I WANT MY MOJO BACK!

I would like to add that I'm just sharing my own experience here, that may or may not be similar to anyone else's. Cancer has happened to us all through no fault of our own, and we are all doing the best we can wherever we are in the process of adapting to it. It causes so much pain and loss. My heart hurts for my sisters and brothers here.

It is brilliant that I finally found this page! I have been in denial for a year. I am so impressed with those of you who soldiered on through painful intercourse. We just stopped because it was so disheartening that it was so painful, and then my husband was afraid he would hurt me again, and I have zero libido so I sure wasn't initiating. I finally thought it was time to address it...

So, I went to see a new OBGYN who has specialized in menopause. She suggested Estrace 10 micrograms for 14 days, then twice a week. She is giving talks at international conferences on treatment of vaginal symptoms in breast cancer patients. Basically, the use of a little local estrogen is not found to be associated with any increase in risk of recurrence.

My MO, who is a BC specialist who also gives talks at conferences all over the place, and who is very conservative, also suggested it. Essentially she suggested to get to the lowest dose/frequency that works.

Obviously, lube is suggested too. Thanks for all of you information on which ones. I am shocked by how much the ones with hyaluronic acid cost! $30 for 3 treatments!! Will check out online….

I had also read about the "Mona Lisa" vaginal laser treatment meant to treat atrophy. Wondered if anyone has heard of or tried that. My OBGYN said that there are no studies done yet ( in process) showing safety, so she can't recommend it.

zinny this is probably a stupid question but does the Estrace help with libido and sex drive or only helps with vaginal dryness and/or atrophy? Physically penetration is doable for us with little discomfort but I have zero, zip, zilch drive and feel nothing. Not being able to orgasm is so frustrating.

Smurf: I didn't mean to imply that your body hasn't changed. It has. I have no libido either but I try to work at getting myself started.

Smurfette and Trvler, and Molly too! Nice to see some familiar faces…guess we are onto this next, after, stage.

Smurfette - the estrogen only helps with the vaginal atrophy and dryness. No effect on sex drive. I have a non BC friend with similar issues, and she has gone on a little Testosterone cream to help with that, but as I understand it, our bodies would make it into estrogen so its a no-go. Damn. I was a little excited thinking I might have Austin Powers style mojo…

I got a little excited just looking at the different lubes and toys you can buy, and not shopping excited but sexy excited, so maybe things are looking up? lol. Will check out literotica…

I told my husband about the 3 orgasms a week mandate that someone's MO gave her. He looked little frightened, frankly!

I was just going to say, is everyone using a vibrator alone to see how things go with that?

Smurfette--I feel like the outside nerves down there just aren't the same, maybe that's why the vibrating toys are taking longer to do their job.

Hi Zinny! My MO is adamantly against Estrace but I have a stash so I use it when I get desperate. Mainly for bladder issues though. Most studies indicate that vaginal estrogen is not systemic. Obviously if you use too much it can be. DH and I use a vibrator and I have to work really, really hard to get "there" but I still can and for that I am grateful. I don't think DH would be interested if I was getting nothing out of it. If I use some coconut oil right before intercourse it helps the lube last longer. It is so disheartening to even have to talk about this stuff!

Good question about the Gynatrof. I stopped using it and went back to my vaginal vitamin E suppositories. It is just so expensive to buy and ship from Canada.

Thanks for the info on your "best friend" amylsp. I have ordered one. Next week can't come quick enough.

Lol on the mothers day gift. Last year I was stopped at a traffic light outside a Lovers Lane and I looked over and there was a sign reminding everyone that Mothers Day was coming up. My 19 year old son and I had a good laugh about it and what he would get me for my gift.

i bought a new product to try. Pjur med repair glide. I will give you all a review once I try it. I am hoping it will be a reasonable replacement for the Hyalofemme that disappeared from amazon.

Two weeks of estrogen, now stepped down to twice a week, with some gynatrof too, and guess what?! It is working! I can barely believe it! Things were impossibly uncomfortable and I never really believed it would get a lot better, maybe a little, but not a lot, but it seems ( almost) normal. Cannot believe I didn't do anything about it for so long...

I was worried that I didn't have hot flashes for a couple of days, but they are back with a vengeance, so clearly my body is still feeling very very estrogen deprived

Yes - The Vagifem 10 microgram estrogen intravag tablets.

The brain does funny things, too. I didn't think it would affect my libido, but knowing that the goods are working again makes the idea of sex a whole lot more interesting, and not having a pinch/burny feeling sure makes it easier to have an orgasm. So, the whole shabang seems to get better...

-I'm new here but have been reading posts for a few weeks and have gotten some great tips. I was just prescribed Estrace. My GYN suggested it after an exam and I told her how awful the sex is even using lubricants. I'm now using coconut oil externally which has helped with outside dryness. But the inside...Anyway. my GYN suggested I give my MO this article about breast cancer survivors and vaginal estrogen cream. My MO said she was for it as long as I was being monitored by my GYN:

http://www.acog.org/Resources-And-Publications/Com...

Zinney--I was directed to use Estrace twice a week and only a pea sized amount. The packaging says daily for 1-2 weeks then cut down on frequency. I see my GYN next week for a follow up after getting a polyp removed from my uterus last week. It was found when I requested a baseline of my uterine lining before I start Tamoxifen. I'll ask her about that if I don;t feel this twice weekly is working fast enough. Can't have sex until after my follow up so no hurry!

• "Data do not show an increased risk of cancer recurrence among women currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer or those with a personal history of breast cancer who use vaginal estrogen to relieve urogenital symptoms."