Vaginal Atrophy (Atrophic Vaginitis)

What Is It?

Vaginal atrophy is just a reversal of the vagina that develops when is a decline in levels of the hormone estrogen. The illness is called atrophic vaginitis.

Estrogen, which is created by the uterus, plays a vital role in keeping vaginal tissues healthy and lubricated. After degrees of estrogen are low, vaginal tissue becomes more atrophic -- tender, thin and shrunken. The vagina will be much vulnerable to inflammation in a state.

Frequent ailments with low estrogen levels that lead to vaginal atrophy contain:

• Menopause, when age-related Human Body changes cause the uterus to reduce the production of estrogen

• Surgery of the uterus before the age of menopause, which may be performed at the Identical time as a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus)

• Treatment with drugs used to reduce estrogen levels in women who have conditions such as uterine fibroids or endometriosis

• Back in menopause, which happens before age 40 than is Deemed normal

• Breastfeeding

Vaginal atrophy grows so slowly that the girl may well not notice any symptoms until five to five years after menopause begins.

Symptoms

Frequent Indications of atrophy contain:

• Vaginal dryness

• Itching or even a burning feeling

• Painful sexual intercourse

• Light bleeding after sex

Diagnosis

If you are a middle-aged girl, then your physician will ask whether you`ve started menopause or whether you`re experiencing menopausal symptoms (absent or irregular menstrual cycle, mood swings, hot flashes, difficulty sleeping through the nighttime, night sweats).

If you are a woman of childbearing age, then your health care provider will inquire whether you are breast feeding or having menstrual cycle, which might possibly be caused by low estrogen levels or by having an imbalance in hormones that are female. Your physician also will review your medical and medical history and ask about your current medications.

The health care provider could guess vaginal atrophy based on how old you are, symptoms and health background. The physician will perform a rectal exam to examine your vulva and vagina for signs of redness, dryness and thinning of tissue to verify the diagnosis.

If you are menopausal and have bleeding after sexual activity, your physician may want to search on for endometrial cancer (cancer of the uterine lining) by using an endometrial biopsy. In this action, a tiny piece of tissue is removed from the lining, and also is analyzed in a lab. By doing a Pap test the physician also may want to search for an issue with the cervix.

Expected Duration

The condition estrogen levels return to normal or will last until it is treated.

Prevention

A lubricant can be used to moisten the cells and avoid sexual intercourse. Sexual activity might help to prevent symptoms. That is only because sexual stimulation improves blood circulation to the anus, which really helps to keep vaginal tissue.

Procedure

Vaginal atrophy might be treated with fertility treatment. The health care provider may prescribe a topical estrogen cream, an estrogen pill, suppositories to fit from perhaps even a vaginal estrogen ring, an estrogen skin patch, or even the vagina. Estrogen cream or suppositories have been put into the vagina. A estrogen patch is applied one or two times a week to deliver estrogen through your skin. There is An vaginal ring placed in the vagina for 3 months and slowly releases estrogen into the tissues.

Doctors will try to use the lowest dose potential to relieve symptoms. Usage of estrogen preparations thus is your solution and causes very low levels of estrogen from the blood.

Lubricants may be also used by women . Lubricants do not include estrogen and may be bought with prescription at pharmacies, drugstores or grocery stores.

Women who have a utilize and uterus estrogens should be aware they can experience bleeding, which can be similar to a regular menstrual period. You need to speak with your physician about any you have.

Unless specifically recommended by your own physician, women who have the following difficulties should avoid estrogen therapy:

• Unexplained vaginal bleeding

• Chronic or active liver disorder

• Breastcancer

• Endometrial cancer

• Recent blood clots or a history of blood clots

Women with high blood pressure, gall bladder disease, migraine headaches or endometriosis may well not be candidates for fertility treatment. When you have these issues, then you should discuss the problem with your physician.

Women who can`t use estrogen may make work with of a sebaceous vaginal lubricant as needed to relieve moisten tissue and vaginal dryness.

When To Call A Professional

Schedule a meeting with your health care provider if you notice any vaginal bleeding, vaginal dryness, burning or itching, or even if debilitating intercourse isn`t relieved with a lubricant.

Prognosis

In most people, the outlook is fantastic.

External sources

American College of Obstetricians and GynecologistsP.O. Box 96920Washington, DC 20090-6920Phone: -LRB-202-RRB- 638-5577 http://www.acog.org/

American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)11400 Tomahawk Creek ParkwayLeawood, KS 66211-2672Phone: -LRB-913-RRB- 906-6000Toll Free: -LRB-800-RRB- 274-2237 http://www.familydoctor.org/

Further info

Always ask with your healthcare provider to make sure the information displayed on this page pertains to some personal circumstances.