Dear Dr. Roach: I am 65, and my lady friend is 60. We are still sexually active. However, intercourse is uncomfortable and painful for her. I鈥檝e found a website that talks about a laser procedure that is supposed to be the 鈥渉oly grail鈥� to make intercourse enjoyable again. I would like some unbiased comments on the procedure as to what actually happens during the treatment. Is it safe? What is the efficacy of the treatment? I鈥檝e done the usual internet research but am not sure what to believe. I might add that we have tried different lubricants and non-hormonal creams (such as Replens) with little success. I鈥檓 aware that there are hormonal-based treatments and would like comments on them if there is time. With this treatment, I am concerned about estrogen during sexual activity.
D.S.
I鈥檓 not (yet) a believer in laser vaginal regeneration techniques. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recently issued a warning about these devices: 鈥淭hese products have serious risks and don鈥檛 have adequate evidence to support their use鈥� for sexual function.
There are also reports of adverse effects, including pain and bleeding.
On the other hand, I have read reports from a gynecologist who has had good results from the procedure.
I still can鈥檛 recommend laser treatment until I see published data on its effectiveness. At least one study has been completed but is not yet published.
Painful intercourse in women is a complicated subject. One common cause is atrophic vaginitis. Vaginal estrogen is an effective treatment for this, and it might be appropriate for your lady friend.
I would definitely recommend she find an expert on pelvic pain in women, someone who can provide guidance on the best treatment after a thorough evaluation.
If she does use vaginal estrogen, you should avoid intercourse of any kind immediately after she applies the cream.
Estrogen can be absorbed by men through the skin, and although the blood levels are low in male partners of women using vaginal estrogen, there may be effects that weren鈥檛 seen in a short study on the subject.
Only a small amount of vaginal estrogen is absorbed into the body: The rest will remain in the vagina for some period of time, which I cannot find precisely defined in published literature. Since most women will use vaginal estrogen one to three times weekly (after initial daily use for one to two weeks), not having oral or penetrative intercourse on the day of vaginal estrogen use would be safest.
Dear Dr. Roach: A recent column was from a donor who said his blood was 鈥淐MV negative.鈥� What does that mean?
D.S.
Cytomegalovirus, abbreviated CMV, is a virus in the herpes family that most people have been exposed to. It causes an illness, usually mild, similar to mononucleosis.
All herpes viruses have the potential to stay in the body forever. CMV is very dangerous in people with immune system disease, such as those who have had cancer chemotherapy or an organ transplant, so blood from people with no CMV is best in those situations, but is harder to get.
I will review all the herpes viruses that can infect humans in an upcoming column.
Stay tuned.
Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers can email questions to [email protected]
