Delicate question about tampons and perimenopause - Menopause Message Board

mgraylorn · 06-28-2005, 10:12 AM

I am 49 and I think I am in perimenopause, but I still get light periods, even though I am on Depo Provera.

I've been using tampons ever since college, but within the last year, using them has become painful. They are painful to insert and extract, even the "regular" days ones which are pretty small.

I assume I must be experiencing thinning skin and tissue "down there" and I wouldn't think dryness would be much of an issue at "that time of the month". Has anyone else had difficulty with tampon use in peri? I hear some women say they have trouble with painful intercourse sometimes during this stage of life, but I've never heard tampons mentioned as a problem.

Is this normal, or do I potentially have a more serious problem I need to get checked out?

katidid95 · 06-29-2005, 01:58 PM

I actually started experiencing this years ago when I was on the Pill and had light periods. I would use the smallest tampons, but I think because my periods were so light, that it became especially painful to take out after they expand a bit. I finally just switched to pads which I hated at first, but got used to. I'd only use tampons if I was wearing a swim suit, which is pretty rare. It could also be dryness contributing to the discomfort. I would certainly mention it to your gyn next time, but I don't think it's anything to worry about.

mgraylorn · 07-01-2005, 09:23 AM

Thanks for the post. Getting old is great fun isn't it? Weird stuff starts happening in places you never give much thought to, and much of it you can't just drop into a casual conversation.

kittenlover · 07-01-2005, 01:03 PM

If insertion is the painful part, you can always try to coat the tip with some KY jelly or something similar.

JudeNZ · 07-03-2005, 04:01 PM

I'm 51 and nearing the end of peri I hope! Over the past few months I also find inserting a tampon can be painful, and use them less than I did, as soon as it eases off I go back to to wearing a pad which is so much more comfortable.

I am also finding intercourse can be a little painful, one spot gets a grazed feeling. I discussed this with my (female) herbalist, and she said that is probably exactly what is happening. it is the spot where I had stitches after my last child, and it has always been prone to tenderness. She said as we get older and the vaginal walls get thinner that can happen. She did give me hope though by saying that many women find once through menopause this problem rights itself.

Jude