bjg

Symptoms of Vaginal Atrophy

After menopause, your labia and vulva may become drier, and the skin of your genitals may feel less firm or elastic. You may have
trouble achieving adequate lubrication during sex. Many women will notice vaginal dryness or irritation even before menopause, many
years before other symptoms appear. In time, you may also notice that your vagina seems shorter. Sexual intercourse may feel
uncomfortable, or it may hurt because of the stretching of the delicate tissues inside. The walls of your vagina may become irritated,
cracked and prone to infection, because they are thinner than they used to be.

Urinary symptoms are also commonly found in women diagnosed with vaginal atrophy. As your urinary tissues become thinner and
less elastic, you may notice small amounts of urine leaking during sex, coughing, exercise, sneezing or other activities (stress
incontinence). You may also be more prone to urinary tract infections, as well as vaginal infections. The following urinary symptoms are
associated with vaginal atrophy:

Irritation or pain with urination
Blood in urine (may come from vagina)
Urinary frequency
Frequent urinary tract infections
Stress incontinence

If you're already experiencing many of the genital symptoms listed below, remember—there are treatments available that can help.

Genital symptoms

Genital dryness
Vaginal itching
Vaginal burning
Vaginal discharge
Painful sexual intercourse
Light bleeding after intercourse
Intense vulvar itching
Feeling of pressure