{"id":6089,"date":"2014-11-27T18:35:08","date_gmt":"2014-11-27T10:35:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/?p=6089"},"modified":"2020-08-19T09:38:28","modified_gmt":"2020-08-19T07:38:28","slug":"vaginal-atrophy-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/vaginal-atrophy-solutions\/","title":{"rendered":"Vaginal Atrophy: 3 Proactive Solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the average age<\/a> of menopause being 51, most of us will spend at least 1\/3 of our lives beyond menopause. This is all the more reason to take care of our bodies; we still have a lot of living to do and many years of happiness after our fertility has waned.<\/p>\n

Lower or non-existent levels of estrogen during menopause can affect your health and change your body. An estimated 40% of women experience symptoms of vaginal atrophy in their lives, but only around 25% of those women seek treatment.<\/p>\n

But there\u2019s no reason to just live with the condition, taking a few preventative steps now and knowing your options can help you take control of your intimate wellbeing and continue to enjoy a healthy intimate life.<\/p>\n

What is vaginal atrophy?<\/h3>\n

Vaginal atrophy, also called atrophic vaginitis, is the thinning, drying, and inflammation of the vaginal walls. It is caused by lower levels of estrogen in the body, most often triggered by menopause, but other conditions can also result in vaginal atrophy, such as cancer treatments, surgery to remove the ovaries, as well as childbirth and breastfeeding (although those last two are temporary).<\/p>\n

What are the symptoms?<\/h3>\n

During menopause your body gradually reduces the production of estrogen, a hormone commonly associated with females\u2019 sexual development and function. Lower levels of estrogen cause the normal menopausal changes to the body like hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings.<\/p>\n

However, estrogen hormones are also responsible for maintaining vaginal pH and moisture, as wells as keeping your reproductive tissues healthy and elastic\u2014including the vaginal wall, labia, and even the urethra of the urinary tract.<\/p>\n

The weakening of these tissues and changes in healthy vaginal bacteria can also cause some of the following conditions:<\/p>\n