libido, dryness and other ??

I am wondering if any of you ladies can help me out here.

I have zero libido. I used to be very frisky up until about 7 months ago.

I am currently a bit more dry vaginally than I was. Intercourse has left me raw feeling so I know I need to do something.

Otherwise -I feel pretty good and really don't feel like rocking the boat and messing w/ things by upping my patch dose. I am feeling a few minor hot flashes but it is summer. I think somewhere in my mind I am trying to hold out at this dose so that if things start falling apart on me I can always go up. I don't know if this makes any sense. Survival tactic???

I am on .05 vivelle dot now. Have been for a year.

I just read a thread on testosterone inserted vaginally?

I like my doctor but I have to be the one to initiate what I want. Last visit I told him I didn't have my frisky drive and I knew it was due to hyst. he pretty much said that the drive comes and goes. Maybe true but I never felt dead before my hyst. Now I almost feel repulsed by getting frisky. This has to be related to the lack of something.

Thanks for listening and offering any advice.

Soothankful

I would print this article out and give it to your doctor. I've found it to be extremely useful!
https://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/hsarticle.php?id=97238

The whole " your drive will come and go" answer he gave you is not satisfactory, in my opinion. Besides, you told him your drive has "went" - not coming and going, right?

Maybe find a local compounding pharmacy in your area ( http://www.iacprx.org/ ) and get another hormone specialists phone numbers for a consult.
Robbi

It sounds like to me that you need vaginal estrogen. If those tissues are dry and sex is uncomfortable no wonder you are having problems with libido. I was in the same situation and after being on estrace vaginal cream it is helping.

I had to have testosterone to get my libido back after my Aug 06 hyst. Unfortunately the gel did not work that well for me. It took pellet therapy inserted into my hip almost 6 weeks ago.

I am moist where I need to be, hormonally balanced and very, very frisky. I cant believe I am married to the same man. He looks so much better to me now than he did two months ago I actually enjoy being with him, listening to him and laughing with him. I am sure he would say the same of me.

Thank God and my awesome dr. for HRT therapy.

Merameclady, that is so funny about your DH looking better. I just started HRT Saturday after months of thinking I was losing my mind. I have always loved the man to distraction and lately all I wanted to do was bang him over the head with something.

Two days later we are laughing again and I put the frying pan away!!!! I am not there yet but OMG I am starting to feel human again!

Soothankful, my Dr has a really strange outlook on women and sex and when I told him how my libido had gone he launched into a talk about how women are so complex and it has to start in our heads (men can just do it anytime) and our moods play such a part. He did have one point that if I was tired from not sleeping and in a really bad mood all the time I was not going to feel like being frisky. Long story short, my estrongen was really low (18) and my testosterone was too. I now have both in my HRT.

You are lucky you have a Dr who will do what you want. You know your body better than anyone. Stand firm if you think something is missing...you are probably right! I also use premarin cream and found I got pretty dry when I quit for a few weeks. I am going to keep it 2 times a week! Good luck!!!

KathieM,

I am certain there are a lot of ladies laughing with us right now. Your hormones are without a doubt a powerful influence over your entire physche and outlook. My husband and I always had a intense physically chemistry that allowed us to triumph over any of life's obstacles- kids, money, jobs, stress. When that left us, yikes, it created a downward spiral of negativity, cynicism, and helplessness.

Not one thing has changed in my life other than hormonal balance. Our jobs are still stressful, kids are still teenagers, economy still *****, but this month, I really dont care, I have my loving self, my loving husband back, general good health for my family and I am so full of optimism for the future.

Dont give up on your hormones, find the balance! It is worth it. I just posted my estrogen/test numbers on another post and some may be shocked at how high they are now, but I feel like the old me and that is what it is all about!

Hi Soothankful!

I'm sorry that you're having problems at this point in your recovery. I know how discouraging and frustrating these problems are. I'm glad that you posted a new thread so that we can share our support and experiences with you.

If you're feeling well on your current estrogen, I suggest leaving that part of your hormone therapy alone and work on your other symptoms. Here in the Jungle we say "If it's not broken, don't fix it!"

I also experienced vaginal dryness so instead of upping my estrogen dose and running the risk of having symptoms to too much estrogen, my doctor prescribed Vagifem. Vagifem is a tiny estradiol tablet which is inserted vaginally with its own slim, disposable applicator. Initially it's prescribed to use nightly for two weeks and then for maintenance the dose is dropped to twice per week. It's been a great vaginal estrogen for me, but there are other options which you can read about in this link to the Vaginal Dryness article.

As for your libido, ask your doctor to test your free and total testosterone levels. There can be other causes for low libido, but chances are good that you're lacking that hormone and that adding it to your hormone therapy would help. It sure made a difference for me! I use a 1% compounded testosterone cream as needed and that's working out great for me.

Hopefully others will be along to reply to you and share their experiences. Maybe you can approach your doctor again for help. Let us know how you're doing, okay?

s

Thanks for the responses ladies and the links for info!!


Does vagifem or other vaginal creams only affect the vaginal area? I am assuming that it is not systemic estrogen?

I feel like I have a plan to start w/at this point in the game now. Getting the vaginal creams will be easy but I think getting my doctor to understand my need for testosterone will be tough. He is young...he should understand. I don't get it!

So I will probably ask for free and total test. levels checked.

To get a prescrip for a 1% compounded test. cream...does my dr. write the prescrip for that??

Thanks for all your help sisters!!
Soothankful

Hi again!

Vagifem is a low dose estrogen which acts on the vaginal/urethral tissues. There are a few women on this site who report they get systemic effects from vaginal estrogens but I personally have not experienced that from the two I have used. Obviously the only way to know if you would or not would be to try it.

Your doctor would have to write the prescription for the compounded testosterone cream. If he is willing to write it and isn't familiar with how to write it, the compounding pharmacist most likely would be willing to help. If your levels test low and he won't write a prescription, you can call a compounding pharmacy and ask for the names of doctors who prescribe hormones for women in surgical menopause. It's a good way to find a doctor who is knowledgeable and willing to help you feel better. (((Robbi))) already linked the compounding pharmacy site but here it is again: www.iacprx.org.

Good luck, and please do let us know what your doctor says. I've got my fingers crossed for you!

s