Sex painful and stings on entry, dry down below. Any ideas before having to go back to GP?

[crushedintherush]

Last year I went to see my GP about the painful sex I was experiencing with dh.

She agreed on examination that I was very dry and tight, though didn't suggest that I could be peri menopausal or going through the change (I'm 47). I don't appear to have any other 'change' symptoms apart from the vaginal dryness, btw.

She prescribed the vagifem pessaries which improved things just a little, but things went back to normal after I ran out. I haven't been back to see her as she is a little abrupt, not much of a bedside manner, and I don't want to see a male GP if I can help it.

I am extremely dry, even after foreplay. The sex is painful, stings like Hell on entry, and feels like my external bits are trying to go 'in' with him, IYSWIM. Things down below are normal apart from this.

Nothing has changed in our sex life, apart from we're doing it less and less because of this, and I am thinking maybe we are creating a vicious circle, that the dryness might be due to lack of sex

We made love this morning, painful yet again, and I bled, prompting me to divulge on MN.
I am having a smear test on wed, so hoping something gets 'picked up' thats causing it

Any ideas on what it could be, dear posters? Any advice will be greatly received.

[crushedintherush]

I meant to add, I've been like this for a good few years, nothing wrong in the marriage that could have affected us subconsciously, for this to start happening.

[PipkinsPal]

You must have seen my Doctor . I gave her similar symptoms, no lubrication, pain etc and also that sometimes my body itches at night. She gave me a script for Vagisil. At no point I told her my foof was itchy . My DP and I havn't had sex for a few years because it is dry and painful. I have to have yearly smears for 10 years because of colonoscopy treatment but she didn't suggest having a "look" for anything else. My menopause blood test came back ok (I'm 45). Sorry I can't help you but at least your Doctor has arranged a smear test next week.

[Elibean]

Poor you, OP, I do feel for you - and can relate. It started to happen to me in my late 40s too, and my GP prescribed Vagifem. It's an oestrogen pessary, only local so less effect than full on hrt, but it does help hugely.

Its also true that not having sex creates a vicious circle, and when I had the most painful ever smear test (seriously agonizing) and was told it was because my vagina had atrophied - I was horrified!! Good reason to find a solution to the no-sex scenario, on top of the obvious

Good luck, do talk to your GP

[crushedintherush]

thanks pipkin.

The smear test was arranged by me after receiving the '5 year' letter from my local health authority. I haven't seen my gp since last year. She is formidable

I don't get any itching or anything, was trying to think maybe its the lichen sclerosis that posters have mentioned in other threads. all is ok down there, apart from having sex.

OUCH !!!

[crushedintherush]

elibean - had to google the word atrophy, tbh, and just horrified at the thought

Did your gp give you something for the atrophy?

[crushedintherush]

...sorry, yes, just seen you were prescribed vagifem. It worked a bit for me, then when I ran out, things went back to normal.

Tried lubricants but not very sexy/romantic, while fiddling about with the bottle top

[differentnameforthis]

Tried lubricants but not very sexy/romantic, while fiddling about with the bottle top

I hear that! We killed it completely dead doing this the other night!

You need a lubricant that you can use for massages too. You get your dh to massage you & make sure he massages you everywhere. I am talking straying hands etc.

I am prone to dryness & dh does this for me. While we are messing around, I make sure some of the lubricant gets where it needs to go, iyswim!

OR while he is doing whatever he does to you, lube up your hand & get it on HIM, so he lubes you on the way in (slowly, obv) or play get it there yourself. Yes, it takes some planning, but it sucks that you are missing our because of this.

[differentnameforthis]

www.lovehoney.co.uk/product.cfm?p=6016

This one is nice. Not sticky/oily etc.

[Sidge]

Something like Replens might help, it's a film lubricant that can be placed into the vagina before sex, rather than during.

Otherwise it does sound like perimenopausal atrophy; when you go for your smear ask the practice nurse to do you a repeat prescription for oestrogen pessaries. You can use them over the longer term quite safely as they work locally.

[bestfriendActually]

I had this too! I'd been having almost constant cystitis/urine infections & then I felt v dry & sore. The Dr gave me the Vagifem pessaries & they worked a treat but you have to keep using them! Mine are now on repeat prescription.

[ForYourEyesYoniBrian]

I had lichen whatsit when ds was 7 months old. It was horrific. My poor old Yoni was clenched so tightly shut I couldn't even be examined with a speculum. Our attempts at sex ended in tears.

Eventually I had a biopsy done under ga to work out what it was and I was prescribed a antifungal/antibacterial cream which worked beautifully. I got re-occurences (although not as bad) roughly every 6 months for a couple of years but nothing for the last 4. (I am 39).

I would definitely ask for a referral to an ob/gyn.

[crushedintherush]

thanks different I'll check it out, and yes, it most definitely sucks.

Sidge. the Replens idea sounds good too, and I will take your advice about speaking to the practice nurse about the repeat prescription for Vagifem. Thanks.

Bestfriend: You have a point about the vagifem. I only took one course and kind of expected the light relief, as it were, to carry on after it ran out.

I only hope my foof will have returned back to normal by the time I go for my smear. It is quite sore :( .....and I've no yoghurt either.

[crushedintherush]

Foryoureyes:

My foof was like that this morning when dh tried to put it 'in'. Clenched.

I will keep the lichen and referral request in mind along with the atrophy when I go for my smear. Glad the antibacterial cream worked for you, and thanks for the advice :)

Whichever it is, I hope I get it sorted soon.

[orangeflutie]

Hi crushedintherush I use 'Sylk' and find it works really well for me. My doctor prescribed replens first but it didn't help.

It's really easy to get Sylk online. If you google it they will send you a free sample and you can buy it on Amazon.

HTH

[crushedintherush]

Thanks orange, all advice and help appreciated.

Will check it out on Amazon, not difficult seeing as I practically LIVE on that website :)

[Booboostoo]

I had similar problems after DD was born (by c-section so that wasn't the cause). My gynea said it was because of hormonal changes due to bf. I used the oestrogen pessaries and oestrogen tablets for about a year before things went back to normal but the doctor said I could have similar symptoms with the menopause. I feel for you it's incredibly painful isn't it?! The pessaries did help a lot though so maybe you can be on those full time?

[crushedintherush]

Footle - yes, she did say go back, but she doesn't exactly inspire me to. She is abrupt and sometimes patronising , which is no good when you are there to talk about the most intimate part of your body. Fine you're seeing her about an ingrowing toenail or something similar, but not that...

Hopefully by the end of Wednesday I'll have some answers....and some pessaries

[Dahlialover]

My understanding of vagifem is that you use it daily for a couple of weeks to get rid of the dryness and plump up the tissues, then go on to a maintenance dose (twice a week?), for as long as you require it (ie as long as you do not want your fanjo atrophied for.............)

[Elibean]

crushed, in that case I would just stalk in there and ask for some more Vagifem.

As in, 'Never mind dah talk, lady, hand over dah pessaries'

[Elibean]

Footle, if you had hyperplasia before, I would ask GP for a check-up. Won't hurt, could be important.

Generally speaking, info on hrt is leaning back towards the benefits rather than the harm - and that's systemic. So I tell myself the local stuff has to be better than atrophying

[Elibean]

Plus, I find that now I'm using Vagifem regularly, I don't even need it twice a week - I can stop it for several weeks, then start up, or go once a week, etc.

[crushedintherush]

Elibean :D at 'never mind dah talk......'

dahlia, I remember the usage was dropped down gradually over a few weeks.

To be honest I'd rather go back and be patronised and put up with the abruptness any day than have my poor foof atrophied :)

I hope that the practice nurse will put me on the repeat prescription there and then, and I can bypass Dr Morose, but we'll see.

Sounds like Vagifem all the way. Thanks again, everybody, for your valuable advice. I'll update on Wednesday after the smear test :)

[3littlefrogs]

I think this is really common in perimenopausal women, and is due to lack or oestrogen. Topical oestrogen/ pessaries or cream that you "insert" usually work very well. Although you gradually reduce the amount and frequency of application, I don't think you can actually stop altogether without all the symptoms coming back.