Ep 32 - Sex After Breast Cancer LIVE! Caring for Your Sexual Body with Counselor Traci Owen

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Shared with love by Jan James, Hope After Breast Cancer
Major topics covered—
Caring for your sexual body
• Caring for your sexual body does not require a partner! That is something that you have ownership of. You are a sexual woman whether or not you are sharing sex with a partner.
• It is so much easier to maintain vaginal health than it is to recover vaginal health. Maybe just start with some proactive vaginal hydration every week. This is about health in your body.
• Our urinary system, our vulva (outside), our vagina (inside), and the pelvic floor muscles are all impacted by the loss of estrogen in our systems.
• Using a full-sized vibrator with penetration at least twice a week to promote blood flow to the vagina will help maintain vaginal health, in the flexibility, in the length of its accommodation, and in the circumference of the accommodation.
• Listen to your body and be proactive!
If you have painful intercourse, hydrate for at least two weeks, then move to dilation.
Vaginal moisturizing/hydration (hydrates the tissue and promotes vaginal health)
• Vaginal estrogen
• Oral estrogen
• Oral estrogen combined with a non-hormonal gel
• Non-hormonal (hyaluronic acid products Traci recommends:
o Hyalo Gen
o Revaree
o Gynatrof
Dilation (work) / Vibrators (fun)
• If sex is painful, go for a dilator
o Traci likes the Dr. Laura Berman Intimate Basics - Dilator Set
• Vibrators can be used to promote blood flow, to relax the muscles, and for pleasure
o Start simple until you can figure out what you like.
o https://www.rosetoy-official.com/ is the website mentioned, but it’s certainly not the only one!
Lubricants (reduces friction) - Traci recommends the following lubes
• Water-based lubes: Good Clean Love, Enchanted Rose, Velvet Rose
• Silicone-based lubes aren’t recommended—they can degrade a vibrator so don’t use together.
• Hybrid lubes: Naked Silk, Wet Gold
Vaginal pH
• Prevention (these things will maintain a healthy environment in the vagina): Probiotics (research the biome’s relationship to the vagina), vaginal estrogen, hyaluronic acid
• When you have recurrent bacterial infections in your vagina, Traci prescribes boric acid.
• Please don’t use products that have fragrances!
Urethral prolapse
• Can be caused by a combination of loss of estrogen, chronic constipation, overweight, pregnancy, childbirth, weak pelvic floor muscles, pelvic trauma.
• Typical treatment plan
o Vaginal estrogen
o Hydration of vaginal walls with dilation
o Pelvic floor therapy to strengthen muscles
Use of Cialis in women
• FDA hasn’t been approved for women.
• Option is to use cuddle cream / scream cream. It’s easy. Put it where you want it without systemic effect.
Vaginal exams
• Pediatric speculums are available if you are concerned about adult-sized speculums
• Feel free to ask if you can remain clothed to have a conversation with your gynecologist before your exam. Great idea! Advocate for yourself!
Women’s Healthcare Provider Worksheet
• Download here – https://sexafterbreastcancer.com/
Medications and sex
• All the meds that impact the central nervous system may impact you sexually.
• SSRIs have a pretty high impact on desire (diminished or inability to orgasm OR persistent genital arousal). SSRIs approved to treat depression are Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil, Pexeva, Zoloft.
• Play with the timing of your meds
• See if you can lower the dosage
• Some anti-depressants that have fewer sexual side effects: Wellbutrin, Remeron, Viibryd, Trintellix
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