DHEA Therapy for vaginal atrophy
 

Is anyone familiar with HPRT (hormone precursor replacement therapy) for treatment of vaginal atrophy? It involves intravaginal application of DHEA.

Re: DHEA Therapy for vaginal atrophy
 

Hi Harrie,

Here are some clinical trials for it. They are not focused on breast cancer, nor do they exclude breast cancer patients.

Current clinical trials for DHEA for vaginal atrophy:

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/N...atrophy&rank=1

and

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/N...atrophy&rank=2

and (not recruiting)

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/N...atrophy&rank=3

Re: DHEA Therapy for vaginal atrophy
 

The benefits of this therapy is that locally administered DHEA is very effective and rapid in correcting the signs and symptoms of vaginal atrophy. The plus side for us is that there is no detectable increase in circulating estradiol.

Re: DHEA Therapy for vaginal atrophy
 

Maryanne,

It's so good to hear from you.

I have used 'Replense' (suggested by you?) infrequently and it does help. Recently I've been feeling much better and able to walk a lot more. Seems exericse improves everything. I'm feeling quite 'normal' right now.

Re: DHEA Therapy for vaginal atrophy
 

Jackie, so good to hear from you also! I have been away from the site for a while. Can you tell me what you have been going through?

Re: DHEA Therapy for vaginal atrophy
 

Hi Maryanne,

I've been doing well - breast cancer wise. Looks like all the problems I'd been concerned about were caused by the slightly increased size of one of the brain tumors (Central Neurocytoma - unrelated to BC) Because the cranial nerves (from my own deduction) get pressed when I was doing rigorous activities, I'd had some scares (vertigo and balance problems) the past few years.

Have seen a ear, nose, throat doctor and will have some testing done mid April. Will also see my oncologist for 6-month check late April. The radiation oncologist is reluctant to give me treatment because of the possible side effect (the radiation will penetrate the thalamus). Perhaps we can hold off the radiosurgery if the ENT doctor can figure out some way to relieve/avoid the ('bad cold'- like)symptoms.

Thank you so much for asking. What about yourself? What have you been up to these days?

Re: DHEA Therapy for vaginal atrophy
 

Jackie, I wish you all the best in the tx of your tumor.
I am doing very well. Just had my 6 mo ck with onco about a wk ago. He is the one who suggested this DHEA therapy. So am thinking about it.
But all is great othewise!

Re: DHEA Therapy for vaginal atrophy
 

A trip to the gynecologist last week and I learned something new. Cancer/chemo didn’t ruin my sex life forever. http://www.vaginismus.com/vaginismus-symptoms I ordered my dilator set on Friday! The doc also mentioned she could send me for physical therapy which I thought might be a little strange. I'll try self help first.

Re: DHEA Therapy for vaginal atrophy
 

Be watchful of that link!

I clicked on it and my Norton Antivirus program returned a warning that the link contains some kind of virus.

Re: DHEA Therapy for vaginal atrophy
 

Thanks for the warning Jackie. Norton is a little sensitive since that site has the "v" word and the "p" word and "intercourse". That site is safe. It's clean and is well written.

Re: DHEA Therapy for vaginal atrophy
 

Jane, thank you so much for posting that link. Very intersting!! Plz keep me posted, if you don't mind, as to how it is coming along. You can send me a priv message or email. I am very interested. I wonder if vaginismus is a form of vaginal atrophy.
Thats kinda funny about the suggestion of PT!! hahaha!!
Congratulations on finishing all your txs as of Jan 2011!!
Way to go!!

Re: DHEA Therapy for vaginal atrophy
 

Hi ladies
I haven't been here in awhile. thought I'd weigh in on the question posed about DHEA. This may or may not be true. My oncologist naturopath said I had to get off of ashwaganda because it could raise my DHEA, which is something one does not want with breast cancer. I had my DHEA blood levels checked after I quit the ashwaganda herb and it was fine. But you might want to question whether you want to be taking any form of DHEA.

Dianne

Re: DHEA Therapy for vaginal atrophy
 

Dianne, thanks a lot for the info. I will keep it in mind.
In the article the onco gave me regarding this med, and the article goes on to say "...they suggest that DHEA is converted within vaginal epithelial cells to physiological estradiol where it produces the desired estrogen effect. Estradiol is not released systemically, and the deleterious effects attributed to systemic estradial are avoided."
But I will continue to do my research.