Anyone know of and hormone free cream that can help with dryness and pain - I am sure there must be something the GP can give me to help with this
many thanks
Hi Travelbug58
Thank you for posting.
Vaginal dryness, together with other menopausal symptoms, are common in women who have had or are having treatment for breast cancer. This is because some breast cancer treatments block or reduce the amount of the hormone oestrogen in the body. Oestrogen helps keep the vagina’s moisture and elasticity. A lack of it can cause the vagina and the surrounding tissues to become dry and less supple, causing pain, soreness and discomfort. This can make sex or intimacy difficult.
Vaginal dryness and irritation can be very distressing and difficult to talk about. If it’s not treated vaginal dryness can get worse, so it’s important to get help if you need it.
Pelvic floor exercises can help improve vaginal dryness by increasing blood flow to the area. The links above to our information give suggestions which may help.
Vaginal dryness and irritation can also be caused by infection so it’s a good idea to see your GP to rule this out first.
There are a variety of non-hormonal treatments that can help with vaginal dryness, including vaginal moisturisers and lubricants although we cannot recommend any specific products.
Vaginal moisturisers such as Replens MD and Yes can help give relief from dryness and discomfort. They should be used regularly, every few days, for best effect.
Vaginal lubricants such as Yes, Sylk and Astroglide tend to be shorter acting and are either water or oil based. Lubricants are often used to help prevent friction and pain during sex and intimacy.
Moisturisers and lubricants can be used together.
It’s important to find a vaginal moisturiser and lubricant that works for you. Some vaginal moisturisers contain ingredients that can cause irritation, so it’s a good idea to do a skin test on the inner and outer lips of your vagina before using any products.
You may not find a product that suits you straight away so it’s worth trying different products. You can search the manufacturer’s web site for their range of products. Manufacturers will often have several different options so it’s worth reading about how the product works, what they contain and the product reviews. Some manufacturers can provide free samples to try.
If you continue to have vaginal dryness and irritation and cannot find a product that suits you, you may want to talk to your GP, breast care nurse or treatment team. They may be able to refer you to a specialist menopause clinic.
You may find the other threads on our forum discussing vaginal dryness helpful.
Our booklet Your body intimacy and sex booklet also has information about vaginal dryness.
Our recent Facebook Live Side effects of breast cancer treatments – vaginal dryness might be of interest.
We offer a range of free supportive services for anyone who has had a diagnosis of breast cancer which you may be interested in. They include face to face and online courses and events.
Do call our helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The helpline team have time to listen, talk things through and signpost you to more support and information if necessary. Your call will be confidential, and the number is free from UK landlines and all mobile networks. The number is 0808 800 6000, If you have hearing or speech difficulties prefix our number with 18001 and the call will go through Relay UK. Our helpline has access to telephone interpreters if language translation is required.
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Best wishes
Grete
Breast Care Nurse
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