A YES® Guide:

Understanding Cancer
& Vaginal Dryness

Can cancer treatment cause vaginal dryness and painful intercourse?

Navigating Intimate Health after Breast Cancer or Gynaecological Cancers

As you recover from cancer, you may experience one of the unwelcome and often undiscussed side effects of cancer treatment – vaginal dryness, vaginal atrophy, or atrophic vaginitis. A drop in oestrogen level often causes these uncomfortable symptoms, leading to itching, irritation, and painful intercourse.

 

Studies show that as many as 70% of postmenopausal breast cancer survivors are affected by atrophic vaginitis [1], which is a thinning of the walls of the vagina due to a drop in oestrogen levels causing dryness, pain, and increased risk of infection.  

 

can cancer treatment cause vaginal dryness and painful intercourse
chemotherapy, hormone therapy, hysterectomy and radiation therapy

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy can shut down the ovaries, either temporarily or permanently. This results in lower oestrogen and progesterone levels and is likely to cause symptoms such as hot flushes, irregular or no periods, and vaginal dryness or the more severe vaginal atrophy. These symptoms can affect your sex life as well as your general comfort and vaginal health.

 

Hormone Therapy (Endocrine Therapy)

 

Hormone therapy for Oestrogen Receptor Positive breast cancer (ER Positive), such as Tamoxifen, or Aromatase Inhibitors, Letrozole or Anastrozole which affect the production of oestrogen or block oestrogen receptors, can also lead to hot flushes, irregular or no periods, and vaginal dryness or atrophy. 

 

Hysterectomy

 

Total hysterectomy for womb, ovarian or cervical cancer, when the ovaries, womb, fallopian tubes, and cervix are removed will also lead to the loss of oestrogen production and the accompanying symptoms as for Chemotherapy and Hormone Therapy.  

If you are experiencing early menopause as a result of cancer treatment, we have more information and resources to support you on this page.  

 

Radiation Therapy

 

Pelvic radiotherapy can bring on early menopause resulting in lowered oestrogen levels. These changes in hormones can result in a myriad of uncomfortable symptoms including; vaginal dryness, vaginal atrophy, itching, burning and pain during sex. [2] For some gynaecological cancers, internal brachytherapy may be used, and this can also affect the pelvic organs including the vagina.  

For more information on the effects of pelvic radiotherapy, follow this link.  

 

Treating vaginal dryness caused by cancer treatment

 

A recent study by the British Menopause Society [1] on the management of oestrogen deficiency symptoms in women treated for breast cancer advises that the first-line treatment for vaginal dryness should be a vaginal moisturiser or lubricant. This should be offered to patients before any other treatments are considered.  

The BMS also recommends that the moisturiser or lubricant given should not contain parabens due to their weak oestrogenic activity. 

 

To resolve vaginal dryness without hormones or synthetic chemicals means that firstly the dry tissues need to be rehydrated by the regular use of a water-based moisturiser, and secondly, restoring intimacy will often require the use of an intimate lubricant that offers superior, long-lasting, non-sticky glide.  

Ref: [1] British Menopause society study

 

Tteat vaginal dryness caused by cancer treatment

Blogs

menopause after cancer

Blog: Menopause after cancer: YES joins forces with Dani Binnington

blog: Sex after cancer

Blog: Let's talk about Sex after cancer

vaginal dryness during perimenopause

Blog: Perimenopause- first signs of and natural remedies

YES® intimate health products are certified organic, free from hormones and all known skin irritants

YES WB

YES® WB water-based personal lubricant

  • Provides fast-acting hydration and lubrication for intercourse  

  • Intensely hydrating for dry intimate tissues  

  • pH matched to restore heathy vaginal pH

YES® VM Vaginal Moisturiser for everyday use

  • Quickly re-hydrates dry intimate tissue for up to three days  

  • Releases moisture when and where your body needs it  

  • pH matched to restore heathy vaginal pH  

 

 

YES VM
YES OB

YES® OB plant oil-based personal lubricant for intimacy and use with vaginal dilators

    • Deeply nourishing for dry tissues 

    • Robust and protective emollient, providing a protective layer over the skin   

    • Long-lasting and water resistant 

Atrophic Vaginitis explained

 

Atrophic Vaginitis is a condition where the lining of your vagina gets drier and thinner from a lack of oestrogen. Burning, itching, spotting and pain with sex are common symptoms, as are frequent urination and urinary tract infections. Symptoms can range in severity.  

 

YES® VM Vaginal Moisturiser for everyday use

    • Shortening and tightening of the vaginal canal.  

    • Lack of vaginal moisture (vaginal dryness).  

    • Vaginal burning (inflammation). 

    • Spotting of blood after intercourse (always see your healthcare professional for advice if this occurs).  

    • Discomfort or pain during intercourse (regular sexual activity helps to keep vaginal tissues healthy).  

    • Pain or burning with urination.  

    • More frequent urinary tract infections.  

    • Urinary incontinence (involuntary leakage).  

    • Urinary frequency. 
    • Thinning of the Vaginal walls occasionally resulting in the walls adhering which can cause tears.

     

Atrophic vaginitis

How YES® is different from other vaginal moisturisers and lubricants

How YES is different from other vaginal moisturisers and lubricants
      • All YES® products are certified organic by a third-party certifier, the Soil Association, and they are guaranteed pure and natural. Our products have undergone rigorous testing and have a series of certifications to support our claims.  

      • YES® WB & YES® VM are both pH matched to the vagina to restore and maintain the typical, slightly acidic, vaginal environment.  

      •  

       

More...

        • YES® WB & VM are recommended by a wide range of healthcare professionals and are available on NHS prescription (YES® WB is available on the NHS as YES® water-based vaginal lubricant). 

        • All products are designed to be side-effect free. 

        • No concerning ingredients including parabens, glycerine, sugars, petrochemicals (such as parabens, glycols) and l-arginine. 

        • No Hormones.  

        • No known skin irritants.  

       

       

Choosing between YES® WB & YES® VM

ARE YOU EXPERINCING: YES® WB YES® VM COMMENTS

Supporting vaginal pH

pH matched to the typical vaginal pH

Painful Sex

Use before and during intercourse

Intermittent Vaginal Dryness

Use for comfort and intercourse

Vaginal Atrophy

Use daily initially, then every 3 days as symptoms improve

Itching, Burning from the dryness

As needed to alleviate itching and burning 

Menopause Vaginal Dryness

Use daily initially, then every 3 days as symptoms improve

Atrophic Vaginitis 

Use daily initially, then every 3 days as symptoms improve

Short-term bouts of Vaginal Dryness

Use for comfort and sex

Long-term requirements for Vaginal Moisturiser 

Use daily initially, then every 3 days as symptoms improve

Persistent, long term Dyspareunia

Use daily initially, then every 3 days as symptoms improve

Intercourse Dryness

Use for intercourse

Why do women use YES® VM and YES® WB to treat vaginal dryness naturally?

Why do women use YES VM and YES WB to treat vaginal dryness naturally

        • Rapidly soothes the symptoms of vaginal dryness, such as itching, dryness, burning, and soreness. 

        • Effectively moisturises dry, irritated vaginal tissues. 

        • Our water-based products reassure you with a familiar feel and texture, indistinguishable from your own natural lubrication. 

        • Restores typical vaginal pH. Maintaining vaginal pH can help to protect your body from opportunistic infections such as Thrush outbreaks. 

        • Enhances intimacy and sensitivity irrespective of natural lubrication levels. 

         

        98% of our customers would recommend YES® VM and 85% of our customers experienced relief from symptoms within 1 hour. 

       

Additional Resources

GenM menopause support

Vaginal Dryness

NHS Medical support

Vaginal Atrophy

Dani Binningtons podcast logo on menopause and cancer

YES® Ingredients Policy

Find us on NHS Prescription

Did you know that YES® WB and YES® VM are both available on UK NHS prescription?

 

Pass on the following PIP codes to your doctor when asking your them to prescribe YES VM and YES WB. The pip codes are there to allow your doctor to identify the product.

 

YES® WB Pre-filled Applicators Pip code: 345-5805

YES® WB Tube Pip code: 345-5789

YES® VM Applicators Pip code: 402-3420

YES® VM tube Pip code: 402-3412

 

You may also wish to take advantage of our subscription package to receive 15% off your order every time you purchase.

 

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