Do You Have Dryness, Vaginal Atrophy or Vaginitis?

When women reach menopause and their hormone levels go down, they begin to feel dryness or tightness, and sex might become uncomfortable.

There are multiple causes for this, and some health issues might need to be checked.

Dealing with dryness

This happens most often around menopause and is because of lower hormone levels at this time.

This is not a serious physical problem, though it can be upsetting, and there are many lubricants you can use.

If you have slight to medium dryness, using a lubricant can help with pain and discomfort during sex, but they only help for a short time and can make vaginal dryness better during sex, but there is no proof they are a good lasting treatment.

If you want a natural choice, then Balancing is Wellsprings oestrogen only cream or Twenty to One which is     a combination cream of both  progesterone and two natural oestrogens.

Atrophy is definitely best helped with some oestrogen, and dryness can benefit with Twenty to One and used vaginally.

Twenty to One can also be used  with a combination routine of vaginal and skin use so see the final paragraph for more information.

Vaginal atrophy

This refers to the thinning of the lining of the vagina after menopause and the resulting dryness, itching, or discomfort (especially during sex). It can be caused by a drop in oestrogen levels at and after menopause.

Unlike combined or other kinds of HRT, this only puts oestrogen back into your vagina, not your whole body, lowering the chance of side effects. Your doctor may suggest using a local oestrogen, which is usually needed with atrophy until the condition is more stable.

Wellsprings Balancing oestrogen cream was formulated with oestriol only, and this is the gentler form of oestrogen to help women who want a more natural approach to help this condition.

You can balance this extra oestrogen with bioidentical progesterone, and once the atrophy is managed, you can use the combined Twenty to One cream which has both bioidentical progesterone and oestrogen.

Symptoms can include the following

Women can experience a variety of symptoms, including vaginal, urinary and sexual and such as these:

– Vaginal dryness with a noticeable decrease in natural lubrication, even when aroused.
– Discomfort or pain during sex and often described as friction, tearing, or feeling like rubbing two pieces of sandpaper together.
– Post-sex bleeding might be light bleeding or spotting after intercourse due to the delicate, fragile nature of the tissues.
– Persistent stinging, burning, or itching in and around the vaginal opening (vulva).
– Physical changes may be noticeable such as shortening, tightening, or loss of elasticity in the vaginal canal over time.
– Small fissures or micro-tears near the vaginal opening.
– Urinary symptoms can include burning with urination, stinging or burning sensation when you pee and mild loss of bladder control.

Vaginitis

This is not talked about much, but it is very common. Experts think that up to 75% of women in the world will have vaginitis at least once in their lives.

Vaginitis is a swollen vagina that can cause itching, soreness, and fluid. It can be caused by any of these problems or things that cause pain:

– thrush is a common yeast sickness that happens to most women at some time

– bacterial vaginosis is a sickness from germs where the balance of germs inside the vagina is broken

– trichomoniasis is an infection passed by sex (STI) caused by a tiny bug

– skin irritation for example, from scented soap, bath bubbles, or clothes softener, or from birth control jelly and some pads

– cleaning the inside of your vagina

– chlamydia which is an infection passed by sex (STI) caused by germs

– gonorrhoea which is an infection passed by sex (STI) caused by germs

– genital herpes which is an infection passed by sex (STI) caused by the herpes simplex germ

Symptoms can include the following

Several of these are common to atrophy as well, so always worth having this checked out by your Doctor.

– an abnormal vaginal discharge

– vaginal irritation or itching

– pain when peeing or having sex

– light bleeding or spotting

– a strong, unpleasant smell, particularly after sex, can be a sign of bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis, which can sometimes cause vaginitis

– haven’t had a vaginal infection before, or now your symptoms are different

– had a number of sexual partners, or you have a new sexual partner so you may have a sexually transmitted infection (STI)

–  finished a course of medication for vaginal thrush, but your symptoms are persisting

There’s no need to see your GP if you’ve been diagnosed with thrush in the past and your symptoms are the same. If you’re sure you have thrush and you’ve treated it successfully in the past with over-the-counter medication, you can treat it yourself again.

However, if you have persistent symptoms, then it is time to see your doctor or go to a sexual health clinic – particularly if you have vaginal itching or an unpleasant smelling vaginal discharge

Treating vaginitis

How vaginitis is treated depends on its cause. Antifungal medicines typically treat yeast infections, like vaginal thrush, and antibiotics usually treat bacterial infections.

How to help yourself

There are a number of self-care actions that can lower the chance of these issues and help after they are found.

– keep your genital area clean and dry and take a warm bath instead of a hot one. Always use soap without added perfume to clean the area and dry yourself well.

– do not douche (spray water inside your vagina) because it can make your signs worse by taking away the good germs that cover the vagina and help keep it free from sickness.

– do not use feminine hygiene items like sprays, deodorants, or powders.

– use pads instead of tampons if you are using vaginal creams or suppositories to treat an infection because tampons might ‘absorb’ the treatment, meaning less is there in the vagina.

– wear loose-fitting cotton underwear because it can be helpful if you have soreness on the outside, but it will not stop you from getting vaginitis in the future.

Helpful information:

Because women often hesitate to discuss issues like this, they tend to endure pain without speaking up, but there is no need to, as support is available. Always consult your doctor, as they can determine if you have dryness, vaginitis, atrophy, or an STD.

Having a good balance of hormones is important because low or unbalanced levels of hormones like progesterone and oestrogen can affect vaginal health.

If you are concerned that your interest in sex is decreasing or that your sex life is not as active as it once was, this article can help, as your diet can significantly influence this.

https://anna.blog.wellsprings-health.com/best-foods-to-boost-libido/