Natural Solutions for Vaginal Atrophy: Safe & Effective Remedies

Lisa,

Yes, age makes a difference. I sympathize with your situation but let me tell you what I've learned. First off though, I just turned 80 years old, and for the first time in my life started suffering with severe vaginal atrophy (va). My doctor immediately wanted to start me on Premarin cream.....of all things... and even as uninformed as I was about va, I knew instinctively that estrogen applied to the vagina is not a good idea because of the cancer risks. The doctor told me not to worry because when used topically around the vaginal opening and very little applied inside, it would not pose a problem. She never did offer any information as to what caused this condition or if there was any cure. I was so skeptical and even angry with her cavalier attitude that I decided I would go by my own gut instincts and not fill the Premarin cream prescription. I also set about doing my own homework about the condition. But to add to my woes, I also have Pelvic Organ Prolapse, which is not surprising since all five of my children were born vaginally, and the births were a terrific strain on the muscles which certainly accounts for the prolapse. But the vaginal atrophe is due to the depletion of cell and hormone production as we age. To my surprise I also learned that sex actually helps keep the vaginal canal lubricated and thus is beneficial.

I'm so happy to find this site. I'm in menopause and just turned 50. I'm also a newlywed. On our wedding night I experienced painful sex for the first time ever! We abstained from sex for a month before our wedding. Nobody ever told me that could bring on vaginal atrophy! I never even heard of this term! I didn't realize I had vaginal dryness. I saw my Gyno and she told me this. I just started using bio identical Estradol cream. I'm on day 4 and I can tell it's helping. I'm hopeful it will reverse the atrophy and I can have sex with my new husband soon without any pain. It's crazy that this issue hasn't been talked about more! None of my friends had heard about what could happen as we age either.

Hi, I'm new to Earthclinic and I was totally dumfounded to read that some docs prescribe estrogens stronger than Estriol for vaginal atrophy. Estriol is the weakest of the 3 types of body estrogens and according to my OB GYN, the safest... Especially if you've had cancer. He also said that an estrogen stronger than estriol is overkill for vaginal atrophy. Know your body and take time to do your research!

History:
Total Hysterectomy in 2001... uterine cancer.
Fact: I'm allergic to aloe vera and discovered that some of the compounds I tried contained aloe vera. So, I am going through the "process of elimination" to discover what is causing the irritation. Also, I do not want a "delivery" cream that contains paraffin, or alcohol. A delivery system can be 2 or 3 creams or a gel that is mixed with the estriol power (USP) to deliver via plunger.
Current trials:
I begain researching the contents of these creams and below is my findings w/ comments.

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The 1st cream I tried.
USP Estriol and Vanicream (messy). Vanicream is an OTC cream.
After prices skyrocketed with my old pharmacy under new management, I switched pharmacies. So far, they are working with me, as noted below:
First compound from new pharmacy:
USP Estriol
cream from MEDISCA and
a vanishing cream (?)

The cream did not absorb well and it caused a mild burning sensation... Vaginal walls got dry and thin... Sensation was like the beginning of a urinary tract infection

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Changed ingredients:

USP Estriol
cream from MEDISCA (ingredients: Deionized water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Laureth-7, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Tocophyeryl Acetate), and
Vanicream (continues to be messy)
Cream, still, was not being absorbed well - and burning continued. So, I asked the new pharmacy for the list of MEDISCA ingredients... Also, went to doc to rule out U. Tract infection.

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Eliminated MEDISCA and Vanicream. MEDISCA contains aloe vera, and paraffins.

Currently, I'm trying
USP estriol and
Versabase gel (Ingredients: purified water, ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP copolymer, aloe vera, edetate disodium, allantoin, methylchloroisithiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (preservatives)

I'm still in the trial stages of the gel. It's too early to draw a conclusion that the atrophy has been eliminated. I'm not aware of any burning sensation.
FYI: Another pharmacist I spoke with said that after hearing my HRT history, a suppository would work better.

I'll continued on with my research.
Good luck to you.