Vaginal atrophy and painful intercourse: What helps?

Posted by Anonymous297113 @anonymous297113, Sep 27, 2022

Seems like vaginal atrophy is a taboo topic, yet so many women are suffering with 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.

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.

Have you found anything that helps?

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darienneadams | @darienneadams | Feb 7 1:21pm

See below

darienneadams | @darienneadams | Feb 7 1:25pm

Estrogen cream applied daily works wonders in aiding natural lubrication and aids in making your canal more flexible. Pelvic floor therapy will make a huge difference. Not to be crude, but your SO performing oral sex will make you much more comfortable and relaxed for penetration, especially after 50.

gravity3 | @gravity3 | Feb 7 10:52pm

Yes. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy with estradiol patch, testosterone pellet, progesterone and estradiol vaginal cream. Game changer for me at 76. This may or may not be right for you.

dkcbc24 | @dkcbc24 | Feb 10 10:11am

After abdominal radiation (internal and external) intercourse became increasingly difficult and painful and finally no longer possible. I saw a physical therapist who specialized in this issue, but it really didn't help me. She did suggest dilators and so did my oncologist. But this was 20+ years ago and the dilators weren't what they are today, and they didn't work for me. Now, there is a great brand, and it is the brand the cancer center I go to recommends to their patients. The set of dilators is graduated so you can start with something the size of your pinky, up to an extra-large size. I believe the brand is called Soul Source. Once we could no longer have intercourse, we went for about 15 years without it. As you mentioned, it made me feel flawed, damaged and it was hard. My husband was supportive, and we still had an intimate relationship. But we both missed intercourse.

In 2018 a local doctor told me vaginal reconstruction is possible, and I had that done in 2019. It wasn't an easy recovery but worth it. We are able to have a full intimate relationship now but of course a water-based lubricant is definitely still necessary. I mentioned the dilators because for some, it is enough to help regain intercourse if you stick to working with them regularly. And after my reconstruction, I had to use them first before we could attempt actual intercourse. Now I only use them if my husband is out of town for an extended period of time/in order to keep the tissue from tightening up again.

As with every case, it's a very individual/person journey. Take good care, Kristi and be sure to love yourself every day. Hugs!