By the way, doctor: Is vaginal estrogen safe for breast cancer survivors?
Vaginal atrophy is a consequence of both aging and low estrogen levels. Estrogen helps maintain blood flow to the vagina and helps keep tissues plump, elastic, and moist. As estrogen wanes, tissues become thinner and more vulnerable to infection and trauma with intercourse. Vaginal atrophy is most often due to menopause, but it can result from anything that lowers estrogen levels, including the use of aromatase inhibitors (AIs) such as Arimidex. AIs block estrogen production and are helpful in treating women with estrogen-sensitive breast cancer.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online Plus (HHO+) to unlock expert-backed health insights, personalized tools, and exclusive resources to feel your best every day.
Here’s what you get with your HHO+ membership:
- Unlimited access to all Harvard Health Online content
- 4 expertly curated newsletters delivered monthly
- Customized website experience aligned to your health goals
- In-depth health guides on topics like sleep, exercise, and more
- Interactive features like videos and quizzes
- Members-only access to exclusive articles and resources
I’d like to subscribe to HHO+ for $4.99/month to access expert-backed content to help make smart, informed decisions about my well-being.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
