My latest peri "joy" is now with intercourse. I'm 50, on bioidentical progesterone, have had no period since June. Feel pretty good overall, after a pretty intense and bumpy peri-journey the past 2 years. Now ... I am experiencing a sense of pressure (external, on the labia and around my vagina) during intercourse. I don't feel any kind of a sharp pain - it's more of a feeling of pressure somehow - position doesn't really seem to matter. It's almost like the feeling you get when you push on a bruised area - a pressure/tenderness/fullness. During intercourse, I feel more I feel the "bruise-like" tenderness -that does improve a bit - but never really abates. Then, after intercourse, my labia feels tender and almost "swollen/sore" even though our lovemaking was very gentle and slow (sorry if that's too much detail). The soreness/swollen/pressure-like feeling will last a few hours after intercourse and then eventually fade away. I am so frustrated! A girlfriend thought it might be my decreasing estrogen levels? I love my husband so much and now that my other peri stuff has stabilized, we were both looking forward to getting back on track if you will with our sex life - which had always been so good before peri came full blown with migraines, nausea, fatigue, sleep depriation, etc. And now this! I have the kindest and most understanding man in the world - and he and I both are now feeling increasingly hesitant when it comes to sex due to my discomfort and his desire to not cause any for me ... and neither of us want this. Any ideas? Anyone ever had this? I should say that all tests (pap, urinary, etc are all normal). I could use some suggestions. thanks all! Kathleent

hi kathleen,
i can relate to what you are saying...not exactly, per say, but i know what you are talking about...i just recently, have been able to have intercourse, with no or very little pain, again!. it was a nightmare for me, for 2-3 years..me and my husband could not have sex..i had pressure, pain, soreness and a burning sensation. it was terrible..me and my hubby, have always had a great sex life, too! we too, were frustrated, to no end! the dr. kept telling me that there was nothing wrong. i have had my fair share of tests, too, and everything was negative. but, what i want to tell you is this, or more like suggest to you..i have been doing soy protein shakes, with soy milk and Vitamin E & A...they are all suppose to help, in relieving the pain, caused by the peri/menopause. there is a natural phytoestrogen, in soy, i think that is what it is called, which basically is estrogen, and the E & A are natural lubricants. there is an article, here at the site, which tells you what supplements, you can take, that can help you, relieve some of this pain/pressure, that you are having during intercourse. go to the article, about the 34 symptoms of menopause. scroll down to the article about vagina dryness. there you should be able to click on the article, and it will give you a whole list of things, that you can take, to help you get relief. i know that soy, Vitamin A & E, are some of the supplements, that are stated in the article...now, i have been steadily doing the soy protein shakes, with the milk, and the Vitamin E & A, for about 3-4 months. i do take some other supplements, too, but i know these ones, have probably helped me in the sex department.. LOL...and, probably helped me with some of my other symptoms, too..so, read that article, if you get a chance, and you will see, that these supplements can help you, but you will see, that there are others too...well, i hope i might have been of some help. i wish you luck....i hope this might help your sex life, return to some kind of normalcy. i know it has helped me....good luck to you and your hubby! be well...
hugs,
china

If you're not already doing so, I would suggest some lubricant. I had excruciating pain on intercourse (which came on shortly after my hysterectomy), so much pain, in fact, that we did not have sex for a looooong time. We stupidly did nothing about this, until my H decided the answer was to have an affair last year. We're past this now (well, just about), and have overcome the intimacy problems with some Sylk lubricant. There are plenty of others available, but this is quite natural - made from kiwi fruit plant.