Managing postmenopausal vaginal atrophy

Vaginal dryness is one of the most irritating symptoms of menopause. Here are some ways to relieve it.

Within a few years of menopause, roughly 50% of women develop symptoms related to vaginal atrophy, also called atrophic vaginitis — the deterioration of vaginal tissues due to loss of estrogen. The most common symptoms of vaginal atrophy are dryness, irritation, and pain during intercourse.

Although menopause is the most common cause, vaginal atrophy can result from anything that lowers estrogen production. That includes chemotherapy, radiation, removal of the ovaries during hysterectomy, and use of anti-estrogenic therapies such as aromatase inhibitors, tamoxifen (Nolvadex), and drugs like leuprolide (Lupron) and nafarelin (Synarel), which are used to treat fibroids and endometriosis. Unlike hot flashes, which usually subside with time, vaginal atrophy is likely to persist and become worse without treatment.