I am so very frustrated! This vaginal dryness is really getting to me. I am 56, went through a hysterectomy but kept ovaries. I have been on bioidentical hormones for probably 7 years now.
I have tried every cream, lubricant, moisturizer on the market, and NOTHING! Nothing at all helps give me any lubrication.
My hubby is so incredibly understanding, but I am just sick of getting him and I both soaked from using an entire bottle of this or that every time we are intimate. And it still doesn't even help!
Does anyone have anything that has helped at all??
I am sorry to vent, but I am at the end of knowing what to do. Thanks everyone so much!
Designer
Hi Designer,
My gynaecologist prescribed estriol creme (note: NOT estradiol) for that purpose. It's called Physiogine and manufactured by Schering Plough. If used on a regular basis it does give me relief in that department.
Good luck,
Maria
There are also the inserts you can get that shaped like a large pearl that you can put in the vagina ahead of time for lubrication. They might be made by Replens or Rephresh. Not sure. But hey dissolve and release a ton of lube so you can plan ahead. Then you can use extra while you are intimate if you need it as well, and you might need less.
You've probably tried it, but we love Astroglide. It's usually with the KY in drug stores.
I just started having dryness down there I think.... Dumb question what are the symptoms? I have a burning sensation and when I sit sometimes it burns. Im recently order sea buckthorn omega-7, it says it helps with overall dryness. Will see
Dryness during intercourse is one thing...and usually it feels so good I don't mind the dryness. However, getting to that point is another issue for me. Sometimes I find myself rubbing myself so raw that I don't want anything to do with anyone touching me. We are childless for a few days. I turned away from him last night. Today I'm not rubbing myself as I don't itch right now. And maybe if it stays that way all day, I will be ok. I usually get that itch as I wipe myself after going to the bathroom.
Flowerchild, you are probably talking about the KY liquibeads....I have tried them before, but thanks for the reminder, I can give them another shot.
Jenny, I have tried Astroglide, and its one of the most slippery lubricants! Still nothing:(
I am using a compounded vaginal cream along with hormone therapy, and nothing!
LisaMarie, how do you do it? What I mean, lol is if you are that dry, how can you and hubby physically even make it work? Oh to go back to the good ole days:)
Designer
Quote from: DesignerS on January 10, 2013, 08:52:34 AM
LisaMarie, how do you do it? What I mean, lol is if you are that dry, how can you and hubby physically even make it work? Oh to go back to the good ole days:)
Designer
To be honest, it is just so rare that it even happens that I don't know. I'm going to really start being aggressive in finding a way to make it work for me. I miss it. It was like I hit my sexual peak and then fell off of a cliff.
Hi Designer, You will probably make things worse by stressing about it.
See a Gyno, and get the hormone cream, stop trying too hard as abstainance can make it happen after a while.
Good luck, Dolly
LisaMarie, that is what I am trying to do right now. I am working so hard trying to find something that will help. Good luck to you too!! Let's share any good ideas! lol
Designer
@Cindy....A while back when I was younger the dryness was so bad it felt like my vaginal walls were stuck together! No wetness at all.
Now that I am 50 and peri-menopausal it is actually better for some reason but we do need some help. Maybe because I am on a BC pill and get the extra estrogen I am better.
Most of my issues are "external" to that region. So, once inside, I enjoy it. It is an area called the perineal area? (between the two holes) I have had this for as long as recent memory can go. I know I didn't always have this. I do not have a yeast infection. The itching is terrible at times (most of the time). I have scars/dark spots there from me creating sores. Sometimes I cause it to make the rest of the area down below so sore, that it all hurts.
Now that I have my sjogren's diagnosis, I plan on really getting into a more in depth discussion with my gyn about dryness and itching in that area. Really look at what I can do so I can want to be more active again.
BTW...I will admit. I am somewhat active more so than my husband in that I will masturbate (blushing big time) without him because I know how to do it without hurting myself in the perineal area. I think I am still in my peak. And want it. Just really afraid.
I just called today to schedule my yearly for the beginning of March.
Hi Designer,
You should consider trying Yes. It comes in a water-based and in an oil based lubricant. I use both at the same time. It has helped me tremendously; to the point where I'm not having to use it anymore.
To find it, search on the web for Yes Lubricant and go to their homepage. They are located in the UK. I am in the US and have ordered from them with no problems.
Good Luck :)
Hi Shade:) I actually have a drawer full of "yes" product:) I have only tried the water based and it hasn't helped very much. What do you think of the oil based?? Do you think it helps more then the water based? I would love to know how you feel about the two of them. Thanks everyone!
Designer
Ive been dealing with this for last 7 years since my total hyster, and went to sooo many doctors, tried all the natural and over the counter
stuff, and nothing really lasts..the only thing they all said was you have to use vaginal estrogen, like estrace or premarin etc.
My uro-gyno said its really amazing how fast it works, and the tissues get thicker, and also helps with bladder as well.
There is also a product called vagifem...talk with your gyno.
Gursie
This is great timing on this post. I am going out in the world again and meeting people after having shut myself off for a few years because I didnt feel well, and a bad breakup. But I was wondering about this last night as I lay in bed, since I havent used it in about 3 years I wonder if it will function now with sjs and all the other illness :o. I dont want to shut myself off crawl in a hole and wait for death to come, I want to have some fun and fall in love again. But I also am afraid I wont be able to do the things that couples do to keep the relationship happy 'wink wink'
I guess I am posting this because I met a few people over the last couple of days, and there is the possibility dating again etc. I mean there are days I feel like dying, and days I feel I could run a marathon. How do you explain to people you cant go rock climbing today or plan a trip because you are not sure how you will feel. Thats the relationship killer right there.
Been dealing with this for a long time and finally talked to primary who is a female and she wrote RX for a twice weekly insert of a vagifem tablet and a month later I am not hurting when I pat dry or get intimate. Using less slippery stuff too. Some of those products made my insides feel like a blowtorch had been used on me. I only use the ones that are labeled sensitive or natural.
Quote from: grammad97 on January 11, 2013, 11:06:09 AM
Some of those products made my insides feel like a blowtorch had been used on me.
That was how I felt when I used a yeast infection treatment. I don't think I had one though but did it anyway just to prove that I still would have issues therefore did not have a yeast infection.
does the dryness cause frequent urge to urinate?rhuemy says it can.. just checking
also does oral difluconac( for yest ) cause worse dryness????
:P
Yes, If your dry, you probably have some bladder issues..thinning tissues cause this. The urge to urinate will increase, as mine has. Feels like an infection, but normally its not. All my docs recommended vaginal estrogen....My rheumy uses it, and just uses a dab of the cream and rubs it on (not using the insert). I still have to try it. I used vagifem a few years back, but didnt like my side effects. I have estrace and premarin cream Im going to try now. Im super sensitive to any type of estrogen, so Im kinda stuck. Been using this natural cream from a company called
Thursday plantation..tea tree feminine cream...it has a cooling effect. I use it all the time.
Ive been on oral diflucan for years, daily, and if anything, it should help against the yeast, which really can cause dryness.
Gursie
Gurs..
bloodwork shows i have plenty of estrogen.. infact am on a natural progesterone cream to balance out estrogen domiance...
i asked gyn about estrogen and she said i had plenty and the topic ended....
just want to get to root cause and treat
btw, if yeast was the prob- atfer 4 days on 200 mg wouldnt i see some imoprovement? now wondering if its a bacterial infection that i was treated for in oct that maybe didnt get totally eradicated...???????
I didn't know you could take Diflucan for months or even years! I just took one 100 mg tablet since I just finished an antibiotic.
The vaginal estrogen cream is not helping, the HRT is not helping, and none of the lubricant/moisturizers have helped to this point. I guess this is going to be a battle for the rest of my life...until we are too old to care about that kind of intimacy;) LOL
I did, however, pick up some coconut oil! Which really isn't an oil, it is more like shortening. If my hubby doesn't mind the smell of a fresh picked coconut, maybe it will help :-\
Designer
Ive been on diflucan for years because of my severe systemic yeast, and low immune issues, landed me in the hospital with
esphogeal candida..was super bad. All started when my hormones went nuts after hyster. I still have yeast issues, but it seems
to keep it under control ( a bit) with tons of probiotics and supplements daily..oral nystatin..ughhh.
A friend of mine had major issues until she got her thyroid dose corrected, now she is yeast free for the most part.
I guess if everything else checks out, has to be the darn SS....I remember even as a young girl, the dryness and pain
down there..horrible, horrible, disease isnt it?
hope you guys find something (me too) that works. Wish I had some more answers.
Gursie
I have a lot of these issues, but because I had a blood clot in my leg several years ago, they won't give me any kind of hormone.
I don't want another blood clot, but I have not even had the opportunity to have a hormone of any kind to see if it might help me to feel better.
Any ideas????
susanep :)
Susanep
As I understand it, the vaginal oestrogen isn't absorbed in the same way as other forms of HRT and is a lot smaller dose. Could you get advice about it? It certainly helps with atrophy, which is a big cause of dryness/discomfort.
Kathyx
Has anyone tried condoms?
I am on the pill and petrified of getting pregnant if I miss a pill. When this happens we use condoms. I like them. I buy lubricated ones and have success.
I thought I would suggest it because you had said that you both get covered in lube. Condoms make for very easy clean up and because of sensation loss hubby can play longer.
even if condoms are not needed it can add some spice, something different. And you can try ribbed or the hot and cold sensation ones.
I was looking for female condoms, which would be really helpful. I can't find any. Sharon
For some odd reason, now I can find them. They are at drugstores. I figure it would protect me from irritation.
Sharon
I talked with many gyno's-hormone specialist about the vaginal estrogen and absorbtion of them etc.
They do get into the bloodstream....i noticed right away after first trying vagifem..my legs hurt, tummy, headache. My docs
all agree the more you use them, the more the estrogen will build up. So, if your not supposed to use estrogen, I wouldnt try it.
Even on the insert labels on them, it does indicate its systemic...not sure how many dont think that if you put it in your vagina, that
its just going to stay there or something? ha ha?? I know the dose is much lower, and some women use vaginal estrogen alone and
get great relief from all their menopause issues?
Gursie
I just started premarin last night! Holy cow! $200 for a 1.06 ounce tube! It says it has 30 doses. Use for 7 days and then twice a week.
My gyno commented that I was transitioning into menopause and that all he saw down there was dryness everywhere and age spots.
I go back this week for a vaginal ultrasound as the first step to see what is going on with my bladder. He suspects Interstitial Cystitis. That is the inexpensive test, the others will be the expensive ones.
I'm also going to try a probiotic feminine supplement called RepHresh Pro-B. It is supposed to blance yeast and bacteria to maintain feminine health.