Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines atrophy as a decrease in size or wasting away of a body part. The secondary definition states that it is an arrested development or loss of a part or organ incidental to the normal development or life of an animal or plant.
When applied to the vagina, it is no wonder women experience a plethora of unpleasant symptoms.
I discovered I had vaginal atrophy when I was having some afternoon delight and I saw some blood when I wiped afterwards. Now remember, my uterus and cervix was lifted up and away years ago. (I remember vividly that the gyn office called me at the time and asked me if I wanted to do the hysterectomy a few days earlier. I made the mistake of looking at the surgery online. I declined the invitation in short order, hanging up the phone as quickly as possible.)
I had a vaginal hysterectomy (try to get a visual on THAT scene) so I was startled to see blood. There was not a lot of it but just enough to make me nervous.
Here comes the exam. Again, more bleeding. My doctor told me that my vaginal tissue was friable. Now that is quite the word. The same aforementioned dictionary gives the following definition of the word friable: easily crumbled or pulverized. It generously gives a synonym: fragile.
I am getting the picture and what I am seeing in my mind's eye is disturbing. My vaginal canal is fragile? What?!!! Is not this the SAME canal that an entire human being came through? Now it is friable. What the *@!#?
So basically, if I look at this tissue too hard (that is, if I could look at it without a mirror), it will start bleeding?!
Vaginal atrophy is not the result of the lose-it-or-use-it phenomenon because it can occur if one is sexually active 24/7 or practicing abstinence. It can be accompanied by pain during intercourse.
The development of this friable tissue can be insidiously slow.
When I would joke about having cobwebs "down there", little did I know that I was telling the truth.
I needed a remedy.
At first, I tried over-the-counter moisturizers to lubricate my vaginal walls. Then I sent off for special vaginal suppositories.
Messy. Messy. Messy.
I was more than ready for something else. I decided to go for it. I decided to get to the root of the problem.
Prescription vaginal estrogen cream is my remedy. After all, the lack of it was the reason for this season.
Because of my immediate familial history of cancer, I have to be extraordinarily careful with estrogen. My research shows that this type of local application of estrogen is not systemic. However, this information does not alleviate my fears, even though the black box warning was recently removed.
Two applications per week is enough to make sure my vaginal walls do not continue its "wasting away" and that I do not lose "a part...incidental to the normal development" of my sex life.
Every woman's journey is different and not every woman experiences vaginal atrophy. The remedy that works for me may fail with someone else. Trial and error has been the hallmark of my menopausal journey. Failing forward is the key that has kept me going and growing.
Postscript: I make it a habit to give one gift of equal or lesser value with a purchase from my Mary Kay website: www.marykay.com/igregory2
Please do not hesitate to call me when the product is delivered so I can discuss which selected gift will be mailed free of shipping and handling charges.
GOD FIRST, FAMILY SECOND, CAREER THIRD
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