 15 in a bag singly wrapped.Just plunge the applicator into the coconut oil,, it is forced up into the applicator. May have to put the oil in the refrigerator for about 20 min. I use about 11/2 in. And plunge into vagina as far as possible. I wear a pad for about 1/2 to 1 hr. Most vaginal creams can be ridiculously expensive if you use often enough.

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1 reply
sbrown293 | @sbrown293 | Feb 11 8:10pm
In reply to @sbrown293 "I asked my primary care doctor to write an order for it. Apparently my Gynecologist is..." + (show)
@sbrown293

I asked my primary care doctor to write an order for it. Apparently my Gynecologist is not aware of Pelvic Floor Training. My annual appointment is this Tuesday, and I’m going to bring it up. It’s such a better choice than surgery.

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I did have an appointment with my gynecologist. I asked his nurse why the doctor did not refer me to PFT. She said everyone he had referred for PFT said it was a joke, some said it didn’t help. All I can say is, I was and still am sold on PFT. Yes, I have to continue the exercises. I can skip a few days when traveling. I just get right back in my routine asap. Much better than surgery. There are risks associated with surgery. All I get from exercise is a stronger pelvic floor.

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lhesse | @lhesse | Feb 11 10:32pm
In reply to @ladonnaa "I purchased Vaginal cream applicators from Amazon. 15 in a bag singly wrapped.Just plunge the applicator..." + (show)
@ladonnaa

I purchased Vaginal cream applicators from Amazon. 15 in a bag singly wrapped.Just plunge the applicator into the coconut oil,, it is forced up into the applicator. May have to put the oil in the refrigerator for about 20 min. I use about 11/2 in. And plunge into vagina as far as possible. I wear a pad for about 1/2 to 1 hr. Most vaginal creams can be ridiculously expensive if you use often enough.

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Thanks for the info ladonnaa - I will try that.

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