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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Vaginal atrophy (atrophic vaginitis) is thinning and inflammation of the vaginal walls due to a decline in estrogen. Vaginal atrophy occurs most often after menopause, but it can also develop during breast-feeding or at any other time your body's estrogen production declines.

For many women, vaginal atrophy makes intercourse painful — and if intercourse hurts, your interest in sex will naturally wane. In addition, healthy genital function is closely intertwined with healthy urinary system function.

Simple, effective treatments for vaginal atrophy are available. Reduced estrogen levels do result in changes to your body, but it doesn't mean you have to live with the discomfort associated with vaginal atrophy.

Symptoms
References
  1. Bachmann G, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of vaginal atrophy. http://www.uptodate.com/patients/index.html. Accessed Aug. 6, 2010.
  2. The North American Menopause Society. The role of local vaginal estrogen for treatment of vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women: 2007 position statement of The North American Menopause Society. 2007;14:357.
  3. MacBride MB, et al. Vulvovaginal atrophy. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2010;85:87.
  4. Palacios S. Managing urogenital atrophy. Maturitas. 2009;63:315.
  5. Suckling JA, et al. Local oestrogen for vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2006:CD001500.
  6. Archer DF. Efficacy and tolerability of local estrogen therapy for urogenital atrophy. Menopause. 2010;17:194.
  7. Reed SD, et al. Vaginal, endometrial, and reproductive hormone findings: Randomized, placebo-controlled trial of black cohosh, multibotanical herbs and dietary soy for vasomotor symptoms: The Herbal Alternatives for Menopause (HALT) study. Menopause. 2008;15:51.
  8. Mehta A, et al. Vulvovaginal complaints. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2008;51:549.
  9. Labrie F, et al. Intravaginal dehydroepiandrosterone (Prasterone), a physiological and highly efficient treatment of vaginal atrophy. Menopause. 2009;16:907.
  10. Panjari M, et al. DHEA for postmenopausal women: A review of the evidence. Maturitas. 2010;66:172.
DS00770 Sept. 17, 2010

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