VAGINAL DISCOMFORT DEFINITION
Vaginal discomfort during menopause includes vulvovaginal and urinary symptoms, such as burning, dryness, itching and vaginal soreness. You might experience one or a combination of these symptoms.
- Vaginal burning: The sensation of tingling and burning in your genital area can be hard to ignore. It can be even harder to find a comfortable position. It’s generally an indicator of other vaginal issues that may happen during menopause, such as urinary tract infections (UTIs) or vaginal irritation (vaginitis)
- Vaginal dryness: This can happen due to hormonal changes during menopause, which affect the moisture level in your vagina
- Itching: This can be hugely uncomfortable and sometimes quite painful. Itching happens due to declining oestrogen levels during menopause, which can lead to vaginal atrophy (thinning and drying of the vaginal walls)
- Vaginal soreness: This can include any of the above symptoms, as well as inflammation, a throbbing feeling, and puffiness of your labia
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HOW LIKELY IS VAGINAL PAIN DURING MENOPAUSE?
- Symptoms of vaginal discomfort and menopause pain in the genital area tend to increase during menopause. Vaginal pain can also increase postmenopause after years of low oestrogen levels
- Less than a third of those who are perimenopausal and early postmenopausal report vaginal discomfort or dryness of some sort, but up to half of those who are late postmenopausal report some form of vaginal discomfort or dryness
- Vaginal burning can occur at any point in the menopause journey, sometimes even during perimenopause or after several years of decreased oestrogen levels
- Those who have a history of diabetes and those with lower BMIs tend to be more likely to report discomfort in their vagina
Read more about the stages of menopause.
RELIEF FOR VAGINAL DISCOMFORT
Lubricants
These can help keep your vagina moisturised and make sex less painful. Choose water-based lubricants as they are less likely to irritate your skin further
Topical oestrogen
Talk to your doctor about your vaginal pain and they may suggest vaginal oestrogen as a pessary that you insert into your vagina, a vaginal cream or a vaginal ring. A ring pessary releases oestrogen and supports your vaginal walls.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
HRT can help vaginal dryness, plus hot flushes, sweats, sleep issues and mood changes. Talk to your doctor as HRT is not suitable for everyone. Read more about the HRT debate.
Avoid irritants
Buy unperfumed bath products and skin-kind detergents.
MENOPAUSE AND VAGINA PAIN
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