Q: Is it too late for me to restore sexual health?

You say you reached menopause (one year without a period) six years ago. Sex has become painful, and you want to “get it back.”

It’s never too late! Using a vaginal moisturizer may be of some benefit, but if you’ve had pain for several years, you may need a prescription treatment option to restore comfort. There are localized estrogens and Osphena (a non-hormonal option) that are very effective at restoring vaginal health. I have a patient who had not had intercourse in over 25 years. Within 3 months of treatment she was able to resume--and enjoy--intercourse! It is absolutely possible.

I would recommend going to a physician/provider who can do a careful exam and confirm the cause of the pain. Atrophy is the most common reason for painful intercourse after menopause, but there can be other causes as well; identifying the right cause makes all the difference to effective treatment.

With effort and follow-through it is nearly always possible to successfully restore the ability to have intercourse.