About vaginal dryness
Vaginal dryness can affect any woman, however after the menopause it is very common, affecting over half of post-menopausal women aged between 51 and 60. This article will help you to understand vaginal dryness, the symptoms, causes and treatment, and allow you to approach your GP with confidence. It will help you to understand that you are not alone in suffering from this common condition, and encourage you to take the first steps towards regaining your sexual confidence and quality of life.
Vaginal moisture
Natural lubrication produced by glands at the neck of the womb (the cervix) 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 Bartholins 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 16% experience pain.
Before the menopause
Around 17% of women aged 18-50 experience problems with vaginal dryness during sex, even before the menopause takes place. 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 the 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 treatments such as for allergy and cold erc, can also dry out mucous membranes, including vaginal tissues.
There are a number of simple ways in which to lubricate a dry vagina:
- Lubricants– these are similar to natural lubrication and should be applied to the area around the lips (vulva) and vagina just before intercourse takes place
- Vaginal moisturisers – these are used two to three times a week and last for up to two days, therefore they do not have to be applied directly before 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 will 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 young 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 the menopause
The average age of the menopause is 51, after the 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. Around 58% of post-menopausal women experience vaginal dryness.
Symptoms
Loss of lubrication and pain during sex – after the menopause, problems with lubrication and painful sex increase. Thinning of the skin around 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 during 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 or pap smear becomes more painful or difficult.
Change in the appearance of the vagina and vulva – it is common for the vagina to look different; the lips will be much thinner.
Changes to the vaginal discharge –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.
Emotional impact – 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 a premature menopause (also called premature ovarian insufficiency) – this is when the menopause begins before the age of 40. A 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 an 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 the menopause. Vaginal dryness does not need to be treated as an inevitable part of growing older – something can be done about 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?
What to do next
Recognising that vaginal dryness is normal and common is the first step to helping yourself. The next is to talk to your doctor, who can recommend a treatment to suit you.
Treatment
- Local estrogen – this is available in the form of small tablets inserted into the vagina with an applicator, vaginal rings or Vaginal dryness can respond well to local estrogen treatments, they can also help greatly with discomfort and pain during sex, correct the vaginal pH and regulate bacteria. Unlike conventional forms of HRT, the effects are local therefore the risks are reduced
- Avoid perfumed soaps
- Use creams to treat skin irritation
- Lubricants and moisturisers suck as Astroglide can be useful, particularly for women who are not suited to estrogen
- Take more time during sexual intercourse giving the Bartholins gland time to produce the maximum amount of lubrication before intercourse
Tips for talking to your doctor about vaginal dryness
Discussing vaginal dryness with a healthcare professional can be daunting however it is often well worth it as they will be able to help. Here are a few tips to make the discussion as easy as possible:
- Make a list of what you want to discuss
- Discuss the most important or most difficult questions first
- Write down what the doctor tells you
- If there is anything that you don’t understand, ask for clarification
- If you feel embarrassed take along some information with It can be difficult to discuss embarrassing problems face to face, but if you find information on the internet about your symptoms you can use this to help explain and avoid having to make eye contact with your GP whilst discussing the problem
- If you still feel unable to discuss the subject, write it all down and hand it to the doctor
- Don’t wait to be asked, give the doctor any information that you may feel is relevant including a history of the condition, symptoms, the impact they are having on you, any lifestyle factors that may have contributed and any medication you are taking
- Many women find that their smears become more difficult, if this is the case, speak to the nurse about your symptoms and ask for some further information and advice about vaginal dryness
In summary
- Vaginal dryness is a very common problem and affects more than half of women after the menopause, however some women may experience problems with vaginal dryness before the 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 is an embarrassing condition but it needs to be addressed and it is well worth discussing your symptoms with your doctor and also your partner
Source: https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/vaginal-dryness/