What To Do If Sex Is Painful After Menopause
Menopause is a stage of life that many women look forward to. It means freedom from monthly periods, saying goodbye to painful menstrual cramps, sayonara to PMS, and hasta luego to menstrual migraines.
But since nature likes balance, not everything about menopause can be sunshine and rainbows. For some women, post-menopausal changes can result in downright stormy weather for their sex life.
What is vaginal atrophy?
Vaginal atrophy is when the lining of your vagina gets thinner and dryer, and it can result in some pretty frustrating physical symptoms like:
- Pain and discomfort during sex
- Decreased vaginal lubrication during sex
- Burning or itching in the vagina
- Recurrent urinary tract infections
- A frequent need to urinate or leakage
Why does it occur?
Lowered estrogen levels from the changes in ovarian function generally cause vaginal atrophy.
How can it be treated?
Studies indicate that between 50 and 60% of post-menopausal women suffer from some level of vaginal atrophy. So, knowing that the changes you are experiencing are common and normal is essential.
But normal doesn’t mean untreatable. Don’t let vaginal atrophy impact your quality of life when there are so many options to treat it.
MonaLisa Touch® laser therapy stimulates the production of collagen in your vaginal canal to enhance moisture levels and ease painful symptoms. No anesthesia is necessary. A laser gently delivers controlled energy into the soft tissue of your vaginal walls to stimulate the production of new collagen. Treatments consist of three in-office sessions lasting about 10 minutes each. There is little discomfort and minimal side effects or downtime.
Many post-menopausal women experience vaginal atrophy but are too embarrassed to discuss it with their doctor or seek treatment. Don’t be. There is help.
Talk to your urologist. Urologists receive the most extensive training available in physiology, anatomy, and treatments associated with sexual issues.
