What causes vaginal atrophy to flare up?
Vaginal atrophy occurs because of the lack of oestrogen production in the body, resulting in thinner, drier, and less elastic vaginal tissue. While menopause is the most common cause of vaginal atrophy, there are several other triggers too, including: Post-menopause. The years leading up to menopause (perimenopause)
Is there a discharge with atrophic vaginitis?
Women with atrophic vaginitis may also experience vaginal itching, burning, frequent urination, or vaginal discharge. Women can treat this condition topically with estrogen creams, tablets (Vagifem), or an estrogen-releasing ring placed in the vagina (Estring).
How to know if you have postmenopausal atrophic vaginitis?
1 thinning of the vaginal walls 2 shortening and tightening of the vaginal canal 3 lack of vaginal moisture ( vaginal dryness) 4 vaginal burning (inflammation) 5 spotting after intercourse 6 discomfort or pain during intercourse 7 pain or burning with urination 8 more frequent urinary tract infections 9 urinary incontinence (involuntary leakage)
What causes low estrogen levels and atrophic vaginitis?
In addition, estrogen levels normally fall with age, exacerbating the low estrogen levels. Having both ovaries removed, such as to treat or prevent the development of ovarian cancer, dramatically decreases a woman’s estrogen level and may lead to atrophic vaginitis.
What does it mean to have vaginal atrophy?
Vaginal atrophy means that vaginal tissues do not function normally due to lower estrogen levels. Treatments may be hormonal or non-hormonal. What is vaginal atrophy? With vaginal atrophy, the tissues of a woman’s vagina no longer work in their normal, healthy way. It happens slowly as the lining of the vagina begins to shrink or thin out.
What causes thinning of vagina walls after menopause?
Postmenopausal atrophic vaginitis, or vaginal atrophy, is the thinning of the walls of the vagina caused by decreased estrogen levels. This most commonly occurs after menopause.