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Atrophy is the wasting away of an organ or the tissues of an organ, and it is commonly seen and observed within the human body as a person enters the period of old age. Old age definitely brings in a lot of bodily changes, especially, among women who often feel a lot of new disturbing pains and sensations within their body as the postmenopausal period of life sets in. Some of these changes are normal changes concomitant with the onset of old age. However, some of these changes can be due to diseases, and with proper treatment, these changes can be staved off or prevented from becoming serious. One such change is the reduced supply of estrogen within a woman’s body which sometimes leads to various bodily issues such as that of the vaginal atrophy.

What is Vaginal Atrophy?

Vaginal atrophy or atrophic vaginitis is usually characterized by vaginal inflammation and urinary tract infection due to the gradual shrinking and thinning of the linings of the vagina and the urethra. The lack of estrogen is basically the reason behind the onset of vaginal atrophy. However, the lack of estrogen in a woman’s body does not only occur during postmenopausal period: it can also happen if a woman is breastfeeding, or if she is taking some medications.

The symptoms of vaginal atrophy include vaginal soreness, painful intercourse, burning sensation, pressure, white discharge, malodorous discharge from the vagina, and bleeding. It also has concomitant urinary symptoms such as those of painful urination, increased urination, the appearance of blood in urine, incontinence, and increased occurrence of infections within the urinary tract.

Treatment of Vaginal Atrophy

The treatment of vaginal atrophy usually follows a stepladder approach, just like those of other medical treatments. The use of estrogen which can be vaginally administered is the primary step in the treatment of this disease. This medication can be in the form of a cream or vaginal tablets. Gynecologists would usually advise women to engage more in sexual activity, for sexual stimulation can also replenish the supply of estrogen within the linings of the vagina. In mild cases, however, of vaginal atrophy, the application of vaginal lubricant can also be of great help.

Laser Treatment for Vaginal Atrophy

As a woman ages and nears the menopausal period of her life, she usually experiences diseases that are concomitant with old age. One such disease is that of vaginal atrophy or atrophic vaginitis. This disease is characterized by the inflammation of the vagina and the urinary tract. The cause of this inflammation is due to the gradual thinning and eventual shrinking of the tissues within the linings of the vagina. However, the main cause of these symptoms is that of the decreasing production of estrogen, a reproductive hormone. This gradual decrease in estrogen that usually occurs during the perimenopausal period continues until the post-menopausal period of a woman's life. There are, however, some circumstances wherein a decrease in estrogen in a woman occurs due to factors such as when a woman is using medications to treat certain diseases such as endometriosis or when she is breastfeeding.  

The usual symptoms of vaginal atrophy include painful intercourse, bleeding during intercourse, and eventual inability to engage in intercourse. Vaginal dryness and vaginal itching are also some of the usual symptoms of this disease. Due to the prevalent taboo on sexual hygiene and health, there are many postmenopausal women who do not give so much attention to this disease. Moreover, there are many women around the world who do not use topical estrogen to ensure that the lack of estrogen within the body will be compensated by the application of topical estrogen. There are other known causes of vaginal atrophy such as those of immune disorder, having undergone radiation therapy, and having undergone chemotherapy.

How is Vagina Atrophy Prevented and Treated?

The treatment of vaginal atrophy usually are designed to relieve the signs and symptoms of the disease. However, there are also other ways to prevent the onset of this disease, and one way of preventing the onset of this disease is by administering estrogen to the area of vagina. There are various available vaginally administered estrogens such as those that are in tablet and cream forms. With the administration of estrogen into the vaginal area, the onset of vaginal atrophy can be greatly prevented. Moreover, engaging in regular sexual intercourse can also help prevent the onset of this disease, for with sexual activity, the linings of vagina will be profusely lubricated. Women can also engage in the use of vaginal lubricants that are water-soluble. This type of lubricant can help assuage the symptoms of mild vaginal atrophy.