Lauren Streicher, M.D. OB/GYN Introduces Francey, the 49-Year-Old, Newly Single Woman Who Shares Her Journey through Menopause in ‘Slip Sliding Away: Turning Back the Clock on Your Vagina’

September 21, 2021 at 11:55 AM EDT

A solution-driven guide, written by a gynecologist and menopause expert, that explains all your options to alleviate vulvar, vaginal, and urinary symptoms that result from a lack of estrogen

According to a 2021 study, the prevalence of menopause related symptoms like vaginal dryness, irritation, itching, and painful sex are as high as 87%, yet at best, only one in four women self-treat or get a prescription to help.

“After years of treating women suffering from menopausal symptoms, I’ve just released a series of solution driven guides featuring 49-year-old Francey, to help women navigate it all, from vaginal dryness, hot flashes, cancer, losing her mojo and incontinence…all while dating,” says Lauren Streicher, MD, OB/GYN, Clinical Professor and Medical Director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Menopause. “Despite spending her 20’s and 30’s loving sex, Francey realizes that other than efficiently shooting out three kids, her genitals have been on hiatus for too many years to count. With the kids out of the house, Francey is ready to bring her vagina out of retirement. But, like millions of perimenopausal and menopausal women across the country, Francey’s vagina appears to be out of business. Slip Sliding Away is the story of Francey’s dry vagina, and how she got her lube back.”

Dr. Streicher humorously explains Francey’s vaginal escapades after a three-year sexual hiatus, as she embarks on dating and finds that her vagina isn’t what it used to be. Rather, it feels like the Sahara Desert and requires a slathering of lube. She shares the difference between water and silicone-based lubes, coconut oil, baby oil, and a cadre of other oils found in the pantry and the good, bad and ugly of each.

What a night it was! But, two days after her date and unprotected sex, Francey woke up with that constant "gotta go" feeling better known as the dreaded urinary tract infection, that nagging itch and odor that her friends have told her about. She runs to the nearest drug store and searches the feminine hygiene aisle for answers, all the while absent-mindedly scratching that incessant itch. Once she has her pH balance under control, she finds she has vaginal atrophy (dryness) and learns that moisturizers are not just for your face. Replens Long-Lasting Vaginal Moisturizer can be applied in advance and lasts for 3 whole days, so it becomes her new go-to plan. Of course, she still needs a silicone lube just before sex –why? Duh, so he can get past the door and into the room with silky smooth ease and pleasure.

After successfully solving her problem, Francey became quite the vagina evangelist, explaining to anyone who would listen that dry genitals are fixable whether through a little lube, a lot of laser, rings, creams, or other things. Though grateful that her vagina is back in business, she now realizes that she needs to get a job. Her ex had impressively squandered all their savings investing in a gerbil gymnasium startup. So, after 20 years of being an at-home mom, she needs to make some money. But sadly, for Francey, her re-entry into the workforce happens to coincide with her entry into hot flash hell. Follow Francey as she explores lifestyle, nonhormonal, and hormonal options to find a solution to her all-day, all-night flashes before she loses her job, her ability to function, and her mind.

“Many women assume that menopause is temporary, and once the hot flashes go away, menopause is over,” adds Dr. Streicher. “But menopause is never over. You do not go through menopause. You enter menopause. Even if you are no longer having hot flashes, the impact of no longer producing estrogen is forever. Answers can be found in Hot Flash Hell: A Gynecologist’s Guide to Turning Down the Heat. It will walk you through everything you need to know about what to expect, how to know if you are in perimenopause or menopause, and all of your options to alleviate those all day, all night surges of heat. There is even a guide to the use of cannabis (marijuana) including why it helps and what kind helps the most!”