Corel Medical Series: Cancer/Corel Medical Series: Cancer.iso/mac/Program/p23.dxr/00034_Field_SRC.p23.C.11.txt

Text File | 1997-02-04 | 2KB | 18 lines

      If estrogen deprivation is not essential to your management, hormonal therapy is almost certainly
  appropriate for you and can be prescribed by your doctor. Hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) may be in
  the form of either systemic medication (pills, injections or implants) or local vaginal applications of creams or
  suppositories containing estrogen. Combinations of treatments are also frequently used with excellent results
  ( see the section "Hormonal Replacement Therapy in Women" ).
      It may take many months for hormone treatment, local or systemic, to return the vagina to normal and
  adequate lubrication. Sometimes a change of dose (systemic) or frequency of use (local vaginal application)
  may result in more rapid relief from symptoms. More commonly, though, a "tincture of time" is what is
  needed, during which other treatments may be appropriate.
• If the cause is not enough lubrication, natural lubrication such as saliva or products such as water-soluble
  lubricants or baby oil can reduce friction. Artificial lubricants such as K-Y jelly, Jergens Lotion and other
  creams may make coitus possible where the lack of circulating estrogens has caused dryness. A new way to get
  adequate lubrication for sexual arousal and intercourse is Replens (a vaginal gel that will shortly be available in
  Canada and is available without prescription in the United States), applied three times a week. In some cases,
  small amounts (one-third to one-half a tube) of a poorly absorbed estrogen like dienestrol may help restore
  lubrication and atrophy of the vagina. But if breast cancer has been diagnosed, use of estrogens may be unwise.
• Surgery or radiation therapy can cause shortening of the vagina or make the vagina less elastic. Either situation
  may make intercourse difficult. Your doctor may recommend dilators to exercise and stretch the vagina.