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Is Osphena Effective In Treatment Of Painful Intercourse After A Hysterectomy?
Question: I had a hysterectomy and suffer from extremely painful intercourse. I would like to try Osphena.
Brief Answer:
Thank you for the question...
Detailed Answer:
Given your age, I am going to assume that you did not have your ovaries removed. If this is the case, then they are still hormonally active and you should not be suffering from painful intercourse related to vaginal dryness. In this case, the cause of painful intercourse should be further evaluated by your OB/GYN and this evaluation should include an exam of the vaginal area to make sure there are not problems specifically related to the surgery itself. In addition, many women have pain with intercourse unrelated to the vagina, but rather related to pelvic disease, such as endometriosis.
That being said, this medication is approved by the FDA for the treatment of pain related to intercourse. It acts similarly to vaginal estrogen to increase the "health" of the vaginal skin. The main concerns are related to an increased risk of uterine cancer, which is NOT an issue in your case. Also, women do start to experience a decrease in estrogen produced by their ovaries in the late 30's, so it might be of some benefit in your case.
Here is what I would recommend:
1. Schedule a visit with your OB/GYN
2. Discuss this issue and have them perform a thorough exam to establish the exact source of the pain
3. If there is any confusion about the status of your ovaries and estrogen production, ask about the labs called FSH and estradiol
4. In the meantime, if you have not already, consider lubricants such as Astroglide
I hope that this helps and good luck!
Thank you for the question...
Detailed Answer:
Given your age, I am going to assume that you did not have your ovaries removed. If this is the case, then they are still hormonally active and you should not be suffering from painful intercourse related to vaginal dryness. In this case, the cause of painful intercourse should be further evaluated by your OB/GYN and this evaluation should include an exam of the vaginal area to make sure there are not problems specifically related to the surgery itself. In addition, many women have pain with intercourse unrelated to the vagina, but rather related to pelvic disease, such as endometriosis.
That being said, this medication is approved by the FDA for the treatment of pain related to intercourse. It acts similarly to vaginal estrogen to increase the "health" of the vaginal skin. The main concerns are related to an increased risk of uterine cancer, which is NOT an issue in your case. Also, women do start to experience a decrease in estrogen produced by their ovaries in the late 30's, so it might be of some benefit in your case.
Here is what I would recommend:
1. Schedule a visit with your OB/GYN
2. Discuss this issue and have them perform a thorough exam to establish the exact source of the pain
3. If there is any confusion about the status of your ovaries and estrogen production, ask about the labs called FSH and estradiol
4. In the meantime, if you have not already, consider lubricants such as Astroglide
I hope that this helps and good luck!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
I had a complete hysterectomy due to endometriosis. Would this medicine still be beneficial? I have been to two different OBGYN doctors....they recommended physical therapy which was of no help.
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