Painful sex and menopause ☹️

[NippyNinjaCrab]

I am struggling with pain and sex, also minor irritation daily, like thrush but it's not.

I have HRT and done well on it until I started having slight pain with sex. I was prescribed Estroil 1% and I have been using the Yes moisturiser. I initially thought the Yes tubes were irritating me so stopped, but I think its my vaginal wall deteriorating (dramatic i know) and maybe I need something else to help.

TMI, I've just had sex with what felt like sandpaper at one point ffs!

Please tell me this gets better if I persevere with the Estroil and Yes lube at night? I've just used it and it feels a bit better.

I'm only 53 ffs, libido is good. Should I get a check up?

I have used vaginal aestrogen, it’s worked so well. Two weeks I had to use it every night then twice a week for maintenance. Not even using it anymore as it’s so much better. I can tell you the name of what i’m using. I got it on private prescription. But can’t remember then name!

I’ve also recently started oestrogen pessaries. I had a lot of irritation and itching and it’s helped with that although not sure whether it’s helped with sex feeling more normal as I’ve only tried once.

Don’t have sex? Do something else intimate with your partner?

That's what I have already, I'm maybe expecting too much too soon.

Maybe I should speak to my GP about something else rather than the Estriol cream 🤔.

Although it's a solution, I don't want to give it up completely, but thank you for replying.

Are you this helpful all the time?

I have estrodial vaginal tablets and they’re v helpful plus finding the right lube.

In my experience the GPs have limited knowledge. I’ve been on HRT for years and paid to see a menopause specialist. She added in the pessaries mainly as I was getting some urinary symptoms and she felt that some local oestrogen would help. I don’t think I quite realised that the itching and irritation I was experiencing was menopause related but the oestrogen has really helped.

my libido has pretty much disappeared but part of that is because sex feels so different and like you say, sandpaper. I’m hoping the pessaries will have made a difference so that I start to enjoy it a bit more but as I said I’ve only tried once.

Don't stop it. Your symptoms will come back.

@Interpink thank you 😊
@Toadstoollover it just seems to have increased quickly, hence why I assumed thrush but nope. I don't want this change :(
My GP has been really good with HRT but I would love to chat to a menopause expert to get some insight into all menopause symptoms. X

Do you do kegels?

I'd make an appointment with a Physiotherapist who specialises in pelvic floor and menopause. The physio I saw changed my life (no exaggeration)

I've been on the Vagifem oestrogen pessaries for over a decade. One a day for the first two weeks then twice a week forever. I got mine via a gynaecological referral and now through my GP.

Vagifem pessaries. And once you start, don’t stop. Use the oestrogen cream as well if you want. Your vagina needs all the help it can get at this age!

I am in the same boat op - my smear test was torture.

Okay so Vagifem instead of the Yes moisturiser? I will go and have a look. I have never heard of Kegels so I will check that out too @MrsDoubtingMyself x

I do use the Estriol oestrogen 1%, would the pessaries be better? X

I use a pessary - insert into vagina as well as using cream externally around the vaginal area. It’s called Blissel ( 50 micrograms).

Also @NippyNinjaCrab sex feels normal and good now! Having sex at least 4 times a week, no issues during or after!

Women really need educating on this. It’s such an easy prevention, but most people only find out about it by accident or if they get to the point where they need to fix things. I was put on it by a menopause specialist, who told me start using vaginal oestrogen before things ever get out of hand, and you won’t have a problem. I ride horses competitively over long distances, and used to get what I thought were recurring frequent infections. Turns out it was just the start of changing physionology, which I’ve hopefully halted or slowed down by using oestrogen. Makes things much more comfortable.

Pessaries are better. And pessaries (for the inside) AND cream (for the outside) even better still.

It is a very low dose, so not much in the way of side effects.

Vagifem - pessaries for vaginal atrophy, coupled with the one you're already using for the vulva.

I tried to use Estriol vaginal oestrogen, but the internal burning was absolutely HORRENDOUS. Extremely disappointing as it means i now cant use it. I do find Yes moisturiser is fairly helpful though.

The female condom makes a massive difference to comfort.

I have use vaginal estrogen from the GP, plus water-based lubricant during sex. You may need to reapply and use more than you think you need