Vaginal dryness.

[Burlea]

I'm nearly 60 not had a period for 15 years. The only symptom of the menopause is vaginal dryness.
I miss a spontaneous sex life. Now I have to make sure I am really lubed up.
Has anyone have any suggestions on what to use without having to plan in advance.

I've not been to a GP as this is my only symptom. Too much breast/cervical cancer in the family to want to be on HRT.

Yes my suggestion is you go to your GP and you ask for vaginal estrogen treatment, explaining you have dryness.

There is no risk of cancer with it.

It is not classed as HRT.

You need Vagifem pessaries or Ovestin cream on prescription from your GP. It was my only symptom too. The hormone component is tiny so it's not classed as HRT, but it will make all the difference.

@Burlea- Can ask why you think HRT is linked to cervical cancer? Cervical cancer is caused by the HPV virus which is a sexually transmitted virus causing almost all cases of cancer. HRT has no effect on it at all.

Also, unless you have a very strong history of breast cancer in your family- that means you mother or sister - it is not classed as family history/ risk for HRT.

And vaginal treatment is not HRT.

I'm on vagifem and HRT and it's made very little difference I'm afraid. Also daily use of vagisan. (I wish they wouldn't name all these products something beginning with Vag...)

How long have you been using it @Sister? You have done the 2 week 'loading' and then at least 2 x a week long term? Some women have to use it far more than 2 x a week.

They reduced the estrogen dose in Vagifem by half a couple of years ago so the advise on using it 2 x a week is not exactly helpful now- maybe try more often?

Is there any chance that Vagisan is affecting the absorption of vagifem?

I'd be wary of using over the counter stuff unless it's on good advice as some can actually make things worse. It annoys me really that they are sold as being 'hormone free' as if vaginal estrogen is something to avoid. There is almost no woman in the land who cannot use vaginal estrogen and most women who have had breast cancer are ok on it ( with medical advice of course.)

Drs recommend YES products as being the best for lube and moisture.

If you are still not having any improvement ask to see a gynae because you could be given dilators to use. Without treatment these things tend to get worse and it's harder to reverse the changes.

Use it most days, at night, and the vagisan in the morning. Been on it all since around last March. Dilators you say? 😱

Sorry I meant to say ovarian cancer not cervical.

09JinglingHellsBells my mum, has breast cancer as does her sister. 2 of my cousins have cancer 1 breast and the other ovarian cancer. My grandma had breast and ovarian cancer. I was tested a long time ago if I had a certain gene, fortunately I don't.

I have heard of Yes and have looked it up online. Will this help stop vaginal dryness by using everyday. I notice they have gel applicators. Would these help.

I'll try and get an appointment with my GP.

Thanks for your help.

Seriously, it depends on your symptoms and how bad they are. You might like to read the book by Jane Lewis 'My Menoapusal Vagina'. Jane was / is an ordinary woman who had serious vaginal dryness affecting her life (not just her sex life.) She ended up having the Mona Lisa treatment (is that what the secret smile is about???) which is laser treatment for VA . Jane wrote a book of her experiences and it's now in lots of GP surgeries- and Jane spoke on daytime TV about it all.

If you are so dry or tight you cannot have sex, you need to see a specialist gynae and look at other treatments such as medical dilators where you insert them gradually.

YOu might also be given an Estring which is a small device coated in estrogen and placed in the vagina to release estrogen all day .

www.estring.com/

Don't ignore the issue if it's not getting better as it can pass the point of no return and treatments are harder.

@Burlea

Sorry to hear of your family history.

The stuff you buy OTC will help to an extent BUT you need estrogen products to reverse the changes, at a cellular level. The tissues need to grow back/ become plump and only estrogen can do this.

Old women (in their 90s) use these vaginal creams not necessarily for sex but to keep them comfortable.

I've been online and booked a GP appointment for middle of February. No point phoning on the day as it needs to be an emergency.

Good luck OP. Hope you get a solution.

I looked into the mona lisa thing but reviews are very varied and I couldn't find any decent research into it.

Can I ask if vagifem can reverse problems or just stop them worsening?

@JustMyName in my experience it reversed the problem as it replaces the hormone that I am now lacking post menopause. I will have to keep using it to stop it coming back though.

Thanks. I ask because I've been using it in and off for years and it's made no difference. I have lichen sclerosis too and am just totally fed up. My gp gave me steroid cream, but I try not to use it too much because of rebound problems that can occur and skin thinning.

@JustMyName Have you seen a dermatologist and / or a gynae for your LC? You really do need to keep on with vaginal estrogen.
I don't want to worry you but you do need to have constant vigilance for your LC- in 5% of women it can become cancer of the vulva and it needs monitoring. Sadly some women think they have LC and it's more serious.

@JustMyName are you under a gynaecologist? My GP diagnosed me with LS but when I saw a gynae they said I didn’t.

The harsh steroids were making it worse. I was advised to use dermol 500 to wash with and diprobase ointment externally and just inside and it seemed to fix everything? Have the odd flare up a few days before my period, presumably hormone related and I just treat it with the diprobase.

I use the Vagifem pessary every day plus Sylk for lube during sex. Vagifem was life changing tbh.

It was the menopause clinic that diagnosed LS. I've since moved area and not seen the gp about it yet or had a referral to a new clinic. It's not helped by the fact that I have psoriasis so get very itchy.

You need to see a gynae or dermatologist for a firm diagnosis and management. Two medical professionals told me I had LS and they were wrong.

I'll go back to my gp. It's just all embarrassing and I'm fed up of all of it.

@JustMyName You need a referral to a gynaecologist or a vulva specialist- dermatologists work with women with LS.

It is really important you get someone to examine you.
I had a conversation (professionally,for my work) with a woman who had been diagnosed with LS and eventually she was diagnosed with vulval cancer.

I am not for a minute saying you have this, but LS is a risk factor and it needs managing and treating so it does not develop into cancer.

here is some advice

eveappeal.org.uk/gynaecological-cancers/vulvar-cancer/

PLEASE don't accept a GPs advice. This needs specialist treatment, and GPs are not qualified to assess or prescribe. You may need a biopsy of the skin and again your GP can't do this correctly.

I've made an appointment with my gp and added a note saying it's to request a referral to a dermatologist. Is he likely to be difficult about this? I haven't seen one in over twenty years, despite having psoriasis for nearly fifty years.

You have a right to a 2nd opinion.

If you have not seen a dermo for that length of time it's vital you get this all checked out. But if it's a dermatologist make sure they can deal with vulva conditions because they will need to look. You might like to do some online searching before you see your GP to find out who there is in your area who can help you best. You came to this thread asking about help for vaginal dryness so really you might need a gynae as well - cover all bases! :)

I'll mention it to my gp .. not sure what else I can do.