Q: What different treatment options might my doctor or nurse practitioner suggest?
A. There are many different ways to treat The Big Ow. Your doctor or nurse practitioner may prescribe a mess-free treatment option, like a tablet or ring that is inserted into the vagina. Alternatively, he or she may give you a vaginal cream for your symptoms.
What your doctor will do
The Big Ow shouldn’t be a big secret, ladies. We’re busy women with a lot on our plates. There’s no need to take on vaginal discomfort by ourselves too. Your doctor and nurse can help you get relief from vaginal atrophy. There are a few ways you can prepare for your appointment, but one thing that may help you feel more at ease is knowing what to expect…
When you make an appointment to talk about vaginal atrophy, your family doctor or nurse practitioner may refer you to a gynaecologist, if you don’t already have one. Vaginal atrophy is nothing new to doctors – specialists and primary care physicians alike – so discussing your symptoms with anyone involved in your care is always a good decision.
After learning more about your condition with a discussion and an exam, your doctor and nurse will be able to help you decide what to do to start feeling better.
The Discussion:
First, your doctor or nurse practitioner will talk to you to find out more...
(That’s why it’s important to bring up vaginal atrophy early in the visit. You need to give your doctor or nurse practitioner a chance to understand what you’re feeling so he or she can find the best possible way to help you.) Be ready to answer questions about your general health, habits or behaviours related to your sexual health, and how your symptoms have been affecting you, such as:
- What symptoms are you having?
- How long have you had these symptoms?
- How have these symptoms affected you on a day-to-day basis?
- Have your symptoms affected your sex life? If so, how?
- Have you tried any vaginal moisturizers or lubricants to help with your symptoms?
- Do you still have menstrual periods?
- Have you ever been treated for cancer?
- What medicines or vitamins do you take, including the kind you can buy without a prescription?
- Do you use scented soaps or bubble baths?
- Do you douche or use feminine hygiene sprays?
The Exam:
Next comes the examination...
Don’t be nervous, girls! The different tests used to diagnose vaginal atrophy are very similar (and, in some cases, exactly the same) as tests you’ve had in your family doctor’s or gynaecologist’s office before. To help put your mind at ease though, here’s a quick run-down of the tests that will help your doctor or nurse practitioner diagnose vaginal atrophy:
- A pelvic exam – The doctor or nurse practitioner feels the pelvic organs and looks at the vagina and the cervix.
- A Pap test – Using a small brush, like a mascara wand, a sample of cells from the cervix is taken then examined under a microscope. The doctor or nurse practitioner may also take a sample of vaginal secretions, or test the acid level in the vagina using a paper indicator strip.
- A urine test – If you have any urinary symptoms (like leaking or urgency when you need to go to the washroom), your doctor or nurse practitioner may ask for a sample of your urine so it can be tested as well.
