Let's have another conversation about vaginas
Following on from my last post, today was my first appointment with the gynaecologist to discuss vaginal atrophy. By a happy coincidence, it turns out that Dr Metawa is one of the two doctors that in...
Forum Discussion
After reading about this treatment on this network (we are so fortunate to have this place to share our issues and possible solutions), I found a gynaecologist who performs this procedure and decided to give it a try. I had had no problems until I changed from Tamoxifen to Femara. But Femara seemed to be the cause of it for me. I have been on Femara for almost 2 years now. Sex became painful and then physically impossible after about 6 months on this medication.
The treatment is terribly expensive. I paid $1800 for 3 treatments. There is no rebate from Medicare.
My feedback? It is definitely not painfree! While you do feel nothing during the actual procedure, I found for me, that I had a burning pain (like the pain from a UTI) for up to 3 hours after the treatment. You need to sit on an ice pack to relieve it.
It improved things but as I am on Femara maybe my results are not as good as would be possible if I was not on it. At the three months past the last treatment mark (when things should be at their best) I was still experiencing painful sex. It was decided to try 2 more treatments as there had definitely been improvement but maybe more was possible. These treatments were at a 'reduced' price of $450 each. I try not to add up what this has cost but dam it I am only 51 and thought I had years before facing these sorts of issues!
I still have not reached the next 3 month past the last treatment mark but sex is definitely much more enjoyable (and physically possible again!). I still need to use a lubricant. I use the Yes products and find the oil based one good for this.
So, overall, I do think it works, even for someone on anti-estrogen therapy. But I think the cost is something that is a big problem. It is disappointing that there is no Medicare rebate and hope that this may change as results support its validation as a medical procedure that improves the health of women facing these issues.
The treatment is terribly expensive. I paid $1800 for 3 treatments. There is no rebate from Medicare.
My feedback? It is definitely not painfree! While you do feel nothing during the actual procedure, I found for me, that I had a burning pain (like the pain from a UTI) for up to 3 hours after the treatment. You need to sit on an ice pack to relieve it.
It improved things but as I am on Femara maybe my results are not as good as would be possible if I was not on it. At the three months past the last treatment mark (when things should be at their best) I was still experiencing painful sex. It was decided to try 2 more treatments as there had definitely been improvement but maybe more was possible. These treatments were at a 'reduced' price of $450 each. I try not to add up what this has cost but dam it I am only 51 and thought I had years before facing these sorts of issues!
I still have not reached the next 3 month past the last treatment mark but sex is definitely much more enjoyable (and physically possible again!). I still need to use a lubricant. I use the Yes products and find the oil based one good for this.
So, overall, I do think it works, even for someone on anti-estrogen therapy. But I think the cost is something that is a big problem. It is disappointing that there is no Medicare rebate and hope that this may change as results support its validation as a medical procedure that improves the health of women facing these issues.