Painful Sex

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CursiveStars
CursiveStars Member Posts: 23
edited May 2019 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

I am for the first time experiencing pain during intercourse. I've been on treatment for 9 years now but about two months ago started gemcitabine/Gemzar so I'm assuming that's the culprit. I've tried switching to a silicone lube but I'm still having pain. Advice? I read about lidocaine compress before intercourse can be helpful. Has anyone tried this? Did it work? I'm 34 and would like to think I can have still have somewhat of a normal sex life.

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  • Daywalker
    Daywalker Member Posts: 99
    edited May 2019

    I experienced pain during sex as soon as I was put on the estrogen blocker. My onc prescribed a vaginal cream with very low estrogen in it, because studies showed such creams do not increase estrogen in the bloodstream. It has made such a difference, and I've been NEAD for over two years! All the best, this is not easy xx

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  • CursiveStars
    CursiveStars Member Posts: 23
    edited May 2019

    Thank you! I had not heard of that and will ask my doctor about it. I'm willing to try anything and I'm glad you said it made such a big difference. And congrats on NED for two years! Whoop whoop!

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  • LoveFromPhilly
    LoveFromPhilly Member Posts: 1,308
    edited May 2019

    I recommend Estriol vaginal suppository rather than Premarin. Estriol is typically made with hyaluronic acid as the base which along with the Estriol (an easier more gentle form of estrogen) helps to “plump” the vaginal tissues and make sex less painful - which is usually due to tissue dryness and some tissue atrophy. Insist on the Estriol! I have to pay out of pocket for it at a compounding pharmacy, but it’s not too expensive and totally worth it in my book!

    Good luck!!

    (PS I am also ER+ and have been using it for a couple years and am stable...

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  • Pamela23
    Pamela23 Member Posts: 510
    edited May 2019

    I'm on Estrace. It's local, not systemic and only .01% estrogen but took the pain away--I still don't have pleasure, but at least I don't hurt. My GYN had me show this article to my MO and she was fine with it.

    https://www.acog.org/Clinical-Guidance-and-Publica...


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  • illimae
    illimae Member Posts: 5,710
    edited May 2019

    I've tried a couple different things, this is best so far 😀

    image

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  • JFL
    JFL Member Posts: 1,947
    edited May 2019

    I haven't found anything over the counter that has worked too well. Most if not all of the lubes burned me on contact in the last few years, even the aloe based and other natural options. Not even sure why. Before all this, I never had any issues with sensitivity . . . or dryness. To my surprise, however, a week or so after starting tamoxifen a month + ago, no more dryness and the atrophy reversed itself, pretty much overnight. I feel like I was 5 years ago, before mets mets diagnosis/ovary removal/chemo, etc. I did know tamoxifen acts as a positive estrogen in endometrial lining in the uterus, opposite of how it acts in breast tissue, but did not know it had any positive impact on other parts. I hope this treatment works for a while because it is nice to feel somewhat normal again. I found I had a similar response when I was prescribed prednisone. Reversed the atrophy and normalized everything for the short period I took it after Y90 procedures. I would like to try estrogen cream but have been too scared to do that so far, although I have heard the studies that say it is safe. Illi, thanks for posting the product recommendation. It looks promising, given it contains hyaluronic acid. I see that ingredient in my facial beauty creams to plump and moisturize the skin :)

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