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Atrophic Vaginitis

Atrophic vaginitis is the name given to the condition that involves women experiencing vaginal dryness. Many women will experience this condition after they have gone through menopause. It is a natural symptom of menopause, and can be treated using lubrication or hormone replacement therapy.

Before the menopause, oestrogen stimulates glands in the vagina to produce a lubricating mucous that keeps the vagina healthy, protects it from harmful bacteria and helps to lubricate it for sexual intercourse. These glands produce this mucous throughout a woman’s life up until menopause, and also secrete a clear liquid when a woman is sexually stimulated.

After menopause, the lack of oestrogen causes the vagina to become dry and this results in atrophic vaginitis. The vagina may lose its elasticity, and some of the fatty tissue around the vagina is lost so it appears reduced in size. 50% of women will experience atrophic vaginitis after their menopause, and the severity of the condition increases with age.

Atrophic vaginitis can be an extremely uncomfortable condition. It can cause itchiness in the vulva as a result of the decreased production of mucous. It can also cause pain, especially during intercourse. The glands in the vagina secrete liquid for lubrication when a woman is sexually aroused, but this may no longer happen after menopause. As a result, it is painful for the vulva to be stimulated by any means without the aid of lubrication. Women suffering from atrophic vaginitis may also experience a white or yellow discharge from their vagina. The mucous secreted by the glands in the vagina contains bacteria that help fight infection, and keep the vagina clean. Harmful bacteria are pushed out as normal healthy discharge before menopause. Without this lubrication and these helpful bacteria, infections can occur, and unpleasant discharge may be experienced.

There are two main methods of treating this condition. One is to apply a type of lubrication to the vagina to the pain of the condition and to allow sexual intercourse to take place. Another method is to undergo hormone replacement therapy. Many women will choose this option as it alleviates many of the symptoms of menopause by reintroducing oestrogen and progesterone to the woman’s body. The oestrogen will stimulate the glands in the vagina to secrete the mucous like before, and the symptoms of atrophic vaginitis will be alleviated. This treatment can only be taken for a few years, as it can lead to other complications.