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[Silverberry]

Morning all! WARNING - descriptions of lady parts to follow!

I've been on HRT now for over a year and have just had my annual review. The main ongoing problem not sorted by the HRT is dryness - everywhere, including down below. My GP has given me some vagifem to try but i'm having problems. Dose 1, inserted ok, uncomfortable but managed. Day 2 inserted easily, "it's working already" I thought. Fantastic. Day 3 (last night) I could not insert the applicator. I was very tender and sore and it seemed to be pulling my skin along with it rather than sliding it should. I released the tablet only half as far in as I should have and gave up. Today I'm quite tender when sitting down and worrying about future insertion attempts. Is is normal to be so dry that you can't insert the thing that's there to help you?? It's no thicker than a biro, that shouldn't be difficult, surely! I'm wondering if I can use something to lubricate the applicator if this happens again? I'm hoping that once it starts to work it will become easier going forward. I just can't understand why day 2 was so easy and then day 3 so hard. I'm also wondering if I've always been drier than the average person because when I used to have periods (currently bleeds prevented by contraceptive pill) I could never use tampons. Even the smallest one I found difficult and painful to insert, so I stopped trying them and only used pads. I've never had any issues with intercourse which I don't understand, but i'm not currently sexually active due to having no libido. (I was hoping that the vagifem would help this too) So perhaps I wouldn't be able to tolerate intercourse right now if I tried. I'm hoping someone else out there has had similar problems just so I don't feel so weird and deformed, and that someone might have a suggestion to help me. I've been happy to speak to my GP up to this point, but she looks like a supermodel and must only be in her 20s. She's great and has helped me loads so far, I just feel really silly trying to explain that I can't manage to stick something even biro sized in there!

[Wrensong]

Hi Silverberry, yes you can lubricate the applicator to aid insertion.  I currently dab on a little Sylk though that's mostly to help the tiny pessary adhere to the vaginal wall.   Have also used Yes WB in the past for this.  I don't get on with Yes OB or VM.  I wouldn't worry about only achieving relatively shallow insertion.  I was advised by a v well regarded menopause specialist years ago to vary depth of insertion as Vagifem can have v localised effects.  There are also papers suggesting that relatively shallow insertion (angled towards the front wall of the vagina) can be beneficial for optimal effects on the bladder.  I've posted articles on this in the past but sorry, I don't have time to look them out just now.
Wx

[Ayesha]

From what you say you need the oestrogen down there so don't give up. Lubricate with whatever moisturiser you get on with and also lax muscles can try and kick the pessary out, sometimes its like a comedy act when you first start to use them.

Trial and error as we always say, there is also oestrogen creams you can use if you don't like the pessary but the treatment takes time to work, patience being needed here!

[CLKD]

Morning.  I never managed tampons either ........

MayB don't put the pessary in too far initially, work upwards slowly.  Moisturiser too when required.

It's about managing VA and it does work!

[Jules]

I've been using it for nearly 2 years and sometimes I feel drier than others and I'm OK with intercourse. Also I deliberately don't insert fully since I read its better not to

[bombsh3ll]

I have vaginal stenosis so am not able to use the applicator or insert the cream at all, I just use my finger to rub it around the outside. It gets absorbed locally and this is fine for me.

Are you on enough systemic estrogen though if things are so bad? Testosterone is also helpful with dryness if you can get it.