TENSE & DRY

Q I am suffering from vaginal dryness. I am extremely dry, which means I have been very reticent to have sex with my husband, as it is very painful. Is there anything I can do? I have tried vaginal moisturisers and using a lubricant, but it only helped a little – it was still very painful. I also suspect I have built the pain up in my head too, so get very tense beforehand. I’m worried that medication will interfere with breastfeeding. I’m exclusively nursing my 8-month-old baby and want continue until he is 1 year old if I can.

A LINDA ANSWERS: This problem is very common. Many women struggle with it, and, yes, it can become a “mental” thing. One way of getting past that is to get back to where and when you first met. Fill your thoughts with all the first exciting memories of falling in love. Get photos out and reminisce. Rescue remedy also works wonders! You’ve done all the right things with regards to lubrication, which is one of the only solutions in this respect. There has been thought that one could use an oestrogen-rich cream, as hormones are the main reason for this complaint. But a small amount of it is absorbed into the body, and this may interfere with your milk supply. This too shall pass, but until then, just relax and find different ways to meet each other’s needs. ●