BF and, um, 'dryness' (TMI alert!)

[BakingBunty]

Wondering if anyone else who is BF finds sex really painful? DD is 6 months old, EBF bar one formula feed a day and very small amounts of solids. I'm finding sex so uncomfortable, just as I did when feeding DS three years ago. I know that the low levels of oestrogen associated with BF can cause extreme dryness and have tried lubricant but it doesn't seem to help that much. DH isn't pressuring me at all but I miss the intimacy. Has anyone tried oestrogen cream? Or any other advice?

As you say, it's likely to be the lack of oestrogen and probably sleep. Not sure what lubricants you've tried but if you can't or won't use prescribed oestrogen based lubricants (such as Ovestin and Replens), then perhaps try Sylk.

I discovered it when my menopause sneaked up on early me, got a free sample in the post and was very pleasantly surprised. I get it on prescription now

I'm not a rep of theirs, promise!

Oh thank you so so much marriednotdead, exactly the info and advice I was after. Will apply for my free sample now as a lot easier than going to the doctor with two small children in tow... Can just imagine DS reporting fragments of the conversation back to all his friends .

I can just imagine, it would be on one of those cringe threads

Hope it works well for you.

Just wanted to thank you for this post OP - I'm still breastfeeding DS aged 2.1 and finding sex really uncomfortable. I had no idea of the link between breastfeeding and dryness!

You may have saved my marriage

You're welcome though sorry you've been similarly affected... I wish I had clocked what was going on during the 15 months that I fed DS. It was a dry spell in more ways than one!? I had an agonising smear test recently and the lovely nurse told me it was likely to be dryness due to reduced oestrogen associated with BF. I could have kissed her (though I'm not that desperate for action... Yet ).