VAGINAL DRYNESS DURING AND AFTER MENOPAUSE
Women often find that they begin to suffer menopausal symptoms
somewhere around the age of 45 onwards. Often they are not quite sure
as things like night sweats and mood swings can be passed off as
something else entirely. However, one of the most uncomfortable and
embarrassing symptoms of the menopause is vaginal dryness.
Vaginal dryness or Atrophic Vaginitis is caused by a depletion of
oestrogen during the menopause. The skin and tissue around and inside
the vagina is protected by fluids which are produced in the cervix and
oestrogen stimulates the glands which make this mucus. Furthermore,
oestrogen also helps to thicken the walls of the vagina and keep the
skin nice and firm. As we know, during menopause women produce less
oestrogen and this leads to a thinning of the vaginal walls. Also,
sometimes a woman may loose some fat tissue from around the vaginal
area and this can be distressing as it causes the genital area to look
and feel a bit different then before the menopause.
The result of all this is that the vagina becomes drier and less
lubricated and can sometimes produce uncomfortable conditions
especially during sex. This is a gradual process and can take many
years but being aware of some of the symptoms is important.
Symptoms of Vaginal Dryness vary and most women have some but not all
of these indicators:-
General Discomfort
A dry or itchy feeling or a sensation of abrasiveness and
inflammation around the vagina and vulvic area. This can be extremely
uncomfortable and embarrassing and many women find this the worst
symptom of all.
Vaginal Discharge
Sometimes a yellowish or white discharge may occur. Many women have a
naturally high level of discharge anyway and may not even notice this
symptom. However, the vagina is less resistant to nasty bacteria after
the menopause and if the discharge is different or has an unpleasant
odour then it may be a vaginal infection and need separate treatment.
UTI’s or Urinary Tract Infections
Vaginal dryness can be the cause of many types of urinary tract
problems. As the tissue around the vagina thins so too does the tissue
around the urethra (where your urine comes out) and in your bladder
also. Women sometimes suffer from an increased urge to go to the
bathroom and more recurring urinary tract infections.
Painful Sex
This is the most common symptom and occurs because the natural
lubricants which used to aid sexual intercourse are not longer there.
Also as the skin is thinner too much friction can make it feel
irritated and sore easily.
TREATING
VAGINAL DRYNESS MEDICALLY
Vaginal dryness can be treated easily and effectively in this day and
age and there is no need for any woman to suffer in silence.
As we said earlier most women complain of one or two of the symptoms
not all of them and it is important to discuss with your doctor or
menopause nurse which symptoms give you the most trouble. It is usually
treated with some sort of oestrogen replacement as lack of this is what
is causing the problem in the first place. Hormone Replacement Therapy
or HRT is one of the most common ways to treat vaginal dryness. This
involves taking synthetic oestrogen in the form of a tablet, patches or
gels. This is a highly successful treatment although there has been
some controversy about the side effects involved and many women are not
inclined to go down that route because of this.
Risks Associated with HRT are:
Increased Risk of Breast Cancer – women taking combined HRT are twice
as likely to get breast cancer as those who do not take HRT.
Slightly Increased Risk of Ovarian Cancer – the longer you are on HRT
the higher the risk.
Stroke and Heart Attacks - The Stroke Association recently put out a
report which concluded that "HRT carries a small risk of
stroke and heart attacks because it increases the risk of abnormal
blood clotting and raised blood pressure".
Source – www.nhs.co.uk.
Other prescribed treatments are Oestrogen Creams or Lubricating Gels.
Oestrogen creams are generally used on a daily basis for approximately
two weeks and then on a gradually decreasing basis for approximately 12
weeks. The cream comes in tube or pessary form and sometimes, if the
woman is comfortable with it, in a vaginal ring containing the hormone.
This releases oestrogen directly to the vaginal area without affecting
other parts of the body. Creams normally work well, but it is important
to obey your doctor’s instructions about how often and how much cream
to use and to be aware that once the treatment is stopped the symptoms
may reappear and need further treatment. However, if vaginal
dryness is the only problem then sometimes a lubricating gel is the
simple answer. These can be bought over the counter from a good
pharmacy and used liberally. Many women find lubricating gels the ideal
solution.
TREATING VAGINAL
DRYNESS NATURALLY
Depending on the degree of the irritation and pain and also depending
on how you feel you want to handle your menopause will influence your
decision to treat this particular symptom naturally. There are many
natural products on the market to treat vaginal dryness and also there
are several common sense tips you can use to help relieve the
irritation:
Lubricate, Lubricate,
Lubricate – use a lubricating gel or cream to
help keep the vaginal walls moist. Quite a few of our forum members
recommended Femalube from Native remedies and as a result I have tried
it myself and I am a huge fan. It is a natural formula which contains
extracts of herbs and essential oils especially chosen to support
healthy vaginal lubrication. What I really like about this is it has
been formulated in conjunction with a female doctor and psychologist
with many years of experience regarding sexual health.
Drink Plenty of Water
– keeping your body hydrated will really help you
keep your vaginal wall lubricated and moist as well as being excellent
for the rest of your body too.
Have
Lots of Sex - sex helps keep the muscles in the walls of
your
vagina strong and healthy and less likely to suffer from collapse. If
sex becomes painful, try it with a lubricating gel Femalube suggested
above or some almond or grape seed oil. If your libido is not what it
was try a feminine libido enhancer. Personally, (after trialling it on
behalf of PFM) I love Thanda Passion Booster. Really, it is simply a
combination of herbs known to have aphrodisiac qualities but it also
helps to maintain healthy functioning of all your female sexual organs.
Limit the amount of Alcohol and Caffeine you Drink –caffeine and
alcohol both contribute significantly to dehydration and this in turn
will only dry out your vagina more. Alcohol is full of empty calories
also, so by cutting down you may well see a big improvement in your
waistline too.
Avoid Dehydrating Drugs
if Possible – some over the counter cold and
flu remedies and anti allergy drugs contain ingredients which dry up
those symptoms but in turn dehydrate the whole body as well. Stay away
from these if you can.
Increase your Natural Soy Intake – Eating foods which are
high in
natural or plant oestrogen’s can greatly relieve all menopause
symptoms, not only vaginal dryness Taking a natural soy supplement can
help too, if you feel your diet is lacking. It is a good idea to
increase your intake of 'phyto-oestrogenic' foods. In other parts of
the world where these foods are routinely eaten women hardly ever
suffer from menopausal symptoms. Foods which contain phyto-oestrogens
include; soya, corn, apples, bananas, almonds, cashew nuts, oats,
pulses, broccoli, cauliflower and green leafy vegetables.
Don’t Diet –
in particular stay away from faddy or celebrity diets as
these are very restrictive. This is not a licence to eat what you like.
Eating the correct foods in the correct portion sizes will help
maintain a proper weight anyway but during menopause you need to
concentrate on keeping your body supplied with essential vitamins,
minerals and oils in order to keep symptoms at bay and indeed to
prepare for a healthy life going forward.
SUPPLEMENTS
FOR VAGINAL DRYNESS
There are many supplements designed for menopause. However specifially
for vaginal dryness you should look at:
Dong Quai –
This gets talked about on the Plan Free Mum Forum a lot and
no wonder. It is excellent. I take it regularly and have been doing
even before I started menopause to help with PMS. It is a Chinese herb
and is regularly used by Asian healers to help promote a
healthy balance of female hormones and also emotional health,
especially during menopause. Clinical research has
recently confirmed the effectiveness of this herb tonic and used along
side Femalube (see lubrication) it can be very effective for healing
vaginal dryness along with a myriad of other menopausal symptoms.
Vitamin E –
Sometimes dry skin can be a result of lack of vitamin E. If
your diet is poor try a Vit E supplement for a couple of months and see
if it improves the vaginal dryness.
Herbal and natural
remedies can be a fantastic help to women
suffering from vaginal dryness and other menopausal symptoms. However,
some are quite potent and contra indicate with traditional medication
and some medical conditions. If you are taking any other form of
medication or you have any underlying medical problem is is wise to
consult your doctor before starting on a vitamin or herbal
supplement.
