Menopause vaginal discomfort
Vagina pain and vaginal discomfort during menopause can make life challenging whether you are getting together with friends, at work, or trying to sleep. It can also have an impact on your sex life and relationships. You might feel awkward talking about it to your healthcare provider or your friends but feel reassured that these symptoms are very common. The good news is these menopause symptoms are treatable.
Vaginal discomfort definition
Vaginal discomfort during menopause includes vulvovaginal and urinary symptoms, such as burning, dryness, itching, and soreness. You might experience one or a combination of these symptoms.
- Vaginal and vulva 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. These uncomfortable sensations are usually due to decreased hormone levels but could also indicate other vaginal or vulva issues that may happen during menopause. These include urinary tract infections (UTIs) or changes in the vaginal bacteria or skin disorders of the vulva
- Vaginal dryness: This can happen due to hormonal changes during menopause, which affect the moisture level in your vagina and your ability to lubricate the vagina during sex
- Itching: This can be hugely uncomfortable and sometimes quite painful. Itching happens due to declining estrogen levels during menopause, which can lead to vaginal atrophy, the thinning and drying of the vaginal walls
- Vaginal and vulva soreness: This can include a throbbing feeling and puffiness of your labia
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How likely is vaginal pain during menopause?
- Symptoms of vaginal discomfort and pain in the genital area tend to increase during menopause. Vaginal pain can also continue to increase postmenopause after years of low estrogen levels
- Less than a third of those who are perimenopausal and early postmenopausal report vaginal discomfort or dryness of some sort. 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 many years of decreased estrogen levels
- Those who have a history of diabetes and those with lower BMIs tend to be more likely to report vaginal and vulvar discomfort and pain
Read more about the stages of menopause.
CAUSES OF VAGINAL DISCOMFORT
Urinary tract infection (UTI)
Vaginitis (inflammation of the vagina), vulvodynia (long-lasting pain in the vulva around the opening of the vagina)
Vaginal atrophy (thinning and inflammation of the vaginal walls), vulvar skin disorders
Vaginal irritation and lack of lubrication
RELIEF FOR VAGINAL DISCOMFORT
1. Lubricants. These can help keep your vagina moisturized. Lubricants can also be used to make sex less painful. Choose water-based lubricants as they are less likely to irritate your skin further.
2. Topical estrogen. Talk to your healthcare provider about your vaginal pain and they may suggest vaginal estrogen as a suppository that you insert into your vagina, a vaginal cream, or a vaginal ring. A ring pessary releases estrogen and supports your vaginal walls.
3. Hormone therapy (HT). HT can help vaginal dryness, itching, soreness, and some urinary symptoms. Plus hot flashes, sweats, sleep issues, and mood changes. Talk to your healthcare provider as HT is not suitable for everyone. Read more about HT risks and benefits.
4. Avoid irritants. Buy unperfumed bath products and skin-kind detergents.
Menopause vagina pain FAQs
Decreasing estrogen levels during menopause affects your vulva, urethra, and vagina. Your skin becomes thinner, more fragile, and more sensitive.
Reduced estrogen levels lead to less natural lubrication being produced which can lead to dryness and other sensations of discomfort.
Some have other menopause symptoms, such as prolapse or incontinence.
Vagina pain is not life-threatening but can cause discomfort and distress. It may impact your desire to have sex and your intimate relationships. If you previously enjoyed an active sex life, this can leave you feeling low.
It can affect your quality of life if you haven’t found treatment or support that works for you. You may have to adapt to minimize pain. You might find you can’t wear certain clothes, like tight-fitting trousers, or ride a bike or horse.
Unfortunately, many who suffer vaginal discomfort, such as burning sensations, don’t see their healthcare providers because they believe it’s just a normal part of aging. This is not the case! You do not have to put up with this pain.
If you’re finding the symptoms challenging, treating them can improve your quality of life.
Because vaginal discomfort can arise from so many different sources, persistent symptoms of dryness, irritation, burning, itchiness or pain should be checked out by a healthcare provider.
I need to know if sex is part of my future
- Dennerstein L, Dudley EC, Hopper JL, Guthrie JR, Burger HG. A prospective population-based study of menopausal symptoms. Obstet Gynecol. 2000;96(3):351-358. doi:10.1016/s0029-7844(00)00930-3
- Gandhi J, Chen A, Dagur G, et al. Genitourinary syndrome of menopause: an overview of clinical manifestations, pathophysiology, etiology, evaluation, and management. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2016;215(6):704-711.
- Healthline: What Causes Vaginal Dryness?
- Healthline: What to Know About Vaginal Itching
- Healthline: What Causes a Sore Vaginal Area After Sex?
- Healthline: What Are the Symptoms and Signs of Menopause?
- Huang AJ, Moore EE, Boyko EJ, et al. Vaginal symptoms in postmenopausal women: self-reported severity, natural history, and risk factors. Menopause. 2010;17(1):121-126. doi:10.1097/gme.0b013e3181acb9ed
- Jin J. Vaginal and Urinary Symptoms of Menopause. JAMA. 2017;317(13):1388. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.0833
- NHS: Vaginal Dryness
Planned Parenthood: Vaginitis - The North American Menopause Society: Changes in the Vagina and Vulva
- The North American Menopause Society: Vaginal Discomfort
- Woods NF, Mitchell ES. Symptoms during the perimenopause: prevalence, severity, trajectory, and significance in women’s lives. Am J Med. 2005;118 Suppl 12B:14-24. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2005.09.031
