Do you experience these symptoms?
Vaginal dryness, burning, itching
Painful intercourse
Urinary symptoms
According to the American Association of Family Physicians, up to 40% of postmenopausal women have symptoms of atrophic vaginitis that may simulate urinary tract infections. Atrophic vaginitis is likely under-recognized due to a lack of awareness by women and physicians.
Most women refer to vulvovaginal discomfort in menopause as “vaginal dryness.” This condition is a thinning and loss of elasticity of the vaginal walls and often called “atrophic vaginitis” but an “-itis” indicates infection, and often the symptoms are not due to infection.
What does “atrophic” or “atrophy” mean?
Vulvovaginal atrophy describes the changes in the tissue (including the glands) of the vagina and vulva due to loss of estrogens and androgens that occurs with menopause or related to medications that decrease these hormones.
What is Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause?
Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) is the more inclusive term as far as anatomy because it includes the urinary system as well as the female reproductive system (see below). However, it associates atrophy with only menopause due to decreased estrogen levels.
In practice, these skin and tissue changes can be seen in a woman of any age who has a risk factor for a decrease in estrogens and androgens, such as removal of the ovaries, the time before/around menopause when the levels of the hormone are decreasing, as well as certain medications that decrease estrogen and free (active) testosterone, such as birth control pills, spironolactone, and certain breast cancer medications.
What does it affect?
Vulva
Vestibule
Urethra
Vagina
Bladder
What does it cause?
These changes cause vaginal dryness, discomfort or pain with sexual intercourse, pain with speculum exams, daily discomfort of the vulva including itching, dryness, rawness, and/or burning, cuts on the vulva, vulvovaginal infections, yellow-tinged vaginal discharge, possible vaginal spotting, urinary frequency, burning with urination.
At AMA Medical Center in Lynn, we diagnose and treat atrophic vaginitis. Also, you schedule Women’s Health Check Up in Lynn MA. For more information, please call AMA Medical Center in Lynn, MA at (781) 581-6181 or contact us online.
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