Vulvovaginal Atrophy: Symptoms & Management
What are the symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy?
Vaginal dryness, pain during intercourse and in some case constant pain.
Remember: I am not a doctor. I’m sharing my personal research and a few experiences with you. Please visit your doctor to get proper help.
Thinning of the vaginal wall tissues due to lack of oestrogen.
Vaginal Atrophy is prevalent in premenopausal, menopausal, postmenopausal women and women who had cancer and or are going through cancer treatments.
Vaginal tissue texture or shape.
Urinary problems.
Decreased secretions from the cervix and visible ulcerations, telangiectases.
Vaginal dryness
Fissures
And more.
So, you must get checked by a doctor!
A thorough exam of the vagina, cervix, and external genitalia.
Vaginal pH Testing to obtain the VMI score.
Pelvic exam.
Urine culture for UTI.
Serum hormone level tests.
Papnicolaou test.
Ultrasound.
Infection test.
Estrogen keeps your vagina healthy by maintaining the vagina walls thick and keeping the vagina properly moisturized.
Estrogen is crucial for the well-being of a woman.
Vaginal atrophy
Bone loss/ brittle bones
Feeling tired
Insomnia
Vaginal dryness
Vaginal infections
Thin vaginal walls (causes painful intercourse)
Urinary tract infections
Vaginal discharge
Hot flashes
Low sexual desires
And more!
If you underwent treatment for breast cancer (or any cancer) during menopause or post-menopause, your estrogen levels may have decreased.
Chances are that you will not be able to do hormone therapy and will need to go another route.
Explore alternative options cautiously, but always chat with your doctor before introducing anything new.
Some medications do not mix well with alternative meds and treatments.
Estrogen decreases during menopause and some women may have to deal with vulvovaginal atrophy.
These hormone treatments are done to maintain a balanced combination of internal (endogenous) and external (exogenous) vaginal estrogens.
It’s important to note that estrogen isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Your doctor will need to test you and control your oestrogen levels.
Non-estrogen moisturizers help vaginal lubrication.
Water-based vaginal lubricant for vaginal dryness.
Natural oils such as coconut oil (with NO perfume!) can help, but conclusive tests have yet to be conducted.
Local vaginal estrogen therapy may be acceptable for some patients.
Vaginal dilators stretch and stimulate vagina muscles while reversing the narrowing of that area.
Some have used vaginal laser therapy, but many have complained of chronic pain and burning sensations in the vagina for a long time, so I don’t see that as a great solution!
Painful sexual intercourse? Some women have been using Lidocaine along with a vaginal moisturizer. It numbs the nerves during intercourse and still allows for physical feeling.
Some urinary issues are related to vaginal atrophy or Genitourinary syndrome.
Symptoms can include Urgency
Frequency of urination
Nocturia (needing to go at night), urge incontinence,
UTIs, which could lead to a more severe case of infection.
The pelvic floor consists of muscles and ligaments that support the bladder, uterus, and bowel openings.
These muscles and ligaments prevent bladder and bowel incontinence and relate to sexual function.
They are related to your hips and trunk stability, particularly during walking and standing.
It can help you control your urinary incontinence!
Try stopping the flow of urine by squeezing specific muscles. The muscles you use to stop the flow are your pelvic muscles.
Maintaining a healthy pelvic floor is essential for overall well-being.
Pelvic floor exercises help strengthen muscles and alleviate symptoms such as urinary incontinence.
What exercises help the pelvic floor’s function?
Do kegels, breathing, squats, and bridges. For best results when you do your Kegels, squeeze the muscles that control the urine and rectum. Pelvic exercises are for women and men.
Note: I have read alot about the pelvic floor lately and learned there are many different exercises that will help you strengthen your pelvic floor. Kegels alone are not enough!
You must search for non-hormonal treatments and alternative therapies.
It is important that you do your own research because there are so many options.
Unfortunately, there are also so many contradicting opinions!
During my research, I found articles suggesting that Ospemifene could be a good option for women who had estrogen-receptive positive breast cancer (which is my case).
Many articles state that Opemifene is NOT a good option for estrogen-receptive positive breast cancer. My doctor asked me to stay away from it.
Menopausal and post-menopausal breast cancer survivors and patients need to be extra careful.
There are many things you can do to take control of your body and minimize menopausal symptoms, vaginal atrophy, vaginal dryness, and pelvic floor issues.
Learn how to do the exercises to maintain an excellent pelvic floor.
Use a good vaginal moisturizer (dosing vaginal creams is important), avoid irritants, and use mild cleansing products.
Exercise your body and stay active.
Remember the power of water and drink enough water daily.
Keeping a regular sexual life can aid in controlling blood flowing to the vagina and strengthening tissue health.
Having intimate moments with or without another person is beneficial for women’s vaginal tissues as it helps promote lubrication and increases circulation.
Vaginal atrophy can be avoided by leading an active sex lifestyle, which will inevitably lead to healthier overall vaginal tissue well-being.
Use good lubricants or vaginal hormonal preparations if your doctor allows it.
The effects of vaginal atrophy on emotional well-being can be devastating, leading to reduced self-confidence, difficulties in relationships, and a reduction of general quality of life.
To make things easier, you must get advice from healthcare professionals or seek support groups with similar experiences.
Talking to other women will help you understand your issues.
Eat healthy! Add oestrogen foods like tofu, It’s not a magic pill, but for some women.
Quick heads-up: If you’ve battled estrogen-related breast cancer treatments, your oncologist might not want you to introduce any extra estrogen, not even through your meals.
Boosting your estrogen levels can be as easy as adding plant-powered shakes to your meals!
According to UCLA Health, phytochemical-rich plants are the way to go.
Fruits like apples, berries, and grapes are estrogen champions.
Don’t forget the soy goodies like soy milk, tofu, miso soup, and miso paste.
Veggies and grain.
Minerals: Boron and vitamins B, D, and E are your go-to team for elevating estrogen levels. Don’t forget to do your annual blood exams to control your vitamin levels.
Supplements; don’t take them without speaking to your doctor. I was not allowed to take Black Cohosh and Dong Quai due to my estrogen-receptive positive breast cancer.
Weight-Bearing Exercises
Hiking or brisk walking
Dance
Weightlifting
Resistance workouts with elastic bands
Using your own body as a weight for weight-bearing exercises.
I’m on a weight-lifting adventure with my fantastic trainer here in Lisbon three times a week.
This superhero of a trainer keeps me on my toes because, let’s be real, I have a soft spot for taking it easy on myself.
If you don’t want to workout alone or need motivation: Hire a trainer or join classes and ask a buddy to join you.
Change your exercise routines to keep them interesting and fresh.
More articles about exercises:
Easy stretches for that achy body
Vulvovaginal atrophy is a condition that affects many postmenopausal women but often goes undiagnosed.
Choose a healthy lifestyle.
Seek medical guidance from healthcare providers.
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Updated September 2025
Marguerite Beaty, Blogger, Photographer & Artist
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