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
Any co2 procedure is expensive. Mona Lisa Touch is no different. It is the same principle as any co2 laser eg: facial resurfacing which, when carried out by a Dermatologist costs around $5000 so in perspective is not expensive. I believe Medicare should rebate some of the cost as it is a consequence of cancer treatment (Aramatose Inhibitors) and if rebate available more women would complete their cancer treatments as vaginal atrophy is one of the worst side effects women find hardest to live with.
A Gynecologist needs to perform MLT. There are more experienced in the procedure than others so ask questions and do your homework if you want to go ahead with it. I have posted extensively on my experience with Mona Lisa Touch and that information would be available somewhere on this site. Apart from that there is extensive information of personal experiences of others who have undergone the MLT refer this site: https://www.realself.com/monalisa-touch. Its a blog site where women undergoing cosmetic procedures tells their story. Last time I looked at it there were over 60 women who blogged about the procedure. It had about a 97% sucess rate but what you need to look for is women who blogged after initial success - in other words how long did it last?
The MLT is painless and takes about 5 mins. It worked great for me but did not last long and the cost of having to repeat the procedure annually, albeit only one , not three, was not viable financially. I still had to use lubricants for sex but I could at least have sex. Unfortunately, it did not last long because the reasons vaginal atrophy existed in the first place was still there ie lack of estrogen even after I stopped Aramatose Inhibitors so of course needs to be repeated. There isn't a moisturiser or lubricant in existence that can replace the role of hormones but they certainly help and I suggest, until you decide what path you are going to take that you use daily moisturiser but use ORGANIC like Yes products see site: https://www.yesyesyes.org/ These are best products on the market and I and others on this site buy direct on this site. Products available on the chemist shelves here are not organic and you can only use them every 3 days or so - just not good enough. I also suggest you use vaginal dilators - quick and simple - takes a few minutes a day. The use of daily moisturiser and dilators will help, but generally not solve, atrophy.
I am now 5 years post breast cancer and on low dose vaginal estrogen pessaries and use compounded progesterone cream. This is NOT a suggestion for anyone else. Instead I would like to point out, the last time I saw my doctor (couple weeks ago) she said "great news on latest research results on DHEA for vaginal atrophy". As I was happy with what I was doing I didn't have that conversation with her but might revisit it when I go back and ask what she was talking about. DHEA is widely used in the States and elsewhere for women with breast cancer who suffer vaginal atrophy. It is available on script and comes in pessaries and acts as estrogen does. While DHEA can turn into estrogen in the body persistent evidence suggests it does NOT when used vaginally but acts the same bringing tissues back to normal. It is not available in the pessary form in Australia (we don't have enough agitators here and our market not large enough for a drug company to go through the hoops here). You would have to get prescription from your doctor and take to your local COMPOUNDING chemist. You need to do your own research on this, talk to your own doctor (if they know about it) but evidence is it is safe and it works. Good luck ladies
A Gynecologist needs to perform MLT. There are more experienced in the procedure than others so ask questions and do your homework if you want to go ahead with it. I have posted extensively on my experience with Mona Lisa Touch and that information would be available somewhere on this site. Apart from that there is extensive information of personal experiences of others who have undergone the MLT refer this site: https://www.realself.com/monalisa-touch. Its a blog site where women undergoing cosmetic procedures tells their story. Last time I looked at it there were over 60 women who blogged about the procedure. It had about a 97% sucess rate but what you need to look for is women who blogged after initial success - in other words how long did it last?
The MLT is painless and takes about 5 mins. It worked great for me but did not last long and the cost of having to repeat the procedure annually, albeit only one , not three, was not viable financially. I still had to use lubricants for sex but I could at least have sex. Unfortunately, it did not last long because the reasons vaginal atrophy existed in the first place was still there ie lack of estrogen even after I stopped Aramatose Inhibitors so of course needs to be repeated. There isn't a moisturiser or lubricant in existence that can replace the role of hormones but they certainly help and I suggest, until you decide what path you are going to take that you use daily moisturiser but use ORGANIC like Yes products see site: https://www.yesyesyes.org/ These are best products on the market and I and others on this site buy direct on this site. Products available on the chemist shelves here are not organic and you can only use them every 3 days or so - just not good enough. I also suggest you use vaginal dilators - quick and simple - takes a few minutes a day. The use of daily moisturiser and dilators will help, but generally not solve, atrophy.
I am now 5 years post breast cancer and on low dose vaginal estrogen pessaries and use compounded progesterone cream. This is NOT a suggestion for anyone else. Instead I would like to point out, the last time I saw my doctor (couple weeks ago) she said "great news on latest research results on DHEA for vaginal atrophy". As I was happy with what I was doing I didn't have that conversation with her but might revisit it when I go back and ask what she was talking about. DHEA is widely used in the States and elsewhere for women with breast cancer who suffer vaginal atrophy. It is available on script and comes in pessaries and acts as estrogen does. While DHEA can turn into estrogen in the body persistent evidence suggests it does NOT when used vaginally but acts the same bringing tissues back to normal. It is not available in the pessary form in Australia (we don't have enough agitators here and our market not large enough for a drug company to go through the hoops here). You would have to get prescription from your doctor and take to your local COMPOUNDING chemist. You need to do your own research on this, talk to your own doctor (if they know about it) but evidence is it is safe and it works. Good luck ladies