We need to know about atrophic vaginitis when working with breastfeeding mothers.  There may be pressure on them to wean because of it, and they may choose to wean of their own accord if they don't know of ways to handle it without stopping breastfeeding.   The topic is fine and of course we need to be able to communicate about it with women who seek our help.

I'm a midwife.  There are very few topics that put me off.  My entire livelihood depends on other people's sex lives.  At the same time I am extra mindful of confidentiality, since details of intimate relationships involve information about partners as well and I live in a tiny country where everyone knows everyone else.  For me the information presented would be weightier if based on what Hale says about the use of estrogen, or couched more circumspectly: 'some women report' rather than 'I experienced...'  I would feel more comfortable on behalf of the partners.  I am also one of those people who doesn't have private conversations on my mobile phone within the earshot of strangers and indeed I have asked strangers to consider that hearing the details of their lives as they recite them to whoever is on the other end of their mobile phone, is intruding on *my* privacy.  

There is a difference between a discussion with a woman seeking our help, and writing about the lubrication of our own mucous membranes, or lack thereof, on an open internet website.  Just because I find the latter to be on the far side of my own personal boundaries does not mean I have a problem talking to clients.  

I didn't see any posts with the usual disclaimer 'permission to post' when the person whose confidentiality was being affected was their intimate partner but I would like to assume your partners are fine with it or you wouldn't have posted.  It's out there now, either way.

Rachel Myr
feeling unusually prim and proper, and grumpy, in Kristiansand, Norway

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome