Around 70% of women worldwide suffer with Vaginal Dryness (thinning and drying of the vaginal walls that occurs when Oestoegen decreases), yet even more shocking is that less than 7%, yes 7% of women will receive treatment for it! The more I have researched this topic the more shocked I have found the whole conversation, or lack of conversation around this topic to be!
Symptoms can include, soreness, itching, burning, urinary problems and some women have trouble sitting down. This can have some devastating effects on woman, from painful sex to low libido and not wanting sex at all, some women have told me it is the ‘dreaded chore’ andthe bane of their lives that causes relationship issues with their partners who cannot understand what has changed. There IS so much help out there and you shouldn’t be suffering in silence, go and speak to your GP and don’t take no for an answer!
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Vaginal Dryness (Atrophy) and Low Libido during Menopause…
Symptoms:
Women who are Perimenopausal, Menopausal and post-Menopausal can suffer with Vaginal Atrophy, yet some women may never suffer with it at all. Symptoms include…
- Pain or burning when urinating.
- Spotting after intercourse.
- Pain during sex.
- Urinary incontinence.
- Thinning of the vagina walls.
- Vaginal burning.
- Vaginal dryness.
- Urinary incontinence.
Causes:
Again, due to the decline in Oestrogen, the Vaginal tissues thin and dry out, also loosing elasticity. There are other times that this may happen including:
- Surgical Menopause when the ovaries are removed.
- Chemotherapy.
- During breastfeeding.
- Surgical Menopause when the ovaries are removed.
- Chemotherapy.
- During breastfeeding.
Regular sexual activity helps keeps the vaginal tissues healthy, another added benefit of a healthy sex life is the circulatory system and heart health benefit too.
Risk Factors:
Women who have never given birth naturally are more prone to vaginal atrophy, smoking can also affect blood circulation, depriving the vagina tissues of oxygen.
Possible Complications:
Vaginal Atrophy causes changes in the acidity of the vagina making it easier for yeast and bacteria to thrive. It can also increase the risk of urinary system atrophy, leading to urgent urination, more frequent visits to the toilet and a burning sensation when urinating.
Diagnosis:
Always see your GP with any of the above concerns, if intercourse is painful, even with lubrication. Any vaginal bleeding, discharge or burning should also be discussed with your GP. Some women are embarrassed to talk about intimate problems, but it is so important to seek medical advice to avoid any further complications. They may refer you to a Gynecologist for tests and ask you lots of questions to diagnose vaginal atrophy. Your GP can also examine your genitalia for signs of Vaginal Atrophy, these signs can include:
- Pale, smooth Vaginal lining.
- No elasticity.
- Stretching of uterine support tissue.
Your GP may also carry out a vaginal smear test, acidity test and send you for a blood test.
Treatment:
Over the counter moisturisers and water-based lubricants can help with dryness. Your GP may recommend using an Oestestrogen replacement therapy which can be applied orally or topically.
Prevention:
Wearing loose-fitting clothes and cotton underwear can help, staying sexually active helps with blood circulation in the vagina and stimulates moisture. Vitamin E oil can be used as a lubricant and Vitamin D increases moisture in the vagina.
Low Libido during Menopause.
When you are going though Menopause, you will possibly notice that your sex drive (libido) is changing. Some women will notice an increase in libido, but most go through a libido decrease, it is very very common, this happens due a decrease in hormone levels. Often leading to vaginal dryness and causing pain during intercourse, this leads to a lack of interest in sex.
You can try to increase your sex drive with lifestyle changes or sex aids and lubricants, but if that does not work your GP can help you find the right treatment, so always speak to them for help and advice.
Menopause can affect libido in many ways, with your testosterone and Oesteogen levels decreasing it makes it difficult for you to get aroused. Vaginal Atrophy and dryness often cause discomfort during sex, leading to a lack of interest in intimacy.
Other factors like weight gain and other physical changes to your body during the menopause can affect your libido and decrease your enthusiasm for anything physical/sexual. Feeling tired due to lack of sleep, night sweats and irritability can also make you feel uninterested in sex. Another huge turn off from anything sexual is depression and anxiety.
See your GP:
Your GP can help determine any underlying causes of lack of libido during Menopause, and may advise treatment such as:
- Prescription Medication.
- Home remedies.
- Over the counter Medication.
Remember that our GP’s talk about these issues more often than you think and their job is to look after your health and wellbeing. If it is a difficult conversation for you to have here are some ideas that might help:
- Write down all your worries, it will help your GP if it written down and you will not forget everything you wanted to say.
- Be honest with your answers.
- Ask for a female GP if its easier for you to be more open.
This audible book ‘Menopause- all you need to know in one concise manual’ by Louise Newson, covers everything you need to know about the Menopause!
Treatment:
HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) – This can work by helping reduce vagina dryness and replacing the hormones your body is no longer producing.
Lubricants – There are lots of different lubricants on the market, they can help your libido and ease pain and discomfort during intercourse.
Exercise: Great for keeping weight gain at bay and lifting your mood by releasing endorphins and reducing stress.
Communication:
Speak candidly to your partner and be honest about how you feel, remember you are in this together and if you are keeping the lines of communication open this might help with your mood and libido by talking about how you feel. It is not always about sex, sometimes just to be close to your partner makes them/you feel close.
If you are affected by any of the above, always go and speak to your GP, there are lots of different remedies and treatments they can recommend that are tailored for you and your symptoms.
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*DISCLAIMER*This page does not provide medical advice; it is intended for informational purposes only and is based upon my opinion and experiences. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on The Executive Menopause Coach website. Always seek professional medical advice.
[…] Vaginal Dryness and Low Libido– With the lack of Oestrogen, your vaginas natural lubrication is inadequate resulting in dryness and sometimes painful sexual intercourse. When it comes to Low Libido each woman is different, and some women find they have a higher sex drive during this time where as others have no desire for sex at all. […]