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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffVaginal atrophy is caused by a decrease in estrogen production. Less circulating estrogen makes your vaginal tissues thinner, drier, less elastic and more fragile.
A drop in estrogen levels and vaginal atrophy may occur:
- After menopause
- During the years leading up to menopause (perimenopause)
- During breast-feeding
- After surgical removal of both ovaries (surgical menopause)
- After pelvic radiation therapy for cancer
- After chemotherapy for cancer
- As a side effect of breast cancer hormonal treatment
Vaginal atrophy due to menopause may begin to bother you during the years leading up to menopause (perimenopause), or it may not become a problem until several years into menopause. Although the condition is common, not all menopausal women develop vaginal atrophy. Regular sexual activity helps you maintain healthy vaginal tissues.
- Bachmann G, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of vaginal atrophy. http://www.uptodate.com/patients/index.html. Accessed Aug. 6, 2010.
- 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.
- MacBride MB, et al. Vulvovaginal atrophy. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2010;85:87.
- Palacios S. Managing urogenital atrophy. Maturitas. 2009;63:315.
- Suckling JA, et al. Local oestrogen for vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2006:CD001500.
- Archer DF. Efficacy and tolerability of local estrogen therapy for urogenital atrophy. Menopause. 2010;17:194.
- 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.
- Mehta A, et al. Vulvovaginal complaints. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2008;51:549.
- Labrie F, et al. Intravaginal dehydroepiandrosterone (Prasterone), a physiological and highly efficient treatment of vaginal atrophy. Menopause. 2009;16:907.
- Panjari M, et al. DHEA for postmenopausal women: A review of the evidence. Maturitas. 2010;66:172.
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