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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Mentor
Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | Sep 22, 2023
In reply to @jessy0628 "Would you mind mentioning the vaginal moisturizers you are using as i am not into estrogen..." + (show)
@jessy0628

Would you mind mentioning the vaginal moisturizers you are using as i am not into estrogen creams as well. Had my total hystrectomy 3mos ago with stage1a grade1 path report. Thank you

Jump to this post

@jessy0628 I’m so sorry I missed your post in August.

I use Good Clean Love Bionourish. Make sure you buy the Bionourish formula as that is the one that has hyaluronic acid in it. I use the Good Clean Love on the outside of the vagina and I also use it to insert Hyalo Gyn suppositories.

Good Clean Love products can be found at Target however I order online from the company because my Target does not always have the product I use.

https://goodcleanlove.com/products/bionourish-ultra-moisturizing-vaginal-gel-with-hyaluronic-acid-2-pack?variant=40302472134840

Hyalo Gyn is OTC however you have to order it online. I have a subscription so it comes on a regular basis.

https://hyalogyn.com/

These products were both recommended by my Radiation Oncologist.

REPLY
siosal | @siosal | Sep 23, 2023
In reply to @naturegirl5 "@fight777. Hi Sue, Here are the products I've learned about. I'll write my little review with..." + (show)
@naturegirl5

@fight777. Hi Sue, Here are the products I've learned about. I'll write my little review with them too.

-Hyalo Gyn (only available online from the company). This comes in suppositories or cream. It contains Hyaluronic Acid which is highly recommended by my radiation oncologist. I use it in suppository form as it's less messy and less to go into the landfill. I have a standing order that is shipped so I can get a discount. I use it with a little of Good Clean Love Bio-nourish (available from Target but also from Amazon which also has hyaluronic acid. I put the Good Clean Love product on the suppository and on the entrance to my vagina and then it's easier and more comfortable to insert. I do this 2-3 times a week.

--https://hyalogyn.com/

Bio Nourish (a little goes a long way).
https://goodcleanlove.com/collections/vaginal-care/products/bionourish-moisturizing-vaginal-gel-with-hyaluronic-acid

Satin by Sliquid. Mayo clinic recommends applying a little every night to the entrance of the vagina. I'm not doing this now as I've been using Hyalo-Gyn as I described because of radiation therapy.

--https://www.amazon.com/Sliquid-Organics-Natural-Satin-Lubricant/dp/B00763K1IU

Mayo Clinic sells all of these products in their physical and online store except for Hyalo-Gyn.

You can see I've done a lot of trials and figured what works for me. I know you will do the same.

You wrote that you are finishing chemo and will start radiation How are you feeling?

Jump to this post

Hyalogyn suppositories are sold out on their website!

REPLY
1 reply
sueborfl | @sueborfl | Sep 23, 2023

I have HAD endometrial cancer with almost 100% success and with no immediate need or prognosis of chemo and radiation. It’s been oddly combined the 35 years with Lyme disease that causes low libido and can dry out tissues. Dryness started to occur in my 50s after what I determine an easy “ journey”thru menopause. However we have had to move several times because of a disastrous occurrence where our building and our entire apt burned to the foundation and we relocated to Fl. No doctors recommended or available still at this point to make sure I’m a healthy aging 76 yr old female with cancer history and ongoing tick disease. We just traveled back to Hyde Park NY to have my lyme bacterial infectious disease history repeated and treated. I’m on the west coast in Fl -adjacent to Tampa. Any referrals may be sent to my personal email. I believe it appears above with this comment. I have found medical care in Florida to be less than stellar. It’s a challenge to find qualified and accurate professional care. Thx!

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Mentor
Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | Sep 23, 2023
In reply to @siosal "Hyalogyn suppositories are sold out on their website!" + (show)
@siosal

Hyalogyn suppositories are sold out on their website!

Jump to this post

@siosal Oh, ugh! That happened to me a month ago when I was due for the next shipment in my subscription. They sent me “samples” in boxes that numbered more than what I would have received in my shipment. I’m OK with that but I hope they resupply their inventory soon.

I’m going to check for other online sources. I know that Hyalogyn has the same product that comes in a tube but I like the suppositories because they are less messy and easier to use.

REPLY
siosal | @siosal | Sep 23, 2023

Thank you. Please let me know if you find any.

REPLY
ch47 | @ch47 | Sep 24, 2023

Complete hysterectomy at 44, no cancer thankfully, and had hrt for a couple years until supposedly medical community said the chance of breast cancer became enormous. Of course, stopped hrt.
Atrophy started, and had tons of bladder and urethra issues, urethra dilation became a regular part of my life.

My old urologist retired, fortunately, and my new doctor had specialties in urology and gynecology. Gave me the estrogen tabs, which worked great for years, then I started having problems again. Atrophy and very painful sex.

Moved south, and found a woman urologist who recommended compounding the meds in a non irritating cream base. She asked the compounding pharmacy to give me several samples of different base cream to try with no meds, to see which was comfortable, and they graciously did. The vaginal and urethra issues almost disappeared.

I asked my doctor if she could RX just the base cream to use as a lubricant. It works great and really inexpensive and not messy.

She also rx’d pelvic therapy/dilation which was extremely painful at first, because I was so tight, but that loosened up.

Things are better now, I am 71 and seemingly have some comfort for a while…maybe your doctors could recommend the same type of cream for a lubricant with no meds?

Good luck to all!

REPLY
1 reply
oinchats | @oinchats | Oct 5, 2023
In reply to @naturegirl5 "@daisysocal I have struggled with the very same problem for at least 8 years. It's been..." + (show)
@naturegirl5

@daisysocal I have struggled with the very same problem for at least 8 years. It's been so awful and at first I got nowhere. I talked with my gynecologist and my primary care doctor during that time and received very unsatisfactory answers. I felt like no one took me seriously. Finally, I was prescribed Estrace vaginal cream that I used and it did help although I still experienced some pain with intercourse on occasion. My partner and I were already using a lubricant during sex before I started having the problems.

I learned about the Mayo Clinic Women's Menopause Clinic from my nurse practitioner at Mayo Clinic. I have been seen at that clinic and it's been so very helpful. I feel like someone finally gets what I've been going through. I've seen a psychologist who specializes in sex therapy, education nurses who explain different types of vaginal moisturizers and lubricants and a nurse practitioner who did a complete exam with me holding a mirror so I could see what she saw as she educated me.

If there is a clinic like this near you I highly recommend it. Because I had endometrial cancer I can no longer use the estrogen cream (applied topically only to the lower 1/3 of the vagina by the way - instructions I got from Mayo Clinic that were different from what is on the package). I now use non-estrogen vaginal moisturizers a few times a week that work for me. And here is one other tip. My partner uses Ohnuts (I bought as a gift for us) which reduce the depth of penetration. We have both needed to change our expectations about sex . It's been more difficult for me than for him because like you I loved what my body did in the past and just let it do that. I can't do that anymore.

https://ohnut.co/

I hope this helps. It is a constant struggle to find out what will work for you but I think it's possible.

Jump to this post

What non estrogen moisturizer have you found works best?

REPLY
1 reply
susanfalcon52 | @susanfalcon52 | Oct 6, 2023
In reply to @ch47 "Complete hysterectomy at 44, no cancer thankfully, and had hrt for a couple years until supposedly..." + (show)
@ch47

Complete hysterectomy at 44, no cancer thankfully, and had hrt for a couple years until supposedly medical community said the chance of breast cancer became enormous. Of course, stopped hrt.
Atrophy started, and had tons of bladder and urethra issues, urethra dilation became a regular part of my life.

My old urologist retired, fortunately, and my new doctor had specialties in urology and gynecology. Gave me the estrogen tabs, which worked great for years, then I started having problems again. Atrophy and very painful sex.

Moved south, and found a woman urologist who recommended compounding the meds in a non irritating cream base. She asked the compounding pharmacy to give me several samples of different base cream to try with no meds, to see which was comfortable, and they graciously did. The vaginal and urethra issues almost disappeared.

I asked my doctor if she could RX just the base cream to use as a lubricant. It works great and really inexpensive and not messy.

She also rx’d pelvic therapy/dilation which was extremely painful at first, because I was so tight, but that loosened up.

Things are better now, I am 71 and seemingly have some comfort for a while…maybe your doctors could recommend the same type of cream for a lubricant with no meds?

Good luck to all!

Jump to this post

My story is much the same. If i keep up with the pelvic floor exercises, estrogen cream twice a week, and coconut oil in between, I don’t have symptoms.

REPLY
Mentor
Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | Oct 6, 2023
In reply to @oinchats "What non estrogen moisturizer have you found works best?" + (show)
@oinchats

What non estrogen moisturizer have you found works best?

Jump to this post

@oinchats If you scroll up on your screen you’ll see a post I made on September 22 about non estrogen moisturizers.

REPLY
pb50 | @pb50 | Dec 29, 2023
In reply to @naturegirl5 "@daisysocal I have struggled with the very same problem for at least 8 years. It's been..." + (show)
@naturegirl5

@daisysocal I have struggled with the very same problem for at least 8 years. It's been so awful and at first I got nowhere. I talked with my gynecologist and my primary care doctor during that time and received very unsatisfactory answers. I felt like no one took me seriously. Finally, I was prescribed Estrace vaginal cream that I used and it did help although I still experienced some pain with intercourse on occasion. My partner and I were already using a lubricant during sex before I started having the problems.

I learned about the Mayo Clinic Women's Menopause Clinic from my nurse practitioner at Mayo Clinic. I have been seen at that clinic and it's been so very helpful. I feel like someone finally gets what I've been going through. I've seen a psychologist who specializes in sex therapy, education nurses who explain different types of vaginal moisturizers and lubricants and a nurse practitioner who did a complete exam with me holding a mirror so I could see what she saw as she educated me.

If there is a clinic like this near you I highly recommend it. Because I had endometrial cancer I can no longer use the estrogen cream (applied topically only to the lower 1/3 of the vagina by the way - instructions I got from Mayo Clinic that were different from what is on the package). I now use non-estrogen vaginal moisturizers a few times a week that work for me. And here is one other tip. My partner uses Ohnuts (I bought as a gift for us) which reduce the depth of penetration. We have both needed to change our expectations about sex . It's been more difficult for me than for him because like you I loved what my body did in the past and just let it do that. I can't do that anymore.

https://ohnut.co/

I hope this helps. It is a constant struggle to find out what will work for you but I think it's possible.

Jump to this post

I’m going to jump in here in spite of this thread being two years old. Is it still active?

I had a total hysterectomy at age 35. Or course no HRT was administered so over the years it all just dried up. And for 20 years it was just an “is”. Then I started having a discharge I believed to be a vaginal infection of some type, but turned out to be dead vaginal cells sloughing off. My new GYN put me on estradiol 10mg suppository. It improved over a long while so I considered myself cured. It recently raised its ugly head again and now I am back on estradiol. Of course Medicare insists I use a sloppy cream instead of the tidy suppository so I am paying out of pocket for it.
What I don’t know is whether anyone else has this shedding of dead vaginal cells?

REPLY
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