Atrophic vaginitis

Atrophic vaginitis (also known as vaginal atrophy ) is an inflammation of the vagina due to thinning and shrinking tissues and decreased lubrication of the vaginal walls. It is caused by a lack of estrogen. It is most likely to develop during breastfeeding and after menopause. It most commonly occurs in women who are menopausal and in women whose ovaries have stopped making estrogen. Hormone-related vaginitis includes the atrophic vaginitis generally found in postmenopausal or postpartum women and, occasionally, in young girls before puberty. Infectious vaginitis is most common in reproductive-age women and is generally caused by one of three types of infections: bacterial vaginosis (BV), candidiasis ( yeast infection ), or trichomoniasis. Symptoms include vaginal dryness, vaginal burning and irritation, pain during sexual intercourse, and/or bleeding after sexual intercourse. Before a vaginal infection can be treated, it must be diagnosed.  A sample of the discharge from you vagina needs to be looked at under a microscope.  Additional tests may be needed.  Treatment is recommended as soon as the diagnosis is made.

Atrophic vaginitis is shrinkage, irritation, and dryness of the vagina caused by a change in vaginal tissue. This change happens when the level of estrogen in your body decreases. Atrophic Vaginitis is not a serious condition. However, it may interfere with enjoyment of sexual intercourse. Vaginitis is responsible for an estimated 10% of all visits by women to their healthcare practitioners. The three general causes of vaginitis are hormonal imbalance, irritation, and infection. Atrophic vaginitis is usually easily treated, so contact your doctor if you think you may have this problem. Decreasing estrogen levels can cause skin changes in the vulvar and vaginal areas as well as the urethra and bladder. With these changes, the skin becomes thin and more easily damaged. Atrophic vaginitis does not affect all women. Although it is a type of vaginitis, yeast infection is not discussed on this page. For specific information on yeast infections (i.e., vaginitis caused by Candida albicans ), see the yeast infections article.

Causes of Atrophic vaginitis

The common Causes of Atrophic vaginitis :

• Atrophic vaginitis is typically caused by a decrease in estrogen, as normally occurs after menopause .
• Surgical removal of ovaries, and use of oral contraception can cause a decrease in estrogen production.
• Hormonal changes, such as those associated with pregnancy and birth control pills.
• Cigarette smoking .

Symptoms of Atrophic vaginitis

Some common Symptoms of Atrophic vaginitis :

• Burning on urination.
• Vaginal dryness.
• Light bleeding after intercourse.
• Itching or burning of the vulva (the area around the vaginal opening).
• Painful sexual intercourse .
• Vaginal irritation, pain, or bleeding during intercourse.
• Soreness, burning or itching in vagina.
• Thin, watery vaginal discharge.
• Bleeding/Spotting.

Treatment of Atrophic vaginitis

• Estrogen, in the form of vaginal creams, tablets or rings, can effectively treat atrophic vaginitis. This treatment is available by prescription from your doctor.
• To treat this type of vaginitis, you need to pinpoint the source of the irritation and avoid it. Possible sources include new soap, laundry detergent, sanitary napkins or tampons
• Hormone replacement therapy, applying estrogen cream directly into the vagina and applying a water-soluble lubricant to increase pleasure in sexual intercourse.
• Your doctor may prescribe metronidazole pills (Flagyl).
• Topical estrogen creams or tablets may be used vaginally. Oral or transdermal estrogen may be used. See Boxed Warning about estrogen theraphy below.
• For this type of vaginitis, metronidazole (Flagyl, MetroGel) or clindamycin (Cleocin) as pills or vaginal gels or creams may be prescribed.

Women's Health

Adenomyosis
Ahumada-Del Castillo Syndrome
Anovulatory cycles
Asherman's syndrome
Atrophic vaginitis
Bacterial vaginosis
Baker's Cyst
Bartholion gland cyst
Candida infection
Cervical Ectropion
Cervical Erosion
Cervical mucous
Cervical polyp
Cystocele
Cystocoele
Dermoid Cysts
Dry vagina
Endometriosis
Enterocoele
Fibroids
Ganglion cysts
Gonorrhoea
Hydrometrocolpos
Hysteria
Lactose intolerance
Laryngitis
Legionnaire's disease
Leprosy
Leptospirosis
Leucorrhoea
Leukaemia
Lice infestation
Lichen planus
Lipoma
Liver cirrhosis
Mittelschmerz
Nabothian gland cyst
Oestogen dominance
Ovarian cysts
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Pilonidal cyst
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Popliteal cysts
Rectocoele
Sebaceous cysts
Trichomonas infection
Urethral caruncle
Urethrocoele
Vaginal atrophy
Vaginitis
Vulvodynia
Wernicke korsakoff synodrome