Atrophic vaginitis from AI’s and of course post menopausal

Options
Candice-303
Candice-303 Member Posts: 24

does anyone have comments on atrophic vaginitis and treatments

Comments

  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited January 2018

    Hi Candice -

    We're so sorry to hear you're dealing with this unfortunate side effect. We're sure others will be by shortly to weigh in with their experiences and advice. In the meantime, you may find this page helpful from the main Breastcancer.org site on Menopause Symptoms: Vaginal Changes.

    We hope this helps!

    --The Mods

  • Sunny_Girl
    Sunny_Girl Member Posts: 111
    edited January 2018

    Hi Candice - I’m happy you posted this tonight. I was going to start looking around for information. I’m pretty sure I’m going down this path with the symptoms I’ve been having lately and any estrogen rx would be out for me (estrogen positive).

    Thanks Mods - I’ll look at your link as well.

    Patty

  • Blinkie
    Blinkie Member Posts: 169
    edited January 2018

    Candice-303 -

    Maybe this will be helpful: I attended an event for breast cancer patients and there was a presentation by a woman from A Woman's Touch Sexuality Resource Center that was really helpful. The women who run this place really know what they are talking about. Look it up on the internet. It's in Madison WI. On their website there are a number of brochures that are about sexuality after cancer, vaginal renewal, and lichen sclerosus. If you call them and leave a message they will call you back and answer questions. I followed their advice for my situation and am more comfortable now.


  • Zillsnot4me
    Zillsnot4me Member Posts: 2,687
    edited January 2018

    Talk to your GYN. She can refer you to a PT that specializes in atrophy. Also there are creams that can help with the sexual experience. Good luck.

  • Sophiemara
    Sophiemara Member Posts: 66
    edited March 2018

    I have been suffering with this for a while but recently saw a sexologist and she recommended; vaginal moisturiser (daily for a week and then every second day), always use lubricant, kegel exercises- half my problem now is anxiety and muscles tensing up during penetration so been seeing physio to work out how to relax again. I have also used logocaine a numbing cream which works wonders but obviously stops feeling. Main thing perseverance. My libido is also pretty shot but my gyn said yesterday actually the more you do it, the more your libido can come back..will see I guess, good luck!

  • FLBuckeye93
    FLBuckeye93 Member Posts: 87
    edited March 2018

    I’ve started Mona Lisa Touch. It’s helped but my libido is still low.

  • Lula73
    Lula73 Member Posts: 1,824
    edited March 2018

    a new product called Intrarosa was recommended for me by 2 different OB/GYNs who will not write any of the estrogen creams for ER+ women. The Intrarosa is not systemic and delivers DHEA to the tissues locally and the tissues convert it to estrogen and use it locally to keep the tissue from atrophying. It's worth asking your OB/GYN if they have been inservicedon the product. If not, ask them to contact the rep for additional info before they reflexively say no.

  • Georgia1
    Georgia1 Member Posts: 1,321
    edited March 2018

    Hi Candice. I had vaginal atrophy (what a horrible term!) diagnosed even before I developed BC. I see a highly recommended OB/GYN next week and will post what I find out. You might also check out the "I want my mojo back" thread.


  • bc101
    bc101 Member Posts: 1,108
    edited March 2018

    Me, too - I also had atrophy way before bc, so I have a long way to go before I can get back into the swing of things. I've recently starting using Intrarosa and am having great success with that. I'm also working with dilators and PT. Talk to your team! Start with your oncologist as they must give the go-ahead with any of this stuff after cancer. The "I Want My Mojo Back" thread is very active.

    Don't give up. There is hope!

  • Ellicott
    Ellicott Member Posts: 1
    edited March 2018

    Sorry but I could not find how to post this as a question - I had breast cancer twenty years ago using surgery,chemo and radiation as treatments. I have been experiencing vaginal dryness lately that is unbearable and possibly causing bladder infections. I have been advised by my Gyno to use Vagefem (which I have stopped because of the increase of migraines), then Repogyn (which is ok but very expensive if I use it daily), and now Gynatrof. I have stopped Gynatrof because it is causing me migraines, and depression just like the Vegefem did. It says that Gynatrof is not hormone based but I have read that it has Edetate that is soy based and like hormones. Is this true? Has anyone else had problems with this product? I am going to try Vitamin E suppositories - has anyone else ever tried this and does it work?

  • anotherNYCGirl
    anotherNYCGirl Member Posts: 1,033
    edited March 2018

    My onc suggested https://www.hyalogyn.com/, and I find that it works better than vagifem did. (My previous onc ok-ed the vagifem, but my current onc is opposed). I also use coconut oil on the days without hyalogyn. (Let the coconut be cool enough to solidify, and insert about a 1/2 tsp)

    Check out the mojo board, there are lots of suggestions there!

  • SandiBeach57
    SandiBeach57 Member Posts: 1,617
    edited March 2018

    Has anyone have an urethral caruncle from AI? The urine flow is partially blocked but no real problems..yet. The urethal wall collapses or bulges due to loss of tissue elasticity from... no estrogen. Estrogen cream is the answer, but can't take due to being ER + and Stage IV.

  • klvans
    klvans Member Posts: 258
    edited March 2018

    Another, is hyalogyn over the counter or prescription? It's effective if its better than vagifem.

  • anotherNYCGirl
    anotherNYCGirl Member Posts: 1,033
    edited March 2018

    klvans, - hyalogyn is not prescription, but only found it online. I requested a sample before I ordered it because most things are irritating to me, but this has been ok , so I have been using it for months now.

  • klvans
    klvans Member Posts: 258
    edited March 2018

    Thank you Another. I'll check it out.

  • Lula73
    Lula73 Member Posts: 1,824
    edited March 2018

    SandiBeach - Intrarosa may help. Ask your GYN about it and ask if the rep or medical liaison has been in to give them an inservice yet.

  • SandiBeach57
    SandiBeach57 Member Posts: 1,617
    edited March 2018

    Thank you Lula73!

  • FLBuckeye93
    FLBuckeye93 Member Posts: 87
    edited April 2018

    I am in the process of getting Mona Lisa’s Touch laser therapy for this problem. It’s helping

Categories