Its been 9 months since my surgery and I am still haveing a problem with vaginal dryness during sex. Was never problem before surgery. We use Astro glide but it kinda wrecks the mood and I feel we can't be as carefree and in the moment. I tell my husband it has nothing to do with how excited I am its just my new plumbing. Does this get better? Is this a common problem or is this just me? I don't know if age matters but I'm 33.

Ok, surgery, especially down there can throw your hormones off...Way off...how are your periods doing? any changes (sudden missing periods?) either way your hormones take a hit with this disease and all of the surgery that follows meaning that you can experience sysmptoms that are similar to pre-menopause etc...that could be one of the problems (do you have dry skin? getting more wrinkles? ok, who doesn't?) the other problems is dehydration which is a great dryer-outer too...if you are feeling strange hormonal changes then check with your obs/gyn for replacement treatments or a hormonal cream that you use in the vagina on off days and it gets the local hormones working and the inner hydration back...(it works if you use it..I keep forgetting!)the other possiblity is dehydration which means drink tons of water and pee it all out before the sex...really nasty mood breaker to have to stop and run in the middle of it all!
You can always use the pre-lube before bedtime and then jump him because you know that you are lubed up ..your little secret!
I am sure that there are other reasons and options..one being the more sex you have the more lubed you get/stay too...
if you find an other option let me know..am interested too...
Sharon
(ps..love your dog! Maltese?)

My periods are very light the first day and nothing after that. I don't think I'm dehydrated but I guess I can try to drink more. MY skin does not feel anymore dry than it normaly does in this freezing weather. I know its not that big of a problem compared to everything else I've dealt with, just would be nice to not to bother with all the lube. I know I love my puppy she is a Lhaso Apso and she was my only happy thing when I went through all this. THanks for answering me.

HI. I experienced the same thing right after my first surgery and now the second. I was extremely dry after the first surgery which caused a lot of friction and irritation. It was painful to have sex but after a handful of times, it started going away and I was back to normal. Now, I'm facing the same thing after my takedown. Its only been a few weeks since we started having sex again and it's pretty painful. I went to my OBGYN and she didn't see anything wrong so I'm assuming its the same deal and it will soon go away. You'll just have to bare through the first couple of times.

Oh, we tried KY Jelly and it really wasn't much help either. It's just a matter of time.
Good Luck!

Have your periods always been like that? I think I'd get that checked out. Sounds like something is off with your hormones, which can be very common after surgery.

Gin

In 2005 I started the latest run of surgeries (9?) and ended up menopaused within a year...periods just dissapeared and then came back every 6 months or so...dried me right out..hubby thought that I stopped loving him or that I was hurting too much to have sex...(ok, sometimes it was true!) but he is learning that the 2 things are not always related...driness is just that...being dried out but my desire is still there (just less often..usually related to personal image problems and surgical stuff)...I realized that the better that I care for myself (oiling my skin, caring for my body, eating right, exercise those abs really need to be reinforced to enjoy sex) etc..the better the sex life...it is a whole and not just a small and if I want to remain vital in that area I had better stay strong all over...apparently good suppliments help too and great digestive health...bloating is a real turn-off and so are gutt problems during sex (leakage)....
In France they have a saying that loosely translates into, 'if you are up-tight then you cannot feel pleasure'...I have found that to be very true... so I prepare for 'bed' and make sure that my patch is on tight, my pouch is empty and any other things that need doing are done...cuts down on the spontinaity but it improves the quality of the sex...
Sharon

Hi SunBum...I'm right down the road in Inver Grove. This surgery definately does a number on women...more then men...I think. I couldn't pee for about 3 months afterwards. I had to learn to self cath. Which wasn't a big deal...but how weird is that? I had "female" problems for about...well...I think I still have "female" problems. But this all happened right when I was turning peri-menopausal, or peri-mental as my friends call it. Once your body gets over the stress of the surgeries I'm sure you will get back to normal.
PM me if you'd like to meet for coffee sometime and compare scars...kidding...but I am up for coffee!

By the way Sunbum...if you search for Women's Health...there is a really good site for us girls..and a special page for Driness..really good information about it and what can be done...to help.
Sharon

Dryness has become a major problem for me since having my surgeries. I'm now six and a half months post takedown and finally bit the bullet and went to ask my doctor for some help. I didn't really like using lube as having to apply it kind of reinforced my feelings of being a failure, so my GP has prescribed me a vaginal moisturiser called ReplenseMD. I have to say, it is making a difference. You insert it via an applicator once every three days, so it's constantly working rather than having to apply something when your about to have sex. Dryness is definitely much better, and knowing I'm not going to have pain during sex because of dryness, seems to make me want it more and so have improved my levels of arousal. It's also hormone free, so no need to worry about adding extra hormones (my GP felt I didn't really need to have a hormonal lubricant as I'm only 27). I would recommend going to chat with your doctor about trying a vaginal moisturiser as it has made a difference to me.