Sex hurts

[Mylifesanightmare]

It hurts like hell to have sex, since the menopause.
I’ve only recently woken up to the fact that I can do something about it; I’m pretty certain the problems vaginal atrophy.
Which is best , Gina from Boots or Vagifem or Ovestin from the dr? Why would someone go to the dr when you can just buy Gina from Boots? ( Is there much of a price difference?)
Thanks for your help.

Personally I’d want a GP to diagnose before I bought something off the shelf.

Miracle if you could actually see a GP, mine diagnosed me over the phone, got Vagifem which was useless, Blissel is marginally better but sex still hurts. Menopause sucks.

I don;t know about sex hurting...my libido has completely died since the menopause. Nothing, zilch, nada.

I would suggest getting on HRT which has certainly improved vaginal dryness and also use extra lubrication during sex such as Liquid Silk, which you can buy from Amazon

The only benefit of going to your GP is choice of products and cost.
Gps don't tend to examine women now for this (it needs a very expert eye anyway- - just go by what you describe if you are around meno age.

Gina is quite pricey (I think it's £15 and that's for a few of the pessaries.)
If you pay for prescriptions, you should get maybe 3 months' worth for the cost?
(I pay for mine privately with a prescription, so can't really compare but I know that many pharmacies who prescribe online are ripping women off. Ovestin is something around £8 for a tube lasting 7 weeks, but some places like Superdrug charge £24 if you buy it online.)

Ovestin is a different type of estrogen to Vagifem (aka Gina) and some women find it's better (not so strong.) It can also be used externally.

If you have bad atrophy it may take 3 months to reverse it and you may need to do more than the twice a week (after the first every day for 2 weeks.)

Some women with bad atrophy have to use medical dilators to 'stretch' everything. Or you could improvise.😀

Me too. Absolutely nothing there.

Vagifem is brilliant. Better than all the over the counter things.

GP for ovestin if it’s cheaper than buying Gina for you (mine is free as I’m over 60).

For libido, if you are on HRT and your oestrogen is definitely optimised ask to try testosterone. For some people it has a magical effect.

Thanks for your reply and clarity on costs. Good to hear that I won’t be examined! Still embarrassing to go to the GP though.

I think I’ll have to go. I don’t have a libido problem; that’s the weird thing, I’m very keen to have sex but when we do it’s agony.

Oh good to hear that re costs. I’m 57 so not too long to go!

Thanks for the advice, especially regarding time frame and costs. Sounds like it can take some time to fix, if it is in fact fixable.
I’ll go to the GP but think I’ll ask to see a woman; I really don’t want to discuss this with a man.

Ovestin has worked wonders for me, it was two weeks of using every day, now twice a week. We do still use plenty of lube as well. I'm fortunate to be in Wales though so prescriptions are free. Doctors still happy for you to come in for examination if needed but in this instance I was prescribed over the phone given my age / symptoms.

Which lube do you use pse?

I use Ovestin which is great! The lube I use is by YES (they also make vaginal moisturiser)

Currently durex naturals - was just the unscented/plain one they had in Boots

Update; I had a phone consultation with the dr and she agreed that the problem sounds like vaginal atrophy.
She gave me a choice of Vagifem, which is a pessary, or Estriol, which is a cream; same ingredient. I chose the cream.
To be applied every day for 2 weeks then twice a week. I’ve got 2 tubes which should last 3 weeks.
I’ll let you know if it works!

Vagifem sorted me out. I was actually tearing and bleeding 😬
Much more comfortable now 👍

Great to hear. Would you mind telling me how long you had to take Vagifem before you felt comfortable? At the moment I’m avoiding vaginal sex; we still have a good sex life, just very rarely involves penetration.

I think Ovestin cream is oestriol. I wasn't too sore but after a week it felt much much better.

I have prescribed ovestin, it helps a bit but I still find penetrative sex quite painful and burny, so do it much less and I do miss it

@beguilingeyes same here I literally can't remember what it felt like to have any interest. Plus I think my clitoris has shrunk.

The dr also suggested that I try a lubricant eg Sylk; sold near condoms.
I noticed that Durex do some flavored lubes, they get good reviews, I think I’ll try one of those.

I think it was probably a month or so

Thanks!

@lurchermummy same, my labia have almost disappeared. It's most odd.