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pain and dryness associated with sex as a LS sufferer

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angie222
angie222

Does anyone have any advice to help with the pain and dryness associated with sex as a LS sufferer? I am also menopausal. I have managed LS for 17 years but menopause seems to have kicked the pain during intercourse up a notch. A little bit depressing. 

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  • carol333
    carol333 angie222

    Posted

    I have been diagnosed with LS about 18 months ago. I have also recently gone through the menopause and I experience painful sex. My gynaecologist here in the UK suggested Sylk for lubrication and lignocaine gel. I have been using this each time prior to sex and it does help, an understanding partner helps too. If you have narrowing of the vagina sex can cause a lot of pain so using the local anaesthetic can be beneficial. If you have your pain under control sex can actually help with opening up  your vagina. I realise that this my personal experience but I hope it helps.
    • angie222
      angie222 carol333

      Posted

      Thanks Carol, I hadn't thought about an anaesthetic gel. Appreciate the tips.

    • caroline16811
      caroline16811 angie222

      Posted

      Hi Angie, has your Dr or consultant suggested oestrogen cream for the vagina. Some women on this forum have used it with success. Worth asking ?
    • angie222
      angie222 caroline16811

      Posted

      I don't have a doctor that appears to know or offer much other than the steroid ointment. It's good to know how other ladies treat the L'S problems. Will ask about that, thanks.
  • justine89448
    justine89448 angie222

    Posted

    Lots of women also use estrogen vaginal tablet. The bonus I think of this is after the initial 2 weeks it's only 1-2 times a week. I think we already have lots of different creams to think about. Hope it helps
    • angie222
      angie222 justine89448

      Posted

      Thanks, it seems these hormone tabs / cream could be the answer
    • norma54754
      norma54754 angie222

      Posted

      Hi angie..Menopause and lowered levels of hormones can make an impact on genital area and LS adds another complication.

      Atrophy can also be a problem when the girly bits begin to shrink and disappear.

      A chat with your doctor about hormone treatment  could be helpful.

      I am considering that option because I have some shrinkage of the labia minoras and I don't know if it is LS, atrophy or both that is causing it as I am postmenopausal.

      I am not keen to use hormone treatment as I was on HRT for 17 years but I don't like the thought of a disappearing act either.

      Hormone treatment does seem to be the answer for many and certainly worth looking into.

       

    • angie222
      angie222 norma54754

      Posted

      Thanks so much Norma, back to the doctors it is! I am certain the hormone changes are doing their worst alongside the LS and also my thyroid condition is very up and down. Currently having my levothyroxine dose lowered. I do wish I had a doctor that had better understanding but I live in a very small UK town and it seems I need to self-diagnose and research.

      Thanks for your comments, x

  • Carley2ca
    Carley2ca angie222

    Posted

    Hi Angie!

    Eveyone has given you excellent advise on different cremes and things but I thought i would address the fact that sometimes you just have to "do things" differently! My husband and I no longer have sex that lasts for hours. We self erotisize (if that's even a word) by watching or reading erotica prior so we are all ready to go when we start. We use LOTS of lubricating gel and do it in a spoon position, which I find puts less pressure on the whole area. Rather than a lot of pumping he uses his fingers to gently rub my ciltoris, which incidentally has all but disappeared but still works wonderfully, thank goodness! I am having better organasms that I ever did! We assume the missionary only at the very end, for him! The whole thing is over in about 15 minutes. I am also past menopause and we have been married for 32 years, so this just works for us. A bit wham slam thank you mam but it works!!

    Now having said all that I suffered a small tear in the six o'clock area if the vulva last night. He just went in a bit wrong. Sigh!

    • angie222
      angie222 Carley2ca

      Posted

      Loved your reply Carley, thanks so much.

      I don't think my husband has much fondness for the missionary position because of the look of terror on my face....a bit of a turn off to say the least. I have only been married 3 years and unfortunately as I'm crossing into full menopause things have taken a turn so we will need to adapt and do things differently, as you say. Your husband sound lovely, as is mine, but I am full of sadness and disappointment in what I can't do without splitting, stinging and bleeding! Inside has started to feel different too, I don't know whats going on in there! Possibly dryness. Just another layer of penetration problems.

      ***Double sigh***

      Thanks hun, x

       

    • caroline16811
      caroline16811 Carley2ca

      Posted

      Brilliant reply Carley.

      Am I the only one jealous that you used to have sex for hours lol

      On a serious note I used to treat in that position a lot is so painful. But since I started "washing" after every wee and rubbing in the steroid cream for 90 seconds it has definitely made the skin there more resilient and normal. I try to stretch and put gentle pressure on that area whilst I massage the cream in. Obviously you will have to wait till its healed to commence prolonged massaging of cream. Hope that works for you and others if they are not already doing that that is.

      Go hot stuff ! 😉😊

    • Carley2ca
      Carley2ca caroline16811

      Posted

      LOL! Caroline! Those days of sex for hours are LONG gone! I am just assuming that there are younger people on this forum that might still be there! 

      Thanks for the tips! I don't wash after every wee, but I will start. Do you use a squirt bottle? After I had my babys we used to do a "peri" wash with a squirt bottle. 

       

    • caroline16811
      caroline16811 Carley2ca

      Posted

      Personally I use a good dollop of barrier cream after I've rubbed in the steroid cream ( HYDROMOL) which protects but then after every wee I just soak a pad of toilet paper with water and dab the old undercarriage then pat dry. Before bed I wash and put more barrier cream on. Hope it helps hon. YOU won't need the barrier cream in the night of course because you'll have a bucket of lubricant on board ready for action lol😉😍 x
    • Carley2ca
      Carley2ca caroline16811

      Posted

      LOL, Caroline!! I love your sense of humour!

      I'm afraid I've given the wrong impression...my husband would be ecstatic if we did it as often as I have given the impression of. A standing joke with us is that NO! 30 minutes of begging does not count as foreplay! 

      Is the Hydromol the steroid or the barrier cream? My gynie suggested using Vaseline. So I should put that on AFTER the steroid?

    • caroline16811
      caroline16811 Carley2ca

      Posted

      My turn to LOL, I LOVE that !

      Sorry to have confused Carley. HYDROMOL Ointment is the barrier cream. Its generic name is ACQUEOUS Cream.

      VERY IMPORTANT , MAKE SURE THE ACQUEOUS CREAM CONTAINS NO SODIUM LAURYL SULPHATE (SLS) It is NOT added in Europe, I'm in UK, So please check before purchasing wherever you are.

      So, i use the steroid, in my case Dermovate, then slap the acqueous ointment on. My consultant told ME to stop using Vaseline immediately ! Be good if the professionals could all sing from the same hymnsheet eh ?!

      I thought Id also mention that I use Aveeno body wash in the shower for the undercarriage and bottom area - its safe for us to use - Gynie approved. I get it online from Amazon. I love it.

      Hope that clarifies and that your tear is healing hon. Have sent you a personal message too. X

    • Carley2ca
      Carley2ca caroline16811

      Posted

      Hi Caroline,

      Thanks for that! I'm pretty sure we have Aveeno on the shelves here (I'm in Canada) and I'll look for the barrier cream. 

      I wondered about the Vaseline as it is a "petroleum" product. 

      It would be really nice if the professionals all sang the same hymn, LOL! Maybe if they could even carry a tune it would be good!

      Supposedly my new gynie is a "vulvar specialist" or at least she said she has done extra studies there. 

      I love your term "undercarriage"! Very discriptive, although now I feel like a truck! LOL!

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