Update-
thank you all for the information, advice and support. I am persevering in this journey and things are improving bit by bit. I have found some silicone dilators which are uncomfortable but not painful. It isn’t going to be a sudden cure, but nothing is quick! So I am optimistic.
Original post-
Hello all, I’m after some advice about vaginal dilators.
I had stage 1 endometrial cancer with radical surgery in 2020 after postmenopausal bleeds. My vagina was shortened during the surgery because the cervix was removed.
All went well after surgery. However since 2024, the vaginal opening has become increasingly sore and tight , and now I can’t take more than digital penetration during intimacy, although it was fine in 2020-2023. I am able to apply YES vaginal moisturiser. I can’t use oestrogen because my cancer was hormone dependent. My partner has been really patient but this is really upsetting both of us.
I saw my gynaecologist this week, and she said that there was some thinning, irritation and atrophy at the opening. Inside things are normal and flexible.
She has prescribed some steroid cream and suggested using large diameter but short vaginal dilators. She suggested looking these up on the internet, although she said I would need to be careful not to insert dilators ‘too far’. I’m not really sure where to start with this!
I posted this in the vulval cancer group originally and a lovely lady from this forum replied, so decided to repost in this forum.
Does anyone have any experience or advice for me? Specifically, I need large diameter appliances which are not tapered.
