There is hope

[BabyBearsMom]

Hi Ladies,

I wanted to share my story so that maybe some other women going through something similar might take comfort in it or be able to do what I have done. After DD was born, DH and I were completely unable to have intercourse. Every time we tried, I was in agony. Not discomfort, agony. Like screaming, crying, worst pain of my life kind of pain. I thought it was just because I was nursing. It didn't get better. I tried all the advice from this board, nothing worked. I thought that I was a freak, something was wrong with me and would cry thinking that we would never be able to try for another baby or that DH would finally get fed up with his "broken" wife (my term, never his, he was always patient and understanding) and leave me. Finally, at my OB-GYN appointment, they were asking me the standard new mom questions and asked "are you and your husband able to have some alone time." I just burst into tears and the midwife, somewhat shocked because I don't tend to be an emotional person, asked what was going on. When I told her, she took a look and said that I had vaginal atrophy. She prescribed an estrogen cream that I had to use every day for a week and then 3x/week for the following 5 weeks. I was hesitant to use it because I don't take medication, and am particularly weary about hormonal therapy due to concerns about cancer (breast and cervical cancer run in my family). But, I was desperate, since the lack of intimacy was making DH and I snappish at each other. So I used the cream as directed. After the first week, he was able to penetrate but we couldn't complete. It took a few weeks, but now we are on week 4 and everything is completely back to normal...in fact, better than normal. I realized how much I missed that intimacy and DH and I have been like teenagers ever since

Anyway, I just wanted to write this in case someone else is having pain from intercourse and is just assuming that the cause is breast feeding. It can be something else and there is a way to fix it. So please don't be embarassed to talk to your doctor about it.

-BBM

[Myira]

Thanks for sharing this. And glad for you that it is resolved

[oneontheway]

Thanks for sharing. Glad you were able to figure it out and fix the problem!

[amm40]

Thanks for sharing. Now I'll know what to ask for if it happens to me again. It has taken over 6 months past weaning (at 18 months) to get back to normal, the pain started in my second trimester, so not much action here for 2 1/2 years! DH is also excited that there could be a faster fix if it happens again!

[ohsara430]

Thanks for sharing, I know I need to go see an ob/gyn about this but have been avoiding it since a few months ago we moved to another state and I hate finding new doctors. It's good to know they might be able to help.

[AshleyAnn]

Congrats on your progress! DH and I struggled with this same problem for years and while we were able to complete the act I couldn't enjoy it because of the pain it got better for me when DD was born.