Hi, all. I'm new to this forum and have spent the better part of the day reading all the posts I can get my hands on. However, I can't seem to find any info on the main symptom I'm having. My vagina, through a few years of celibacy, has shrunk. Shrunk so much that penetration is practically impossible and really painful. (Some of this is due to the fact that I have never had children, or stretched my vaginal canal in that way.) Regrettably, although I have spent these celibate years trying to keep my 'plumbing' working myself, I guess the toys I was using were not really large enough to keep me wide enough for pain-free sex. My doctor (at my insistence) has put me on Vagifem. I am also using Replens. I have read about introital stenosis (shrinking of vaginal opening) and the narrowing of the vaginal canal on the internet, but wondered if anyone else here has suffered from these symptoms? I have also ordered dilators on the internet (but have not received them yet). Here, I thought I was getting away with menopause so well: I have not had my period in 5 years, had a total of 3 hot flashes, wasn't really dry, etc. I did have a little urge incontinence, which I at first thought was because I drink 2 quarts of water a day. However, the Vagifem stopped this problem within 2 or three applications. Anyway, if anyone else has had this shrinkage, I would be interested to know what they did about it, and (impatiently...) how long it took before they could have proper, pain-free penetration again. Thanks.

Hi Bex and welcome to Power Surge.
Please try not to worry too much about vaginal shrinkage as it is reversible.
Vagifem is good although I found it had side effects for me. I found it took quite a few weeks before it worked but I completely lost my libido whilst on it so it was counter-productive!
After I had a total hysterectomy and ovaries removed due to cancer of the uterus I was no longer allowed Vagifem anyway.
I had dreadful shrinkage of the vagina and sex was painful but I refused to give up!
I found Replens helpful but it was not enough on its own.
Once I was allowed to have it, a little estriol cream around the outside was enough to stop the soreness.
I think as you so rightly say, you have to keep stretching everything in order to keep it working. "If you dont use it you lose it" as they say. The dilators will work fine I am sure and a partner even better!
janet c

I have never heard it called introital stenosis but if that is what we call vaginal atrophy which is thinning of the vaginal walls, loss of ability to stretch and vaginal dryness and shrinking yes that is what I have. I have only ever heard it called vaginal atrophy or atrophic vaginitis.
I use estrace vaginal estrogen cream for it. It took 8 weeks for it to work for me. I have read that if the atrophy is severe it can take a full 6 to 12 months to completely reverse the atrophy.

Introital stenosis is apparently the term they use for the symptom of the narrowing of the vaginal opening. It's one of many symptoms of atrophic vaginitis. I have heard also that local estrogen can help this, and have been on Vagifem for 6 weeks, but so far, with no effect that I can notice. Regrettably, patience has never been one of my virtues.....

vagifem takes longer to work than the creams. many doctors will first prescribe the cream to be used for 3 weeks and then switch to vagifem to maintain the effects. Since you started with vagifem and it sounds like your symptoms are severe it could take a while for you to see results. I would either give it another 6 weeks or ask to be switched to the estrace cream.

I now live in Ireland (originally from New York), and had asked for the creams (like Premarin, etc.) to start, only to be advised that they no longer sell the creams in Ireland. It's Vagifem or nothing. Ugh! So I guess I have to learn some patience. Thanks!

yep there are lots of us here who have been through it, you should read the threads on vaginal atrophy.
It is reversible with vaginal estrogen.