For many menopausal and post-menopausal women, vaginal atrophy is a common albeit unpleasant side effect of the hormonal changes your body undergoes. But instead of seeking treatment, a vast majority of women choose to endure the symptoms rather than discuss them with their doctor. Awareness around women’s health and aging is improving, however misconceptions and misinformation about what’s normal and tolerable still run rampant.
Here’s what you need to know. You can reverse symptoms of vaginal atrophy. And while not every treatment option will work for every woman, scientifically proven options do exist that can reduce symptom severity and help you find relief.
What is Vaginal Atrophy?
During menopause, your estrogen levels decline. Because your vagina relies on estrogen to maintain optimal function and lubrication, you may develop vaginal (or vulvovaginal) atrophy.
Vaginal atrophy doesn’t happen all at once. Up to 50% of women experience vaginal atrophy during menopause, and 50% of those women will develop symptoms up to three or more years after menopause.
Your age and lifestyle determine to what extent you will develop vaginal atrophy. Some women experience only vaginal dryness while others may only develop dyspareunia, or pain during intercourse. Other common symptoms of vaginal atrophy include itching, urinary incontinence, spotting, and an urgency to urinate.
Vaginal atrophy also goes by a different name: genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). A mouthful to say, a GSM diagnosis includes symptoms related to the urinary tract as well as the vagina. Both the vagina and urinary tract have a high number of estrogen receptors. This means many menopausal and post-menopausal women experience both vaginal and urinary symptoms at the same time.
But due to the stigma and misconceptions around women’s reproductive health, only 25% of women are receiving appropriate treatment for vaginal atrophy.
Can Vaginal Atrophy Be Prevented?
Vaginal atrophy can negatively impact your day-to-day life. And for many reasons, women are hesitant to bring up some of its more sensitive symptoms, whether due to embarrassment or lack of awareness.
All women will experience the natural and expected decline in estrogen upon entering menopause, but vaginal atrophy will not improve without treatment. It’s time to stop letting these symptoms disrupt our wellbeing and life after menopause.
The earlier you begin treatment for vaginal atrophy, regardless of the severity of your symptoms, the better. Some women even seek treatment without symptoms to prevent the onset of vaginal atrophy and its more unpleasant side effects.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Replacing depleted estrogen levels is the most effective and most prescribed treatment to reverse vaginal atrophy. The two types of hormone therapy for vaginal atrophy are systemic and local.
Systemic estrogen therapy comes in the form of a tablet, patch, or vaginal ring and sends estrogen directly into your bloodstream. Women with other post-menopausal symptoms (like genitourinary syndrome) often find the most relief with systemic hormone therapy.
While it’s the most efficient and direct way to receive extra estrogen, it does carry some risks. Systemic hormone therapy may not be the best choice for you if you are at risk for breast cancer or certain heart conditions.
Local (topical) estrogen therapy is an option for women who only have vaginal symptoms. Creams, patches, and gels are common delivery methods for local estrogen and allow your body to absorb the hormone in lower amounts.
Both systemic and local hormone replacement therapy can help restore your vaginal lining, and reduce vaginal dryness and discomfort.
Vaginal Moisturizers and Lubricants
Lubricants and moisturizers are over-the-counter treatment options for vaginal atrophy. Neither reverses the condition, but both provide relief of symptoms. Use a personal lubricant during sex and a vaginal moisturizer on a regular basis to see the best results. A vaginal moisturizer is also a good alternative if hormonal therapy isn’t right for you.
Not sure about using a vaginal moisturizer? Take our quiz to determine whether you could benefit.
Laser Therapy
A relatively new option that seeks to reverse vaginal atrophy is laser therapy. Laser therapy encourages collagen production which helps thicken thinning vaginal tissue. As part of a study, women who received laser therapy reported improved vaginal function and health and a reduction in symptoms. While we still need more long-term studies, laser therapy is a promising treatment option.
It’s also important to note that you’ll need to continue the prevention methods of your choice, otherwise vaginal atrophy will progress. This is why it’s important to talk to your doctor about your symptoms and what may be the best option for you. Every woman is different and deserves an individual treatment plan to find relief.
Reproductive and sexual health is not a ‘nice to have’ during perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause but a key element to your overall health and wellbeing. Reversing symptoms is possible, which is why it’s vital to speak up and ask for help as soon as you notice symptoms.