Your Vaginal Health During Menopause

Although menopause is a natural part of the aging process, it can bring some bothersome changes in a woman’s intimate area. Commonly happening around the age of 50, menopause can cause your hormones levels to drop, which can then trigger changes in the way your vagina looks, feels, and functions. 

Dryness and itchiness

With menopause, your ovaries stop making estrogen, which is responsible for keeping the vaginal walls lubricated. Decreased production of this hormone can make your intimate area feel drier. This may also cause vaginal atrophy (atrophic vaginitis), which refers to the drying, inflammation, and thinning of the vaginal walls. 

Vaginal atrophy symptoms, which include, dryness, burning, and itching of the vagina can affect not just your sex life, but also your urinary system. These may cause bladder issues like feeling discomfort when peeing or going to the bathroom more often. It can also make you more prone to urinary tract infections (UTIs). 

Pain during sex (with increased risk of bleeding or tearing)

Less estrogen can cause the lining of your vaginal walls to become thinner. This can then make the area more fragile, with bleeding or tearing that can occur during intercourse. Less moisture or lubrication, which can happen during menopause, can also make sex painful and increase the risk of vaginal tearing. 

The pain can happen before, during, or after intercourse. This can cause reduced libido, with symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal atrophy, and vaginal dryness. Decreased estrogen in menopause can also reduce the blood flow to the vagina. This can negatively affect arousal or achieving orgasm.

Vagina may shrink in size

The vagina can also shrink in size or become shorter, particularly with lack of sex. It is also during menopause that the vaginal lining becomes thinner, which then makes it less stretchy. Hormonal decline, which leads to decreased blood flow in the area, can also cause the labia minora or the inner folds of the vulva to shrink in size. 

Sexual intercourse can stretch the vagina, which is helpful in preserving its elasticity. Prescription and over-the-counter medications can help, especially when sex is painful or uncomfortable.  Read our previous post and find out how sex can be different after menopause. 

Odor changes

Hormonal changes during menopause can also alter the smell of your delicate area. It is common for menopausal women to notice a smelly, watery discharge that is due to the changes of pH in the vaginal area. Declining estrogen levels cause the vaginal pH to be less acidic. 

The pH of your vagina is normally acidic, which then provides an effective protection against infection and irritation. If you’re worried about its pH level or are concerned about its smell/discharge, it is best to talk to your healthcare provider. 

How a non-invasive intimate rejuvenation can help

When bothered by these changes, talking to a gynecologist can help determine the right course of actions. You may also consider a non-invasive aesthetic treatment, like Ultra Femme 360, for intimate area rejuvenation. It is not necessarily a cure for your vaginal concerns, but rather a procedure for improving your intimate area.

Ultra Femme 360 safely heats the vaginal tissues using ultrasound and radiofrequency energy. This enhances the blood flow in the area and stimulates new collagen production. Ultra Femme provides additional tightening and improvement in elasticity that can continue over a period of 3 to 4 months.

Some of the reasons to consider Ultra Femme include:

• It can rejuvenate the intimate area, which then helps improve vaginal laxity.
• It has shown positive results in treating urinary stress incontinence.
• It can enhance sexual satisfaction by remodeling the labia and tighten the vaginal opening.
• The procedure takes at least eight minutes to finish and provides complete vaginal rejuvenation.
• Improvements can be seen after the initial treatment. The results will continue to improve over time, particularly after the third session.

We, at Cutis Medical Laser Clinics in Singapore, provide nonsurgical intimate area rejuvenation through Ultra Femme 360. Contact our clinic today and schedule a consultation with our aesthetic doctor to find out if you’re a good candidate for the procedure.