Hello Ladies,

This is by far the most responsive and well monitored board in the world, and although there is already so much information regarding my topic, I am finding it difficult to sift through it all and come up with a solid answer. So even though I'm not sure I should start a new topic, here goes:

I've been trying to avoid using any non-natural products for vaginal dryness/atrophy and the accompanying pain, burning, itching and unmanageable discomfort this causes. I've tried every natural oinment, gel, balm recommended in these boards over the last few years. Nothing works for me. I have mild diabetes that is very well controlled by two daily pills and a very good diet. I exercise regularly and have finally lost much of the weight that accumulated at the start of menopause. I am 51 yrs old and have been officially menopausal for about 2 years.

That said, I've finally broken down and started using Vagifem. My gyno says it should be safe and suggests it might, after a few months, encourage the return of a "healthy vagina." I am so depressed over my unhealthy vagina these days that I finally decided to give it a shot. The psychological ramifications of having a stilted sex life that always brings with it the promise of pain is just more than I can deal with. I've remained optimistic as the last couple years passed, trying everything everyone recommended.

The pain I experience is the kind described by others here; a burning tightness that prohibits any spontaneous sexual activity because all I can associate it with now is pain. It's a very alienating and sad daily situation and I'm FED UP!

So here's my question: has anyone had success with vagifem to the point that they've been able to get their sex life back, which in turn permitted them to go off the vagifem? My gyno thinks if I can just make my "area" healthy and flexible again, we'll be able to have sex and that will continue to rejuvinate the area? The entire thing feels like it's SHRINKING to me...just applying that itty bitty vagifem pill with it's skinny applicator was a major production....

Also, the diabetes thing scares me ....I don't require insulin and my numbers are very good. The eight mile long list of contraindications on the insert of the vagifem are terrifying to me...I try to be as natural as possible. Has anyone out there used vagifem successfully without having some sort of "thrombosis" occur, as that nasty insert suggests is a possibility?

Sigh. I don't know if I've phrased these questions well but I'd certainly appreciate any encouragement and hope for what's next.
Thanks so much in advance. My optimism is very low these days. SExuality and the general feeling of connectedness and endorphins and well, LIFE is an essential part of living. I feel deprived and depressed and just want to know how to proceed, safely and confidently.

Thank you in advance for your replies. It's much appreciated.

Hey Sparks,

I am so sorry you are having such painful issues down south.

I am using the vagifem tablets also, although mine was prescribed as a preventative measure as opposed to a treatment for an existing condition. My gyn believes ALL women in menopause should be using it to prevent the dreaded vaginal atrophy that so often accompanies meno.

In spite of the very long list of contra-indictations, vagifem is not considered to be particularly systemic - meaning the hormones are not hitting your blood stream, or at least not in any amount that really matters. I personally feel that estradiol IS NATURAL and is necessary for the health of certain body parts. Even incontinence issues are often helped by using vagifem.

I really don't think you will have thrombosis or anything terribly bad, and hopefully within a few weeks you will be all plumped up down there and will be raring to go!!

((((Sparks)))) I have felt your pain- literally!! As Floater so fabulously put it, you should be "plumped up" in no time! :-)

I use Ovestin Cream, and when I started I used it daily. Now I only use it 2 or 3 times a week and it keeps everything in working order. I have found that atrophy is one of the easier problems to rectify (for ME anyway!) The atrophy I experienced seemed to come on fast! One night I was fine, a week later I was in terrible discomfort.

Good luck, give it some time, and you'll notice a difference before you even test it out ;-)

Sparks, I read your post and nodded the entire way through! You articulated my physical state, vaginally speaking as well as the emotional aspects of this/my situation. I am so sad and so frustrated about the vaginal atrophy/dryness/pain. It's such a loss and my DH and I are trying to figure out what to do. I can't take hormones of any kind - and thus far, nothing else has worked for any length of time and I believe I've tried everything non-hormonal - vit e, vital vulva cream (which worked for a while, but then it was less and less effective), replens, olive oil, etc etc. Is anyone knows ANYTHING NON-HORMONAL that can help, I will be forever grateful.

I hope you get relief soon. I completely empathize with you and know how much it would mean to have this resolved. Take care, Kathleent

Thanks so much to Kathlent, Lianne and Floater!

I really appreciate your quick and comforting replies. It's strange how isolating this condition is even though I've told many friends (many of whom share a component of this discomfort but not quite as bad) and gone to many medical practicioners. It's taken a long time to arrive at this unhappy place and when I think back, no one (maybe even me) took it as seriously as it should have been taken. Try this, do this, eat this, apply this....suggestions given quickly and without too much thought...and I accepted them. When they didn't work I silently started thinking nothing ever would.

Now I'm really facing up to the psychological complexities around the physical limitations, and I'm both angry and determined. I will keep you very kind women posted on my progress. I'm only on day 2 of the vagifem and I'm hoping that in a couple of weeks that ridiculously less-thin-than-a-pencil applicator will no longer hurt like hell when used. (I do appreciate how narrow it is and how tiny the pill itself is...)

I've really been using avoidence as my tactic of dealing with this and interestingly, in all other difficult aspects of my life I've always met things head on. There is definitely a shame component, I'm realizing, that you are not what you used to be, or should be. But from where I sit currently, it seems that larger, more accessible discussion as well as accessible gynos who specialize only in Menopause health would change that. I even find the Christine Northrup PBS special to be somewhat vague in specifics, even though it was certainly informative. I have never heard (other than here on this website ) women saying what essentially I am saying here: My vagina used to be my friend, now it's my arch enemy....and as a result EVERYTHING in my life is affected negatively. It's impossible to openly cultivate desire when that desire will ultimately result in pain, disappointment and frustration. I miss the freedom of not having to think about whether or not my "parts" will function properly. That kind of stilted anxiety ruins any possibility of normal function.

Many thanks again for speaking right up and giving me some sanity. I really appreciate hearing your voices and hearing that it is possible to feel better.