Vaginal Dryness
Typically, the wall of the vagina is thick and moist. As women enter menopause, their estrogen levels decrease causing the vagina to become dry. Vaginal dryness refers to a persistent irritating, burning, or itching sensation in the vagina. The condition is more noticeable during sexual intercourse as it results in pain and discomfort.
Symptoms of Vaginal Dryness
Pain during intercourse is one of the most common symptoms of vaginal dryness. However, you may also experience these symptoms:
- Burning in the pelvis
- Frequent urination
- Itching in the pelvis
- Tightening of the vaginal opening
- Spotting
- Urinary tract infections
- Vaginal discharge
Causes of Vaginal Dryness
Vaginal dryness, also called vaginal atrophy or atrophic vaginitis, is a low-estrogen disorder. Estrogen, a hormone produced by your ovaries, helps keep the vulva and vagina moist and pliant.
After menopause, hysterectomy, or breast cancer treatment, the levels of estrogen tend to drop. As a result, your vaginal skin changes and may become uncomfortably dry.
Vaginal dryness may be triggered by:
- Childbirth and breastfeeding
- Treatments for cancer, including radiation and chemotherapy
- Menopause
- Surgical removal of ovaries for any reason
- Anti-estrogen drugs for endometriosis or breast cancer
- Antidepressants
- Antihistamines, like diphenhydramine
- Sjogren’s syndrome
This condition can adversely impact your sexual health and even your daily life. Without normal lubrication levels, sex may become painful.
It is important to discuss your specific situation with a physician to determine the cause and potential treatment options.
Diagnosing Vaginal Dryness
At Colorado Springs Urological Associates, your provider will perform a detailed history and physical exam and talk with you about your symptoms.
It is not uncommon to also have a blood test to determine your hormone levels as well as a pelvic exam to check if your vaginal tissue is thin and dry due to declining estrogen levels.
Treating Vaginal Dryness
The good news is there are many treatments, depending on the cause and severity of vaginal dryness.
- Vaginal moisturizers, applied every few days, can keep your vaginal tissues healthy.
- Lubricants can help relieve pain during intercourse.
- Low-dose vaginal estrogen can be prescribed and come in a cream, ring or tablet form.
- Selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) medication may also be given to relieve painful intercourse associated with vaginal atrophy.
- Vaginal suppositories, such as dehydro-epiandrosterone (DHEA), can be prescribed to ease painful intercourse once you reach menopause.
- MonaLisa Touch [LINK: Specialty Treatments/Women’s Sexual Health/MonaLisa] is a non-invasive, in-office laser therapy treatment that takes less than ten minutes per treatment (a typical course is three treatments). During the procedure, our practitioner will use a small probe (wand) to deliver gentle levels of laser energy into the soft tissue of your vaginal walls, which stimulates the production of collagen. The resulting enhanced moisture levels in the vaginal canal ease many of the painful symptoms you may experience during intercourse.
