What Do You Do?

Preface

There is a rather unpleasant condition which occurs in women after the menopause ... and, no, I'm not referring to the hormonal disturbances. As the production of oestrogen drops, changes take place in the female genitalia. The vaginal walls thin and shrink and natural lubrication dries up. The effect is to make intercourse uncomfortable or even impossible, with soreness, itching, and bleeding after intercourse. The condition occurs in around forty percent of post-menopausal women but for various reasons only twenty to twenty-five percent of them will seek medical advice. There are effective treatments for most women if started when symptoms are noticed. The condition is known as vaginal atrophy and there are some very good sources of information about it. The story explores one couple's experience of the condition and the woman's solution to her inability to engage in intercourse. It is not intended to be a prescription for such a situation! In most cases there are ways of dealing with the condition other than the one Susan adopts...