60 YO and Not Ready to Shut Down the Factory Just Yet. East Texas, PA

A surgical intervention to remove small tags that are from earlier tearing of issues. I also used dilators to increase the opening. Every now and then I must still us a little lidocane at the opening.

Forgot to add, I had no discomfort whatsoever during or after the procedure other than bleeding. Take a pad with you or make sure to ask the doctor for one.

HI Trixie. Roughly how long did the results last for? I'm trying to decide if I want thermiva or MonaLisa for vaginally dryness.
Thank u

I've asked doctors here on realself and done my own research about the difference between Thermiva (not laser) and the laser treatments available (ex: Monalisa and Fotona) and the general consences is don't waste you money on Thermiva. It only warms the vaginal tissues but the temperature doesn't get high enough to improve the lining of the vaginal walls. I just had my first Fotona (Intimalase) treatment. It actually improved my ability to orgasm quicker which I didnt expect because my whole sexual life I have only had clitoral orgasms so that was a VERY pleasant added bonus! (I'm 51 and it was taking forever to reach orgasm!) Secondly, Ive already noticed an improvement in "peeling when I sneeze or cough"! YAY!! Neither my husband nor I have noticed a tighter vagina but other good things are certainly happening!!!! I can't wait for my next 2 treatments!!

I am now 9 months past the first treatment. I will say that it is a little more uncomfortable upon initiation of intercourse but once started, it is still comfortable and pain free. I am scheduled to have my yearly booster on November 11th. Is it as good as the old days when I was loaded with hormones? Nope, but it is MUCH improved from what it was before I had the procedure and I don't have to worry about cancer or a stroke from using hormones. I have no regrets spending the $1500 Hope this was helpful.

Where are u located and who was the doctor?

In my opinion. It was worth doing. I wish you well. You can also use a little lidocaine before sex to lessen any pain but it does nothing for tearing. I am very happy with my results. I need a surgical intervention for my advanced atrophy. Don't give up. Find a qualified obgyn.

This has opened my eyes in many wAys. I now understand why some men look to younger women!

Why younger women most of them they can fall in to , that's no fun either!!!

Chillicat how did you make out with the doctor? What did he have to say? I ask because, after my 3rd treatment, things are not so good. After my first two treatments I was VERY happy. The tissue had thickened and lubrication was amazing. Now it's been almost two weeks since #3 and there is pain, itching and burning. There seems to be very little lubrication and I'm not sure what to make of it or do about it. Would be very interested in what your results were.

You should see my later posts. This procedure took longer than expected to work for me. Things are good now. I still need to some moisturisers and lubricants from time to time but things are good.

I agree with you,I loved the bio-identical pellets I used to get,but my hair started thinning out too much so had too stop.I may try again in the future,if they can figure out some way to prevent that!

Which hormone caused the hair loss?

I have tried bioidentical hormones several times with terrible results. Like everything else, they don't work for everyone. I wish they did.

You are very well informed, my dear Brooke. Everything you said is accurate. Many doctors as well as patients still hold on to the old findings in the Women's Health Initiative believing all hormone replacement therapies out there will cause cancer and other maladies. It takes an expert in hormones and the endocrine system to understand the effects all hormones play on bodily functions. Estrogens comprise three different components, estradiol, estriol and estrone. Each produces its own action with estradiol being the most chemically active or dominant estrogen. Progesterone and testosterone are the two other so called "sex" hormones. All in conjunction with each other help rebalance what nature has diminished during menopause, thus relieving some or all of the undesirable effects of these hormone deficiencies. The key here is of course the bio-identical versions of these hormones and not the synthetically produced ones. Bio-identical simply means exactly like what the body naturally manufactures during those all important child bearing years. Like anything else it's not right for everyone. I've heard many women complain of hair loss with the pellets...I have been post menopausal for 10 years and have been on different HRT during that time and can say that there was a period of time when I absolutely was not able to have intercourse due to the severe vaginal atrophy. The pain and burning was excruciating and I would get tiny fissures that would bleed. Nothing helped the situation and I had pretty much given up on my sex life. For three years I had no intimacy with my husband. Finally I had a conversation with a girlfriend of mine who was taking bio-identical hormones. I was introduced to a compounding pharmacist who in turn introduced me to a doctor of naturopathy. This doctor was so well versed in the actions and reactions of hormones on the body, I was totally blown away. I started BHRT in a transdermal cream and estriol vaginal cream. It took about a month but all of a sudden I was like a 15 year old boy....thoughts of sex never left my mind and I became obsessed with the subject. Not only was sex enjoyable again but the quality of my orgasms was over the top wonderful. Over the course of the last 5 years I have been on different dosages to keep any undesirable side effects away while keeping the most important ones in the fore. I've experienced hair loss but was cut back on the testosterone. My breasts would get sore so the estrogens were decreased. I would have bloating and weight gain and the progesterone seemed to contribute to that, so again a change. I know for me my body would tell me of an imbalance so thru blood work and my doctor's expertise a different dosage was formulated. Don't give up ladies. More and more people are discovering the benefits of bio-identical hormone replacement. It's been a miracle for me.

Before I tried the MLT I tried the bio identical to no avail for over a year.

Xthe itching is driving me crazy today. I called the doc and she has ordered lidocaine cream and antihistamines. I hope it helps. I wonder if I am allergic to the numbing cream as all my itching is external and not internal. Not sure. Just hoping this is worth it!

Good luck. I have had itching that is really intense but most women dont seem to have this side effect. Lucky me! I noticed improvement after first treatment but will need more improvement before I can say this was a success.. Time will tell. I am having treatment number 3 on Feb 29.

I believe ins will one day pay but tor now we just have to save our pennies and hope this works. There was a marked improvement in lubrication and I no longer pee when I sneeze so that was good. But atrophy at the opening is only slightly improved. I will reserve judgement until after tx #3

Thanks for sharing your experience. Start a blog if you have time so more women can find out about this! We are all different and I suspect our journeys will be different too. I had tons of itching but it sounds like you have none. Go figure!

Keep updating it is a journey. My doctor said it continues to work for the next 5 to 6 weeks that is why they do not do the treatments closer together. We had slight success with our first encounter. Even tho it was not like it use to be it was a sure positive sign that something is different!

Go to the Mona Lisa Touch website for the USA and you can put in your zip code and find a doctor that does this procedure in your area. It is relatively new here in the USA even tho they have done it for years in Europe.