Severe Vaginal Atrophy, Thrush and Sex

[WhatAGrippingLifeYouDoLead]

Posting here for traffic as am at my wits end Arghhhhhhhhh!!!! I am early 60's and have severe vaginal atrophy. I also have cancer so am unable to have HRT. GP has prescribed vagifem which has helped the sore dryness and made me comfortable on a day to day level - until I have sex.

Even with the vagifem, I am still too dry to have intercourse comfortably so need to use a lubricant.... but everytime we use it, I get thrush.

PLEASE can anyone suggest anything? We have had a rottent few years with a cancer diagnosis for us both, a house fire, a grandchild diagnosed with a lifechanging illness, DH father died, his mother has alzheimers, my father also has it (along with vascular dementia) ....it has seemed endless, and has put a big strain on our relationship, that we have had to work hard to overcome. I know sex isn't everything, but it is a glue that helps stick together the rough bits of life

I have another appointment with my GP but it's not for 6 weeks (FFS!!!) and I am totally fed up....so I thought maybe the combined experience of Mumsnet may be able to offer some advice

Sorry to hear about this OP- the cycle is unbearably frustrating. I don't have the same origin issues as you but can sympathise with the cycle of pain/sex disrupting it again. Definitely advise doing further research on the ingredients in the lubricant you use, it is not just propylene Glycol that you need to look out for, other commonly used ingredients such as Glycerine, Sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol and maltitol , all of which are also sugar alcohols so the same rules may apply if you are sensitive to them.
People are often also sensitive to ingredients such as Parabens or Acetate, which also crop up in personal lubricants. Also avoid anything petroleum Jelly based
Have you considered using coconut oil as a personal lubricant? It is moisturising and supposed to be excellent for intercourse, as well as being an anti-fungal.
If that doesn't appeal, I've had the YES (organic) brand of lubricants and vaginal moisturisers ( they do a variety of products) recommended to me before a specialist as being low in potential allergens and irritants and have gotten on better with those than some other things.
Hope you find an answer!

I constantly get thrush, have been told never to use soap, bubble bath, or shower gels in the bath/shower only to use Aqueous cream or nothing because it disturbs the acidic balance (and by extension the balance of bacteria) in the vagina.

Also apparently you can use flucanzole tablet once a month.

To add was also explicitly warned to avoid PH neutral soaps creams, Vaginsan etc as apparently worse (because you vagina still needs to be slightly acidic) than harsher soaps!

Dermol is good

Can it be managed with just lubricants or moisturisers? Does it have to be vagifem? I’m so prone to thrush and am just starting my second attempt with it. My gp didn’t rate moisturisers and said l needed to keep going with the vagifem.

Yes! Lubricant is good. Have a look at Jo Divine website: www.jodivine.com/articles/womens-sexual-health/enjoying-sex-after-ovarian-cancer

Try the lubricant they sell at Wholefoods / Planet Organic - is aloe vera based - or a make called 'Yes' is natural as well - and can be bought online. As mentioned above, coconut oil is good too - but can be very messy!

@missinghome - great minds!

Suffered since adolescence with recurrent (often seemed perpetual) thrush. In mid forties have finally found the answer.
Canesten Canesflor Thrush Probiotic Capsules (approx £15 for 10 Capsules).

Pop one in after sex. Haven't had thrush since. Wish I had discovered these 30 years ago.

Where do you get those sleep? Regular pharm?

I think men can carry thrush without symptoms, so could he be passing it back to you during intercourse?

Another thing you you try is to look at your diet. I was told no orange juice as the chemicals that get rid of the peel before they throw them into the presses can cause thrush, and to cut out sugar. I'm sure it won't help on its own but maybe it could contribute.

Superdrug or Boots stock the Canesflor capsules Hadron.

I'm not exaggerating when I say thrush has been a perpetual torment my whole life. If I hadn't been free of it for the last year or so, I'd be too scared of jinxing it to declare myself cured. But it's gone. It's f**cking gone! I cannot recommend Canesflor enough.