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?

Have you tried vagifem instead?

Thank you for all the replies, my poor vagina feels its been pulled through brambles today after last night's sex 😂
I will give my GP a call and ask for the Vagifem and keep using the Estriol on the outside too. Oh and the Yes, I said to DH I will use the Yes before sex too and hopefully it will really help. Meantime he can buzz off till it feels better 😌 x

Just wanted to update for anyone experiencing the same. I've got a telephone appointment this Friday and hopefully I can have Vagifem. I will update how it has helped (hopefully)
Thank you for all the support. X

Vagifem often needs a loading dose much longer than prescribed. If you feel this is the case, just buy an extra packet (Gina from Superdrug) if your GP won't prescribe extra.

Thank you, I hope it works. The Yes moisturiser is annoying to use. I feel I am overloading my bits with the Estriol, the Yes and also I take Utrogestan vaginally. Its not pleasant 😕

It took me years to find a schedule that meant I could have pain free sex. This is
Vagifem twice a week ( after the initial fortnight loading dose)
Estriol cream on the same two days a week; applied on the outside of the vagina
Yes VM twice a week
Hyalofemme once a week.
Two days a week nothing applied.

I try to insert Yes WB prior to sex for lubrication, but don’t always get enough notice!

HTh.

Oestrogen pessaries. Absolute game changer for me with similar issues. And yes lube (not moisturiser) during sex in ample amounts and yes moisturisers in the day if feeling a little dry

Have a look at this. It works for vaginal atrophy.

https://issviva.co.uk/products/joylux-device

I haven't. I'll look into it.

@MumzSuki I find the Yes VM annoyingly runny! Did you find it irritated you at first?
I haven't heard of Hyalofemme, will look at that now. Xx

My GP prescribed Vagifem when I was so uncomfortable I couldn't have a smear test. It just about helped enough to have a smear test about a month later but it never improved the situation enough for me to have sex again. It's just too uncomfortable so I have to admit I gave up.

I was initially surprised at how runny Ys vm is; and skeptical about its effectiveness, but I have to say it definitely made a difference. No irritation.

I’ve only recently added Hyalofemme to my schedule; ChatGPT recommended it; it’s hyaluronic acid, which seems to work in facial moisturizers. It’s easy to buy from Amazon.

The initial game changer for me was Vagifem and I’d say the others are add ons compared to that. I was reluctant to see a dr about any of this but was prescribed Vagifem after just a phone call.

Meant to say you need to use Yes VM little tubes. I also got a tube of VM and wasn’t sure what to do with it, unclear how to apply it internally, it’s so runny.

I just buy the Gina oestrogen pessaries from an online pharmacy. It’s not very expensive and much less hassle than the GP. No mess at all as you insert with an applicator. I have been using them for a few months and I am really pleased with the results. No more sandpaper feeling or pain.

I bought the wee tubes on subscription. Based on your results I will start using them again with the Vagifem, hopefully I can get it tomorrow 😊
Xx

Oh no that's my fear, it's that painful I feel like I have an open sore or similar on one side of the vaginal wall. I know its not the be all and end all but we have always had a good sex life and I would be fed up if this continued as bad as it is at the moment. Xx

Don’t lose hope! The pessaries are really effective. Sex had started to be very painful for me too. It gradually got worse over time from a bit dry to actually too painful to try at all and using lube was not doing anything but the Gina pessaries have honestly put everything back to how it was within a couple of months. From what I see on here and IRL lots of women find this a game changer.

@ThePure thank you, you've made me feel better this afternoon about it all. Flips sake getting older is no picnic for us women 😒 😂