60 Year Old Post Breast Cancer with Vaginal Atrophy and UTIs - Rockhampton, AU

Vagifem is small dose estrogen delivered vaginally and seems to be the gold standard for treating vaginal atrophy. This is what I know, and what you need to confirm with your own doctor: Vagifem needs to be used daily for the first 2 weeks (very important to replenish vaginal tissue) then twice a week thereafter. During those first two weeks circulating estrogen levels may rise but once tissues healthy two doses per week keeps that maintained. Also, once tissues are healthy again circulating estrogen levels do not noticeably rise. Estrogen delivered vaginally as directed, won't improve libido if that is also an issue. You will still need lubricants for intimacy but it should no longer hurt. But the more you can be intimate without pain, and becomes pleasurable again, libido may have a chance to improve. Hope this helps...

Thank you Chilicat for your helpful and informative message. Your explanation of vagifem is the best I have read to date! Am still unsure, however, how vagifem differs from estrogen pessaries . . .
Yes, libido is also an issue for me. Do you have any suggestions on that front?
And, using lubricants almost always results in a yeast infection so I would welcome any recommendations you can offer.
Thanks again for sharing your wisdom and experience. I am most grateful as sorting through the plethora of options out there can be overwhelming and discouraging.

Estrogen pessaries is just a generic term. Fagifem is just trademark name for estrogen product. As far lubricants are concerned water based products usually best such as ky-jelly. You probably need to talk to your doctor in that regard. Perhaps you need to properly address the atrophy first by using the pessaries as directed. I'm from Australia. Can only get estrogen on script. Dr normally advises how to use. The hormone also comes with instructions. Where dod you come by your diections?

Thanks Chilicat. My dr. prescribed the vagifem to be used 3 times per week as twice didn't help much. (I used it daily for the first two weeks as well.) She has also prescribed medication for the yeast infections, but I still get them frequently. I'm from Canada and we also have to have a script for estrogen products . . . but none of the written instructions were as good as your description (lol).

Haha. Thanks. Our physiology is all so different so mo rhyme or reason why one thing works for one and not the other. Its a struggle. Good luck and let me know if you find anything that has worked for you.

Thanks Chilicat. Good luck to you as well :-).

Hi, I am very prone to yeast infections as well, especially when using lubricants. I finally found an all natural product developed by two friends. It's called (appropriately) "YES" I order it online. I have not had an infection in the six months since I've been using it. My husband loves it too!!I also use it with my dilators and it works well for that as well. P.S. I've also had the Mona Lisa Procedure a year ago.

Thank you Phoenix. Love the YES name as well :-) I will definitely give that product a try. I have spent many hours researching various lubricants with little success. You are the first person I know who relates to my experience . . . It's so refreshing to finally communicate with someone who understands :-).
Do you use the water based lubricant or oil base lubricant? Also, are you willing to share your experience with dilators? This is something I haven't tried but perhaps should consider doing.

Yesyesyes are brilliant products. 100% certified organic. I buy prefilled applicators in bulk. Water-based as general moisturiser. Oil based for sex. When I had atrophy I used dilators -really helped

Thanks Chilicat. The water based YES products sound promising. I would like to use the oil based lubricants for sex as well, but am concerned they will cause yeast infections. My husband and I have been so concerned about getting yeast infections, that we are rarely intimate. Have you experienced yeast infections when using the oil based lubricants? (Sorry to have posted this twice . . . I always seem to click on the wrong comment space :-(.

Smokysadie, I use both the water based and the oil with no issues. I've also become very diligent at keeping what I call a moisture exchange going on in there. During every shower, I reach inside with a couple of fingers and swish then around, encircling the cervix to make sure everything is cleaned out from around it. Then post shower I add some fresh lube and use my dilators. That seems to get things going in there and everything stays fresh so no yeast has a chance. In my review on the Mona Lisa Procedure, I go into detail about the dilators. But if you have any specific questions about them, I'm more than happy to share anything. They have been paramount in my rejuvenation process!!

Thanks Phoenix. That's really helpful info. for avoiding yeast growth. I shall have a look at your reviews on the Mona Lisa procedure / dilators as well. I think both techniques may help to resolve my intercourse pain / dryness issues. It's such a relief to find someone who can relate to my challenges. Thanks so much for sharing.

Does your gyno suffer vaginal atrophy and not able to take estrogen? My female gyno told me I would be wasting my time and money - it doesn't work. I did my own research and my GP, who understood the science and supported it, referred me to a another specialist gyno who performs the procedure. He fully explained how it worked and for someone like me, who needs to know everything, it made perfect sense. I also read the limited number of trials that have been done on the procedure and I was convinced that I should give it a go. Once I knew it couldn't cause damage or side effects then I felt I had nothing to lose. For me, it took much longer to work as it should but as recently posted I am very happy I had the procedure. In reality this is a very simple procedure. It appears to me many specialists don't want to believe something so simple can have such dramatic results. Also, many believe other Gyno Specialists are just doing it for the money and many think it is for aesthetics. As the Gyno who did the procedure said - many of these people are just giving an opinion without any education or research. If you do elect to have the procedure it is very important you go to a Gyno who is very experienced to have the best outcome. Here is link to website for the moisturisers and lubs I purchase. I have to order from England but you may be able to get them in the US
https://www.yesyesyes.org/
Good luck. I hope my experience helps you.

It did and it does, and thank you for your honest assessment. Sometimes I want to grab my doctor by the lapel and scream WAIT until this happens to you (wouldn't wish it on anyone) and she wouldn't be so cavalier about what a major obstacle to intimacy this issue can be. Thank you so much -- again!

Thank you for the lube info!!!
I placed an order today, can't wait for them to arrive!!

You are welcome. There is nothing more humiliating than being in the position of needing to talk to a Gyno only to have the issue dismissed. Good luck.

Hi Phoenix. Let me know how you like the product. xx

Yes, this is Chilicat. I posted on all 3 procedures. While initially I felt the procedure had worked it has turned out to be a complete failure for me. The outcome is much worse now than before I started. The vaginal canal is now very raw and painful even with lots of lubrication. I think you need a good 4-5 months to make a proper determination on the success or otherwise of this procedure. It cost me $2,400 - a complete waste of money, time, and hope.