What Is The Cause And Treatment For Senile Vaginitis?

Posted on Sat, 19 Jul 2014

Question: I stopped having orgasm 10 years ago when nothing helped the dryness. It was so excruciating to have sex.
I had many tests done and all they said was I was dried up. I am afraid if I add estrogen back into my body
it will be a cancer risk. I went through menopause at 40 and started taking hormone replacement at 42 to stop the hot flashes. At 55 I started having heart problems so I had to stop. By 61 it was too painful to do anything.

Answered by Dr. Lohit K (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
lubricants and vaginal oestrogen cream

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I went through the query and understood your concern.

For senile vaginitis which is due to lack of estrogen the best option is using topical estrogen cream along with lubricants. Since you need estrogen only to prevent friction and reduce the pain the topical cream is better than oral theraby which is associated with many side effects.

So in summary you can try lubricants with vaginal estrogen cream.

I hope this information helps you. Feel free to ask for any further queries. I will be glad to answer them.

Wish you good health.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Lohit K (24 hours later)

You did not mention my question about the chance for cancer since I have been
without hormones for so long. Does it add to the chance of cervical or breast cancer? I am very fit (yoga and pilates teacher and trainer) but I will not trade
cancer for sex.

Answered by Dr. Lohit K (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
with cream the chance of cancer is very less

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

The oral oestrogen therapy alone without progesterone will definitely have the chance of endometrial or breast cancer on long term use. So combination therapy is preferred. But for senile vaginitis the topical oestrogen alone cream is preferred due to less systemic effect and hence side effects.

Only with chronic use the chance of cancer is present. So since you haven't used it for long years and not using chronically the chance of cancer is very rare. 0.01% cream should be used once daily and later weekly once or twice. Since the use is for limited period cancer chances due to cream is very minimum.

I hope this information helps you and answered your questions. Feel free to ask if any further information.

Wish you good health.
Regards

Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar