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Vaginal dryness can affect any woman, however after menopause it is very common, affecting over 50% of post-menopausal women aged between 51 and 60. Hopefully this article will help you better understand vaginal dryness, and allow you to approach your health care professional with confidence. You are not alone in suffering from this common condition, and there's no reason you shouldn't take steps towards regaining your sexual confidence and quality of life.
Vaginal moisture
This is natural lubrication produced by glands at the neck of the womb (the cervix). It keeps the vagina supple and moist. The moisture moves slowly down through the vagina, keeping it clean and removing dead cells. The vaginal moisture is slightly acidic and this helps to keep the area healthy, preventing infections such as thrush. It is perfectly normal for the majority of women to notice a slight white vaginal discharge.
During sexual excitement the Bartholin’s glands (two glands at the entrance of the vagina) produce extra moisture to aid sexual intercourse. However, a quarter of women aged 50-59 experience vaginal dryness problems during sex and a large number experience pain.
Before Menopause
Around 17% of women aged 18-50 experience problems with vaginal dryness during sex, even before menopause. Many women may experience vaginal dryness during sex because they are not sexually aroused, this is often caused by insufficient foreplay or psychological reasons such as stress. Other reasons for vaginal dryness before menopause can be linked to hygiene products such as feminine sprays and harsh soaps, swimming pool and hot tub chemicals and some washing powders. Certain drug treatments such as allergy and cold medications and some anti-depressants, can also dry out mucous membranes, including vaginal tissues.
There are a number of simple ways in which to lubricate a dry vagina and one of these is using lubricants, similar to natural lubrication and should be applied to the area around the lips (vulva) and vagina just before sexual intercourse takes place.
Vaginal dryness can be a common problem for pre-menopausal women with low levels of estrogen, such as breastfeeding mothers, those who have had a hysterectomy and those who have received chemotherapy.
Pre-menopausal women who have their ovaries removed during a hysterectomy are likely to experience menopausal symptoms, including vaginal dryness, as a result of a loss of hormones. These changes are more dramatic in women whose ovaries have been removed as this causes menopause to occur more abruptly, however, even women requiring hysterectomy whose ovaries remain intact will experience some drop in hormone levels as a result.
The hormonal changes that women experience due to chemotherapy also tend to be dramatic and abrupt, leading to more intense symptoms. Chemotherapy can damage the ovaries so that they no longer produce estrogen and this lowers the amount of vaginal lubrication produced. Decreased amounts of estrogen also leads to a thinner, less elastic and more fragile vaginal lining.
After Menopause
The average age of menopause is 51 and after menopause women find that their bodies change. The ovaries stop producing the female hormone estrogen and the levels begin to decrease. One of the early signs of reduced estrogen on the vagina is reduced lubrication during sexual activity.
Without the production of estrogen, the skin and support tissues of the lips (vulva) and vagina become thinner and less elastic and the vagina can become dry. Approximately half of post-menopausal women experience vaginal dryness.
Symptoms
Loss of lubrication and pain during sex. After menopause, problems with lubrication and painful sex increase. Thinning of the skin around the vagina makes it more easily damaged. This damage can often occur during sex, especially if lubrication is poor. Even gentle friction can cause pain and discomfort. Painful intercourse can then have a knock on effect contributing to a loss of sexual desire. The relief of symptoms often leads to an increased sexual desire and arousal.
Pain at other times
In many cases vaginal dryness does not only cause pain during sex it can make it uncomfortable to sit, stand, exercise, urinate or even work. Vaginal dryness can affect everyday life, whether women are sexually active or not. This can have a detrimental effect on quality of life.
Many women also notice that having a cervical smear becomes more painful or difficult.
Changes in the appearance of the vagina and vulva are also very common, the lips will be much thinner.
Many women also find that their vaginal discharge changes, becoming more watery, discoloured and slightly smelly and they may experience irritation and a burning feeling. These symptoms can be worrying but they are simply due to the hormonal changes and not an indication of something more serious.
There can be an emotional impact too. Vaginal dryness can make women feel different. Changes to the body can be difficult to accept and pain and discomfort caused by the condition can lead to a loss in self-confidence and sexual confidence.
For many women these symptoms can lead to confusion as they are similar to symptoms of some sexually transmitted diseases or thrush. Some women who wrongly assume this to be an attack of thrush buy over-the-counter remedies, which can make the problem much worse. As this is an embarrassing problem many women keep it to themselves and this can put a large strain on their relationship with their partner, especially if women feel unable to tell their partner why they are not interested in sexual activity.
Premature Menopause
Around one percent of women experience premature menopause (also called premature ovarian insufficiency), this is when menopause begins before the age of 40. Premature menopause can be an extremely difficult time for a younger woman with difficult physical and emotional changes.
Premature menopause leads to long-term infertility, which is for many women the most serious and upsetting consequence of early menopause. However for young active women vaginal dryness can also impact on their relationship with their partner and their sex life.
A Silent Problem
Despite the high number of women experiencing problems related to vaginal dryness it is still a silent problem that many people feel embarrassed to talk to their partners, friends and even doctors about. Only a quarter of women with these problems actually seek treatment.
Remember, women spend a third of their lives in a post menopausal state and they need to make sure that they maintain the quality of life that they had before menopause. Vaginal dryness does not need to be treated as an inevitable part of growing older, there are things that can be done to help alleviate it.
Things to look out for if you think you may be experiencing vaginal dryness:
Do you experience pain, irritation, burning or dryness during sex?
Do you experience bleeding or spotting during or after sex?
When you go for your smear, has it become more difficult or uncomfortable?
Has the appearance of your vagina changed?
Recognising that vaginal dryness is normal and common is the first step to helping yourself. The next step is to talk to your doctor, who can recommend a treatment to suit you.
Avoid perfumed soaps
Use creams to treat skin irritation
Lubricants can be useful, particularly for women who are not suited to estrogen replacement
Take more time during sexual intercourse giving the Bartholin’s gland time to produce the maximum amount of lubrication before sexual intercourse.
Discussing vaginal dryness with your healthcare professional can be daunting however, it is often well worth it as they will be able to help.
In summary
Vaginal dryness is a very common problem and affects more than half of women after menopause, however some women may experience problems with vaginal dryness before menopause.
Vaginal dryness is a painful condition which can impact on quality of life and relationships.
There are a number of effective treatments that can treat vaginal dryness easily and effectively.
Vaginal dryness can be an embarrassing condition but it needs to be addressed and it is well worth discussing your symptoms with your Doctor and also your partner.
Here are a few words that you may hear your doctor use:
Atrophic vaginitis/vaginal atrophy – lack of oestrogen can cause vaginal dryness, itching/irritation and pain during sexual intercourse. This problem is referred to as different things including atrophic vaginitis, genitourinary syndrome of menopause and urogenital atrophy.
Cervix – the neck of the uterus, at the top of the vagina
Dyspareunia – painful sex
HRT – hormone replacement therapy
Local HRT – hormone replacement therapy applied in the vagina
Menopause – the last menstrual period
Peri-menopause – the phase before menopause which can take from 5 to 15 years and is when symptoms tend to begin
Premature ovarian insufficiency/premature menopause – this is when a woman goes through menopause before the age of 40. The average age of menopause is 51.
STI – sexually transmitted infection
Systemic – circulating throughout the whole body
Vaginal atrophy – drying and thinning of the vaginal skin
Vaginal flora – the micro-organisms in the vagina
Vulva – the external lips
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