Sheila,

This is a common and very annoying problem and I can tell you from personal experience it takes committment to find the right answer. Doctors don't seem very interested in this quality-of-life issue! There are some over-the-counter treatments that are very good. Astroglide (terrible name but good stuff) and K-Y's Silk are gels that you can apply to your partner and to you, and they work very well. Use plenty--more than you think is necessary. OK they are a bit messy but worth the bother. There are also prescription treatments, one I know of is a vaginal ring called Estring that you place in your vagina and it stays there for three months. It releases a bit of estrogen, and that makes your vaginal area less dry. It works very well too. Sometimes you need both.

I hope these work for you,

--toni