About Sex and "Down There"
A sensitive subject but has to be on everyone's mind. I have noticed that since doing chemo, I have really atrophied "down there" and sex is so painful to the point that I want to avoid it altogether. Something that I don't want to do, especially after having such a good sexual relationship with my DH throughout our marriage. But OUCH it really hurts! So I started surfing thru some of the discussion forums to see if there were any good advice, and I noticed how long they had gotten, and just couldn;t get into finding the answers to my questions. My big question is about bioidentical hormones for down there, like progesterone creme or estrogen creme. I noticed there was so much discussion about research and whatever, and I got overwhelmed with all the info. My question is basically, has anyone done these bioidentical cremes down there with a prescript from their gyno, while taking Arimidex? KY jelly just does not do the trick. I'm also very curious about the research on bioidenticals and some of the research they are finding out is beneficial for keeping breast cancer patients from reocurrence.
Comments
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I have not had a problem (yet?) but am leary of any hormones so I would try other options first. KY is one but there is another that I have seen on the boards - Replens I think.
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Yup, my gyne said that studies have been done that see no difference between estrogen creams and replens. she suggested replens. (is dryness the same as atrophy?) But she did say that she has used estrogen creams on a er+ woman and her estrogen blood levels did not move, but I think she did this as an extreme case at request of the woman.
I wish I had more opportunity to know whether sex hurt.
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i had discussed with my oncologist; she said absolutely no hormone creams. Replens works really good., the arimidex really dried me up over a period of time. i didn't notice so much in the earlier years but later on into treatment with arimidex i noticed a difference. but i am 57 too. some of which just might be part of the aging process.
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I understand the whole issue about avoiding hormones when we are ER and PR + but i got this info from the natural girls discussion from a website that was quoted Click here: HRT and Breast Cancer - HRT Takers Survive Longer and it facinated me because I had been on HRT prior to BC, and according to this article, bc survivors who have been on any hormones before or after have a better prognosis for not getting recurrence. Now I am totally confused because I know if I used a bioidentical creme it would help the atrophy "down there" and also now I'm reading the good prognosis info.
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Funny, one of my best friends is the Logistics Manager for Columbia Labs, who makes Replens....I should get her to give us a discount!
I am doing OK "down there", sometimes I need a bit of lubricant, sometimes I don't. All depends on how much foreplay we have.
My Onc just said to use a water based lubricant.
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Is Replens available in Canada?
My Gp said to use Vagisil, but I have heard of Replens being good. I need some help "down there". This is getting ridiculous...Im 32!!!!
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My oncologist had no qualms about giving me the "estring" -- it does have hormones but they are very low dose and it is topical so not much gets to your bloodstream (although it clearly says 'not for people with breast cancer'). And I'm ER+. I decided that for me personally, the potential of a slightly increased risk of recurrence was worth the tradeoff because nothing else worked--I was having a lot of pain even aside from sex and was ready to go off tamoxifen. My dad is a retired oncologist and he freaked a bit when I told him, but then he spoke with some of his former colleagues and they said it was fine. I had no node involvement, so that weighed into my decision, plus I had bilat mast so while I could have a recurrence, I dont' have breast tissue.I realize some would find this controversial, but I really weighted the cost benefit analysis for me personally. I will say that my OBGyn wouldn't give it to me without my oncologist's permission, which was probably the correct approach.
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Yes, it does suck.
No only am I having issues "down there"....I havent slept in 2 days. Im cranky and this morning my husband made a comment that I would normally blow off, but it made me cry!
Sorry to have hijaked the thread....just needed to vent here. And I normally dont do that....
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I am sorry you aren't sleeping-there is NOTHING worse then not sleeping. It makes the days so much harder.
Try Tylenol PM:) I haven't been sleeping either-but thats b-c I am prego. I had a dream last night I died and my husband got back together with his x wife to raise our children.
Now that sucked!!!!
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lexislove, vent all you want, hon. I am one to understand about venting.
Many of you have recommeded Replens. But that is not so much my problem. It's that I believe the lack of hormonal action since BC, the skin in the area down there is thinned and extremely sensitive and feels like it's tearing during sex, no matter how much lubrication. That's why I was wondering about the bioidentical creams to apply there just to thicken the area again. Has anyone reasearched that website that was on the natural girls forum? I'm thinking of making a copy and giving it to my onc and ask him about it.
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Oh, I have "my husband being unfaithful" dreams all the time. I am always cross with him the next day.
Lexis - try a glass of wine and a bath. Usually works for me
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Shana - my Onc did mention something to me when she put me on Arimidex about that happening, and if it did there was something we could do about it. Ask your Family Doctor, I think they can help you out.
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paisley!
Good to see you come out of hiding. All you needed as a discussion about "sex" to get you show yourself. Hmmmm...
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Yes, Replens is available in Canada. I used to get it at Shopper's Drug Mart. Wasn't cheap if I remember correctly. My gyno ended up putting me on Vagifem (prescription) and some cream that was his "own recipe" that is available only at Sunnybrook hospital. Found that combination worked really well. Of course, this was before I was dx with breast cancer. Even though I'm ER/PR negative I hesitate to use it. Fortunately, for some reason that problem has disappeared. Have no idea why, but I'm complaining.
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HI Shana,
I had the same problem with dryness and pain with hubby, although I am taking tamoxifen. I got the ok from my onc. to use some estrogen to help out after trying Replens for a few months. The Replens helped some, but not enough to prevent UTIs after a while from the dryness.
Anyways, I ended up finding an oncologist that has since started a clinic for anti aging medicine. He's actually one of the doctors interviewed in Suzanne Somers' book, "Breakthrough." Dr. Khalid Mahmud. He prescribed a very small amount of Bi-Est cream (vaginally) which has estradiol and estriol in it, and a small amount of testosterone cream (vaginally), and progesterone (sublingually). I no longer have pain or dryness and am working on getting sensation back to normal.
The choice to use estrogen is a very individual one for all of us and one that none of us would take lightly. I did my own research (hours and hours) and felt that using estrogen in this way was something I felt comfortable with.
Feel free to PM me it you want more info.
Best wishes,
Robyn
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I just picked up some over the counter sleep aide. I was sure to check with the Pharmacist that it did not counter act with my Tamoxifen. I will try tonight.
mantra,
I was at Shoppers this afternoon and the pharmacist assistant was younger than me and I just could not bring myself to ask about Replens....lol. I tried to look for it on the shelf but couldnt find any. Ill ask at my next visit.
kerrymac,
I do enjoy a glass of wine now and then, but I find that alcohol now.....keeps me up. In my younger days, I drank and slept like a baby.
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melatonin is a good natural sleep aid also-that sleepy tees stuff does me in.
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I do plan on using melatonin. I just need something to work ASAP. right now.
Girl at the pharmacy told me that Melatonin takes about 3 months to get fully in your system and to work its magic. Ill pick that up next time with Replens....lol. GAWD!!!!!!!!
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Lexislove -Not all shoppers have Replens. If they have it, it will be near the condoms section. 8 applications for approx $20. Zellers has it for about $14.
Shanagir - I have the thin skin thing also. I'd be interested in hearing what you choose and how effective it is.
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Molly, Thank you!!!!!
Zellers here I come
All I want for Xmas is my Replens.....(singing)..lol
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Shana,
For what it's worth, I agree with Robyn. The studies out there seem to support that the amount of estrogen in the estrogen creams is negligent. I would certainly try it if I had the problems you had. Me? I haven't had sex in so long that I wouldn't know if I had a problem or not. I know, TMI.
Bobbie
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Robyn, I'm going to call my gyno tomorrow and ask her for some of the low dose hormonal vaginal cream. I once took estring and also compounded testosterone cream.
SpunkyGirl, I agree with you and Robyn about the estrogen creams being ok. I've read some encouraging research on them.
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LOL...Bobbie.
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I just finished rads and I'm supposed to be starting tamox, but I was hoping my period would come back first (not sure why...) I feel like the hormones are on their way back after chemo and I am so afraid of what is going to happen when I start the tamox. I've read a little on the estrogen creams. I read that there is some systemic absorption at first, but once it has a chance to reduce/eliminate the atrophy, and the tissues are "plumped up" again, systemic absorption decreases because the tissues will absorb more (or all?) of the estrogen. I think it was Estrace I was reading about. Also, I've read the "use it or lose it" applies as well - so once the tissues have a chance to recover from the atrophy, having sex will make it easier to have more sex...or so I've read...
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My gyno prescribed testosterone cream, and my onco approved it twice a week. She is absolutely against estrogen based creams. And it does get better with time!
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lookingforward4more, yea, my gyno has prescribed testosterone creme for me before, and I'm going to ask her tomorrow. That works pretty good. I've also heard progesterone creme is good too.
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Dear Shana,
I'd echo others voice on this. Try ky, replens, astroglide, etc .... before hormonal stuff.
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The ky commercials look fun!
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Just watch for Parabens, some of the "fancy" lubricants have then....
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Great posting !!! My once suggested " Replens".
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