Vaginal irritation/painful sex/low sex drive...this may help!

I am 3yrs post-op form a TAH but i only have both ovaries left. Upon the hyster, i had a tubal ligation, c-sections, uterine ablation, endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts and frequent yeast infections/bacterial vaginosis, and immediately after the surgery i went into "menopause". My hubby has been so patient and understand but since the surgery i have literally had to make myself vision an orgasm and just want to have sex. I have spent many days crying and feeling less than a woman, but hubby(of 14yrs) just keep on encouraging me to stay strong and he loves me more and more. I am not on any hormone/estrogen medications or shot. Endometriosis is still present and a nuisance. Just recently i had a really bad yeast infection, went to the doc and was put on diflucan(3 pills of it). Infection went away, and i had another one a short time after and it caused me to develop an allergic reaction to diflucan. My health insurance ran out and i am trying to "help myself". I found that my vaginal area dose not like anything with a scent. I now use sensitive skin/unscented body wash, i wash my underwear separate with no bleach and a mild unscented soap powder(purex) and dry them with no fabric softener or sheets. I do not use body spray or perfume in that area, no vaginal creams or anything and it has been working! My hubby also uses my kind of soap when we are going to be intimate that night and it feels so much better I also now sleep and walk around more without underwear to help "air out" myself to keep it dry! We do not use any lubricants or anything no oils during sex, and it is starting to get the way it used to be Question, does anyone know how long does menopause last?

I am not a professional and the things discussed are from my own personal experience

not wearing underwear when you don't have to does help with vaginal type infections.

When I was younger I kept a yeast infection. I referred to it as the yeast from hell. I would get rid of it just to get it back within a few days. no matter what I did I couldn't get it to stay gone. I went to my primary care doctor and brought it up to him. He asked me to take a urine test. I thought he was nuts but said ok. After a few moments he came back into the room and told me I was a diabetic. The diabetes was the reason I could not get rid of my yeast infections. After I was put on insulin and got it under control I did not get them anymore. There may be another reason why you keep getting them. Your doctor needs to look at the whole picture, stop prescribing meds that are not helping and do some other test to find out why you keep getting them. Good luck

I've read a lot about the connection between modern eating habbits (white flour, sugar and many chemicals) to yeast infections. My friend started eating whole grain, fresh vegetables and fruit and eliminated sugar and it stopped her "yeast from hell" experiences. Good luck,

priddygurl

You will be in menopause from now on but you may not be symptomatic for that entire period of time.

Yes, as a newbie here, one of my first questions was clarification of Peri/menopause. Peri is when you start haveing all the wonderful changes, however and how long those may affect you. Menopause you are in for the rest of your life. many women fell symptomatic into their late 70's which leads me to believe post meno, is when there are no more symptoms.