Dear All, Sure understand. Doesn't it feel like we too often have to battle to prove the efficacy of nature and common sense? Still, actually, it is a legitimate diagnosis. And though it is called atrophic vaginitis, atrophic vaginosis is probably more accurate. It was an unfortunate use of language as described by the physician; at the same time, it is hormonally related. The article at www.acnm.org is actually a good one, especially in its discussion of hypoestrogenemia, although the title may inflame a bit. The author does cite Riordan and Auerbach. To me, it has always been a normal e/affect that breastfeeding does have on some women. Birth trauma (I'm including episiotomy) looks completely different. I don't remember ever seeing it in a woman who chose not to breastfeed. I have seen it in peri/menopausal women. It is something I asked about when I saw patients postpartally, and I also asked if they were getting any sleep, were they getting any help around their house, and if partnered, was the partner helping out. Then depending upon the mother's wishes, we sought ways to alleviate her discomfort, if desired. Sometimes that can be empowerment, sometimes education, discussion with partner, sometimes lubrication (natural or manufactured). Sometimes it takes a tincture of time. By all means it would behoove us to present it as a normal occurrence. I have talked with mothers who have tried vaginal hormones with the resultant reduction in milk supply. Education is absolutely paramount in this situation. Hope this is in some way, helpful. ~Linda Linda Duce RN, CNM Austin, TX -----Original Message----- From: Nikki Lee [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2003 3:46 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: atrophic vaginosis Dear Friends: Oh, another thing to blame breastfeeding for. It couldn't be any pelvic trauma from an induced birth/epidural/pitocin and/or operative delivery? It couldn't be that her partner doesn't take the time to talk to her or to help her in the home during the daylight hours, and expects her to be as ready at night as he is? What is it doing to us, as professionals to be under constant seige? We are always having to defend breastfeeding against a host of outrageous factors: breasts are for men, human milk is deficient in various factors, formula is like a Honda while human milk is like a Mercedes, women have to act like men and leave their babies to be employed.......you hear new ones every day, and the old reasons are still going strong. I just can't believe it. Millions of years of success, and some guys in a factory lab with a good marketing department have derailed humanity. Fuming, Nikki Lee *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html