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.
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