This is my first time to post. I've just been reading others for advise. So here goes. I have been diagnosed with vaginal atrophy after 4 frustrating months of suffering. Why don't Doc say they don't know instead of guessing. Anyway, I am on estriol vaginal cream. I guess it is working because I feel some better. However, I still am irritated on outside of the vagina. It kills to sit at first and sometimes it swells if walking alot. Should I, could I be using something on the outside to help Or should the estriol be doing the trick. When I put estriol cream on the outside it swells. Feels funky. OK I'll see if this works. Someone answer me please.

I have also been diagnosed with vaginal atrophy and lichen sclerosis and have been given the estriol cream to use. I get a lot of little tiny cuts or fissures on the outer area and sometimes it seems like the cream irritates that. I had to have them change the cream that they mix the estriol with because in the beginning I think it was irritating my skin more than helping it. I have tried the combination of jojoba oil, chamomile oil and tee tree oil that is listed on one of the other posts and that helps a little sometimes. I also use " butt paste " now and then which is actually a diaper ointment that you can get at Walmart or on drugstore.com. . I guess it is just a matter of what works for you - I keep trying different things hoping for a "miracle " some where along the way. I am also debating whether to try something else I read about - someone said that betamannan supplement from Alotek helped them - they mixed it with KY jelly or warm water and applied it vaginally. Hope some of this is a help.

Check out this article that Dearest has provided for us: Midlife Sexuality, Relationships / Vaginal Dryness. There's lots of good info in there. Also, Dearest had Dr. Elizabeth G. Stewart as a guest in Power Surge. She's director of the Stewart-Forbes Vulvovaginal Specialty Service at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates. Dr. Stewart is also Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Harvard Medical School and a member of Brigham and Women's Hospital staff. She speaks extensively about vulvovaginal disease to medical professionals, and works with lay groups to promote awareness that the vulva and vagina are important parts of women's health. There's more about her here. Dr Stewart's transcript is available in the Power Surge Transcript Library along with hundreds of other fantastic guests. Her book would probably be most helpful to you. It's called The V Book: A Doctor's Guide To Complete Vulvovaginal Health, and it is an extension of her lectures, her clinical experience with patients, and patient-education materials she has prepared for them.

Mary's already given you the first article I'd point to with regard to any issues of vaginal dryness, pain during intercourse, imtimate relationship suggestions during perimenopause. You can read Dr. Elizabeth Stewart's here Additional articles: Maintaining Vaginal Health at Menopause and Atrophic Vaginitis and Sexuality

Thanks everyone who answered me. This is working great for me so far. My Dr. put me on bio-identical estro and prog. orally. This will also help my osteopenia and anxiety so I was all for it. Then....in the morning monistat on outside of vagina with zinc oxide. At night.....estriol cream. I felt great in a couple of weeks. Now......vitamin e at night and estriol cream only if it flares up. I will go off the oral hormones after a few months with just estriol cream vaginally. So far so good. In my prayers is that everyone finds a great Dr. like mine, finds their way to power-surge, and stays positive.

Almost forget.....I also wash twice a day with Aveeno soap and cool water. This hint I found here from one of the Drs. I think it has been very important because it relieves the burning and swelling when I was miserable and takes away sweat and the days activities.

Hi, I have suffered for almost 9 months with this. I have found that the estrogin cream just on the outside helps alot. Also I went to a beauty supply store and bought a few of those bottles that you put color in to color your hair. They were 59 cents. Every time I use the bathroom I put a vitimin E capsule in the bottle and warm water and rinse after going to the bathroom. This has helped a lot. I ended up quitting my job in Feburary and having a breakdown the pain has been so bad. With this I also had 12 UTI infections do to the dryness, which of course caused major yeast infections. The pain I went through and still have at times is just more than I think a person should have to bare. Most of my drs are not understanding at all, so I am on a quest to find someone who does. Good luck Nancy

i to suffer with this and have for a couple of years. i dont want to use any of the estrogen creams cause im so senitive to everything!! im thinking of trying some of the herbs for this. has anyone tried them??? thanks marti

I have not tried herbs, but have used vitimin E in this area and has helped some, The estrogen cream does burn at certain times. But at least I am having a few days of relief now. Nancy

I don't suffer the itching or uncomfortable feelings that I just read about, but intercourse is near impossible. My vagina has shrunk. My husband left me and our girls almost three years ago (I'm very glad) and I worry that I will not be able to have the "joy in sex" that I use to have and I won't be able to give another man that pleasure. I'm looking for advise, suggestions. I have used the estro cream and prefer it on the outer area of the vagina. I also worry about estrogen as I am sensitive to it or the estrogen receptors are. Looking forward to hearing anything.

I'm new to the group and could use some feedback. I'm 61 and have been in meno since age 53. I've had slight vaginal bleeding on and off for years. I had two endrmetrial biopsies throughout those years. Both negative.

I use monistat almost all the time as I feel as if I have an infection. Not sure that I always do as I also have severe vaginal atrophy.

The doctors seem to think the atrophy and/or using the monistat all the time is causing it. I do have an appointment next week for a sonogram.

Has anyone else had this experience and can you shed some light for me? Each time it happens I get scared but guess after so many years it probably is a vaginal problem.

Thanks.

Jean

I just discovered something that, at least in my case which is severe, has come close to a --- dare I say it --- cure for vaginal atrophy. At least for now and this is just the first day.

I was about ready to give in to estrogeon cream. But I went to the health food store and got some aloe vera gelly and vitamin E suppositories. I used them last night and the pain, itching, burning and other discomfort left. The entire day today was symptom-free.

Now I've seen some of these things mentioned here before so I'm sure I didn't really discover it. But I did want to share it.

jean

Dear Jean:

I have to get an endometrial biopsy in two weeks. I read above you've had two. What was your experience like. Did they hurt???? Thanks!

Red

Jean - Dearest has posted a lot of information about vaginal atrophy here:

http://www.power-surge.com/educate/sexuality.htm

I hope this helps!!

Also.... you can look through the series of topics here:

http://www.power-surge.com/educate.htm

I'm sure you will agree.... this website is a Godsend!!!

Welcome to Power-Surge, you're in great company!!

I was diagnosed with vaginal atrophy a couple of years ago. Intercourse was absolutely miserable. It was so painful and I would bleed afterwards. The gynecologist gave me a prescription for vagifem. They are small tablets that you insert vaginally for 14 days (one each night) and then I insert one on Monday nights and one on Thursday nights. It is a small amount of estrogen that just goes directly to the vagina and I could not believe the difference. I quit taking it about 6 months ago and within a month the atrophy was back and intercourse was painful again. I am postmenopausal since 2000.

Hope this helps!

Additional articles Dearest has provided on Power Surge:

Maintaining Vaginal Health at Menopause and Atrophic Vaginitis and Sexuality

Dr. Elizabeth Stewart's guest transcript also deals with Vulvovaginal Health. She wrote a book called The V Book: A Doctor's Guide to Complete Vulvovaginal Health

You can read Dr. Elizabeth Stewart's transcript here

I have been to the doc. for internal vag pain that he says is granulation ( I had a vag. hyst last Nov.) He did a silver nitrate treatment a couple of weeks ago but I still feel very uncomfortable. I am also red and irritated on the outside of the vagina and it feels very swollen. Pain gets worse with sitting and walking. I was reading your posts and i wonder if I have vaginal athrophy. I now have a cystocele (since surgery) and wonder why doc did not mention vag. athrophy. Should I go back and mention this to him - so many questions - so little answers.
I am tired of feeling like crap. Thanks for your input I love you gals.

i also suffer from the same problem!! so you are not alone- I have found that I can not wear pants that rub as it will cause blisters. Have found the following things helpful- the mixture of jojoba oil and tea tree oil - i use that ever day - it offers tremendous relief. the vagianl estrogen creams- and even replens i find VERY irriating- Are you on any estrogen creams? because before i Started estrogen vaginally it was even worse. lack of estrogen is horrible on the vagina.... I have switched the vagi fem estrogen tablet suppostioty tablets and use those 3 times a week on the days i do not use them i insert a vitamin e capsule directly into the vagina- this offers alot of relief also- when it is really bad- and i get blisters- i have used pure aloe vera gel on the lips- and put that on each time go to the bathroom- might i add that the blisters and having to pee are really not good- and sometimes it is so bad i use a spray water bottle as i pee- ahh the joys of menoapuse!!!.
problem with some of the vaginal estrogen creams is they have alchol in them- so i read ALL labels. even the smallest of dryness and alchol can cause a blister!! UGG. am experemnintg with making my own ointment- trying some slippery elm capsules powder and have mixed with aloe vera gel- soothing- anyway else try other natural remedies? or know where you can buy comfrey ointment which has no alchol?

I've learned several things over the years that may be helpful to others. First, I stopped using soap on my vagina; I clean with warm water only, unless I am planning on being intimate. Second, I wear only cotton crotch underwear and wash it without soap or any chemicals in the dryer. I learned that when your vulva is irritated, if you lean forward when you are peeing on the toilet, the urine doesn't touch the skin. Running cool water over the area after peeing also helps.

HI - i have just found this site and it is a godsend. i am 33 and for the past 6 months had vaginal atrophy with no treatment. My labia tore down both sides and it was then that I went to the Doctor. I am being tested for hormone imbalance and early menopause tomorrow but have regular periods still. Does your sensitivity and ability to orgasm diminish as i find it so difficult now and it is making me incredibly low?

Any help or experiences will be hugely helpful.

thanks Lizzie

yes- ability to have orgasim was affected after went into menopause. went to testrone cream which apply to thighs or clitoris after 3 weeks was then able to have orgasim again. went off it to have my hormones tested and could not believe once again could not have orgasim. so ask your doctor for testrone cream ( ask it to be mixed in either eucerin cream or water based cream) and apply small amount at night and within 3 weeks you will see a difference. if your testorone blood test shows low levels and you are in menopause already- then you need it. also found that once started vag-fem estrogen tabs it also helped when combined with the testrone cream. without the vagi-fem tabs I had blisters and bleeding because of the severe dryness.

oh- should mention that in the beginning i noticed took a long time to have an orgasim and after a month or so of that i had completly lost the ability to have one. and that once built up a low level with the cream was able to have it again. hope this helps you

Is it possible to have vaginal dryness bleeding at times other than sexual intercourse? Can you irritate the lining after urinating and perhaps wiping yourself too hard?

Noddles886,
For vaginal atrophy, signs and symptoms are:

Vaginal dryness
Vaginal itching and burning
Watery vaginal discharge
Burning, pain or irritation on urination
Light bleeding after intercourse
Painful sexual intercourse
Contribute to incontinence
Urinary frequqncy
Increase risk of vaginal infections (vaginitis) caused by bacteria
Cause open sores or cracks in the vaginal wall

I obtained the above inforamtion from the Mayo clinic website on vaginal atrophy.

So in answer to your question, the blood may be due to atrophy but it also could be a very, very light spotting. There are ways that the doctor can determine if you have vaginal atrophy, so please check with the doctor, but also how you feel is very important too.

Hope you are feeling better.

Plumeria

Plumeria, thanks for typing all of this in. I needed to read that myself!

ok its happened...
I'm dry.

Now the song "how dry I am" applies to me!

I have 6 words for you:

K-Y Warming Ultra Gel Personal Lubricant



No kidding.... it makes all the difference in the world. It was awkward to bring this up to the man in my life, but he was great about it. Now he wants to use it even if it's not needed!! He thinks we should buy stock!! LMAO!!

This is my first time posting. When I had my annual exam in October, my doctor said I had vaginal atrophy. I'm 57. I had been having some discharge and had also had an episode of urethral syndrome. I have been searching everywhere, wondering if anyone else feels a kind of oozy, yucky feeling with atrophic vaginitis. That's the only way I know to describe it.

Susan

I don't know if I posted in the correct place. I really would like to talk to someone about vaginal atrophy and this feeling I'm having.
Thanks.

Susan

Hiya Susan and Merry Christmas.
I needed to take a break I was feeling a lil woozy with the cleaning and all and I tend to get BP spikes around this time so a break was good.
Yes I do get the oozy , yucky feeling with the vaginitis thing and have had this for a long while but it has gotten a bit better these recent months.
The key is to keep it moist. Also I stopped washing with soap and use a feminine wash by summers eve really helped. Also I use Replens you can find it at walmart its great, you can use it every other day. Now sometimes you do get a lil bit of an orange dishcarge but who cares when it works, it works for me.
I also use the kyjelly lubricant before having a joyful time with hubby. I also use a salve I found that really helps pm me it you want the info on it.
Also I drink cranberry juice and try and take probiotics and eat yogurt.
Hope this helps,
Tinkybug

Tinkybug,

Thank you SO much for responding. I have been going crazy worrying about this and thinking maybe something else was wrong with me. The oozy feeling is hard to describe, as well as the yucky. It almost feels like a period used to but without the bleeding. Is that sort of what you have had? I'm not using any kind of estrogen cream or anything but I put on some cream my doctor had given me for urethral syndrome.

Susan

Hi,

It's me again. Just wondering if anyone else out there has experienced what I'm describing with the atrophic vaginitis. As you can probably guess, I do have problems with anxiety, and it would help to know that this is normal, if there is such a thing. I don't know how women deal with this, if the oozy, nasty feelings stay.

Susan

Read the article, Atrophic Vaginitis, found in "Important Topics" at the top of this forum at: http://www.power-surge.com/php/forums/index.php?showtopic=6816

This is just the message board part of www.power-surge.com which has a wealth of information and articles about menopause and other women's midlife issues.

Phoebe,
Now have you kind of marked on the calender when these days are happening? Thats what I started to do and figured out for me that I get this after my period. I get some spotting now, the dryness and the oozy yukky feeling.
Now what I found very important is not to go all wacko over it, I try and distract myself and dont dwell on it.
I go out and exercise as best I can. I will try and take it easier those days, make simple dinners etc.
It will ususally last from a few days to a week.
So mark on the calender and see if there is a pattern so at least you can try and see when it passes.
Take care,
Tinks

Tinkybug, thanks for the advice about the Feminine Wash by Summer's Eve! I will be buying some of that tomorrow! That has been a big challenge, finding a soap that will clean the rest of me and not hurt my vulva!

Hey SilverHair,
I hope this helps you , you know I have had a horrible time with this vaginal dryness, and soreness and burning just a real tough time thses past years.
If you want the name of that vulva salve I order on line PM me and I will send it to you, also did you try the Replens yet, Vite E oil, Calendula its real thick and stay firm up there on on the vulva.
There are so many things to try but its trial and error to see what works for you.
Take care
Tinkybug

I have found 100% Emu oil to work wonderful for dryness, atrophy, and
irritation. There are even some scientific clinical research on Emu oil.

icedancer

Hi Icedancer!

Haven't seen you in ages...

EMU OIL? OMG, the things we do to get relief in perimenopause!

(Just kidding..."

JJ

Hi JJ! That is sweet you remember me. I hope you are doing well. You
have so many thoughtful and supportive posts on Powersurge over
the years and have helped many women. Your long-term posting
has meant so much to me and I'm sure others as well. You are
deeply appreciated.

Icedancer

So, could anyone tell me how do you know if it's vaginal atrophy or just plain dryness? All I know is that I have been trying all kinds of creams, cleansers, vitamin E, triple oil, etc. etc.-and I still have horrible pain mainly on the outside of my vagina. Doctor insists that it isn't yeast or bacterial infection. He says he will try me on estrogen cream when I come back in another month and a half if I still feel like this. Lord-give me strength-I work a desk job and it is really trying to sit all day.

I Just wanted to say that I have suffered with the Vaginal Astrophy (spelling) and sometimes I think its just plain dryness I think its the same thing, in my opinion. All I know its been hell.
I have tried many things also but recently I found that Calendula has really been working quite well, and when it acts up I use Replens which you can buy at walmart. Now the Calendula I buy is by Hylands and its called Calendula Off .1x you can probably google it or go to your nearest herbal store. Now it has to be a good herbal store because some of the so called natural stores dont carry this good stuff.
Hope it helps,
Tinkybug

I think it's hell too. I just know that it hurts so bad somedays that it's all I can think about. I'm only 38 and I feel like my sexuality is over. Bless my husband for being so understanding, but I get depressed just thinking about dealing with this everyday for the rest of my life. I'm way too young for this. And the fact that I work with only men doesn't help matters any.

Hi Ladies,

My dryness has become so bad I have tried daily applications of Replens ( at the manufacturer's suggestion) salves, acupuncture, sitz baths, vitaman E, herbal infusions and supplements and so much more. Nothing helped me. I have now resorted to the Vagifem as I know that it works very well. I'm just a bit nervous of the estrogen but I got to the point where my quality of life was so bad that I decided to go for it. I am not exaggerating, I hurt 24/7.

Just to let you know what my dryness felt like: Burning raw reddened just on the inside lips and entrance area. Swollen and hot to the touch. I felt like a large tampon was inserted wrong. I had a pressure in the bladder area and had to urinate very often. Sex was very painful even with extra lubes. Wearing jeans really hurt even baggy ones. I was thoroughly checked for every disease, uti and even pregnancy and it was just very low levels of estrogen.

It will take about two weeks for me to feel completly better but at least there is a light at the end of the tunnel

Hey, yes-that is exactly how it is for me too! And the feeling of having to urinate constantly is such a drag. Please let us know if the Vagifem works out for you, because I know that I want to definitely try it too. Good luck to you.

Hi Dakotalady,

I too work with all men and I have to wear jeans to work everyday. I agree that you are to young for this as I thought that I was and I'm 47 and still getting a period albeit not very predictably. I'm on day 2 of the Vagifem and I have relief already from the urination pressure and a tiny bit less burning. I am still continuing acupuncture as it is really helping me with my other symptoms and last night I only woke up once! I'll keep you posted with my results.

Has anybody tried the Estring - which is a slow release ring of estrogen, worn high internally.

I'm on a pretty strong dose of estrogen, higher than the Vivelle/Estradot patches, and am finally feeling a tad more comfy. At least I can walk my dog without making a production out of it (just got over yet another yeast infection. I haven't had those in 30 years!!!!)

Shakti

I'm interested in the estring because its estroil, same as the cream the doctor is thinking of for DakotaLady. Doctors like it better because it's the weakest form of estrogen AND it's not metabolized through the liver, like other oestrogens. They feel its pretty safe.

Dakota

I used the premarin cream, 2 grams a day, high inside. I was more comfy using that than I have with oestrogen therapy. But it didn't do jack for insomnia, flushing, this weird feeling of walking uphill on a huge ferry... oh the list is too long.

Oh yes, the insomnia, anxiety and hot flashes. It's such a magical time. I can deal with the hot flashes-but the insomnia and anxiety are something else. I have been on progesterone cream for about a month and a half. Has alleviated some of that "tense abdomen" anxiety and a lot of my weepiness. Thankfully, I now sleep again thanks to trazedone, an old AD that didn't work well as an AD, but was found to be a good sleep aid for some of us. I had tried Effexor and Zoloft because my old doctor kept telling me they would help me sleep again. Wrong! Only compounded the anxiety not to mention I had chronic diarrhea with them. It sure would be nice if there was one pill that could take care of all the symptoms we have. Never in my life did I have so many supplements, creams, and prescriptions.

Mine gave me Effexor too, saying it would put a stop to the flushing. It did curb it, but I couldn't get over the 37.5 dose. In 13 days of using the small dose, I didn't sleep more than 3 hours, it caused anorexia, and the doom! Dear Lord, I thought I was on the point of having my personality, my mind shatter into 3 separate pieces. Kind of like watching through someone go from normal to multiple personalities in a fortnight.

esh. Sleep again. esh.

Duch and Dakotalady,

When I went to the Doc the other day I asked for the Estring. She suggested that I use the Vagifem as the Estring delivers a constant and uncontrollable dose while I can use the Vagifem once a week instead of twice. I know that the Estring delivers a small dose but so does the Vagifem. She really wanted me to try the Premarin cream but the horse treatment controvesy (sp?) made me shy away.

I'm not sure that this is related but on the Vagifem you take it everyday for two weeks, I took my third day dose and slept all through the night for the first time in forever it seems. My vagina went from burning raw and constant pee pee to feeling like I have a pair of jeans on that are slightly rubbing me. I'm praying that I don't trade one symptom for some other, but so far so good.

Thanks Its good to know what our options are.

Did you dr say if you could use it a bit more frequently, to try to get past that tight jeans thingee?