Maintaining my vital parts post-menopause

Deterioration in private parts due to menopause can have a huge influence on the ability and desire to have sex. Without the hormonal imperative, pain and other negative impacts have the potential to totally put someone off having sex at all.

I’ve had huge issues maintaining my private parts starting with late peri-menopause and this has impacted my ability to have sex and also my motivation to do so.

My journey

It has taken me some years, but I’ve finally hit upon a system which is effective and enables me to have gentle penetrative sex a few times a week. The following documents my journey to a solution.

During late peri-menopause, as my estrogen levels waned the acidity level of my vagina dropped and unwanted microbes started to grow. I struggled constantly against a yellow discharge, bad smells and infections such as thrush. Tests did not show any STDs or major culprits, but I was frequently smelly and sore.

Estrogen cream was a magic solution. Not only did my private parts become soft, moist and healthy, but my sensations were enhanced back to normal. However, after some months I developed a common side effect – rashes. So I had to give up using them.

Without estrogen my vagina and in particular perineum became less flexible and as menopause impacted, as well, I often suffered chafing and stretch injuries from sex. Added to this, were various degrees of irritation (or infection) indicated by red inflamed mucous membranes.

Bathing my privates with warm salty water to which a little plain vinegar was added was soothing and non-irritating, but not a powerful solution.

Anti-fungal and anti-bacterial creams from the chemist shop helped only so far and after a few applications my private parts started to be irritated by them.
Yoghurt helped control infections, but was not the entire solution to the irritation and painful sex.

Cortisone cream could quieten the irritation, but needed to be used sparingly as it could mask an infection.

The solution

It became clear that there were no quick fixes and I needed to put in a lot of work to maintain my private parts in working order.

Also, I have found that if I am treating a problem, I need to visually inspect the area with a mirror daily in order to closely monitor and adjust treatments.

Here is my protocol to treat an inflammation or infection:

• Check daily using mirror. Use observations to inform treatment decisions. 
• Don’t have sex involving private area. Treat and rest until it returns to normal.
• Control infections using Chlorsig (kills both fungi and bacteria) ointment for a few days. It is very powerful yet non-irritating as it is not a stabilised cream. 
• For mild infections or further control after Chlorsig use Canesten for a couple of times.
• If necessary use a little cortisone to control inflammation but not for more than a couple of applications. This can be combined with Canesten. 
• Use yoghurt or vitamin E/coconut oil as very mild treatment for infection or for further control.
• After treatment continue to rinse with salty water and avoid all irritations to allow the inflammation to settle.

Prevention is a huge part of my strategy:

• I frequently apply Canesten to my anal area to stop thrush from starting and travelling downwards.
• I apply oestrogen cream to my perineum every second or third day. This almost totally stops tears and chafing from penetrative sex but does not irritate nearby mucous membranes.
• I use personal lubricant for penetrative sex. 
• I apply live high quality plain yogurt (or Canesten) to my private areas every now and again, particularly after sex or if there is an unwanted smell. This helps control the microbial balance and avoid an outbreak.

Tactics during sex are also important but the subject of another post.