Hello Biscuit, as the other ladies have said, Vagifem and/or a local oestrogen cream should help you no end & this sounds a very sensible request to make to your GP. Some ladies prefer the cream for internal use, some Vagifem, which is a tiny tablet with very slim applicator. I know you had problems with the cream, but there are 2 strengths & these can be used externally in addition to Vagifem if needed. I was prescribed the stronger, Ovestin & wonder if this is what you also had which may have been too strong for you.
I had no probs with smears until about 10 years pre-menopause, then found they became gradually more painful. At the time, I had no idea why & put this down to a tendency to persistent thrush & residual rawness from long periods that always left internal skin sore. Then post-meno, but before starting Vagifem, had a shocking smear that was all but impossible - so painful it took ages, even with the tiny speculum. I was shaking & heart pounding & the poor nurse I knew well & was relaxed with, was red in the face with the stress of it!
I hadn't heard of VA until I found MM, but after starting Vagifem (& now together with full HRT), gynae exams & procedures (inc a recent smear) became much easier. I hope you manage to get some topical treatment prescribed easily and will soon feel the benefit. If you are worried about the consequences of atrophy on possible future relationships as your post suggests, I would also mention this to your GP, so that she can refer you for specialist advice if need be. I think Mrs Brown may be thinking of dilators, but have no personal experience of these. I went 2.5 years post-meno before starting Vagifem & 3 years before starting full HRT, but with these meds sex has become increasingly comfortable in the following 18 months, so please don't assume it's too late & give up hope of feeling better. Unfortunately, Vagifem won't do anything to reduce the number of idiots out there.
