What is vaginal atrophy and how does this affect a woman going through menopause?
Vaginal atrophy is when the normal mucous lining of the vagina loses estrogen and the vagina becomes more fragile. It tears and bleeds more easily, and there is no longer the normal stretch and lubrication that are important in sexual activity. The vaginal dryness a woman experiences at the beginning of her transition to menopause may not be bothersome and over-the-counter products may help. As a woman transitions further into menopause, the dryness becomes more significant, the tissue gets rawer, there is less elasticity, and the woman gets more uncomfortable with sexual intercourse. She may also experience problems relating to her bladder, such as bladder control issues and more frequent urinary tract infections. It’s very important to note that time will not heal vaginal atrophy. Vaginal atrophy doesn’t improve without treatment and, in general, vaginal atrophy gets worse with age.
