Vaginal Atrophy

Vaginal Atrophy

“Vaginal atrophy used to be a medical term
for thinning and drying of the vagina’s inner lining,
often after menopause”.1

Umbrella

What may the Vaginal Atrophy Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Atrophic Vaginitis
  • Genital Atrophy
  • Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM)
  • Urogenital Problems
  • Vaginal Atrophy
  • Vaginal Discomfort
  • Vaginal Dryness
  • Vaginal Symptoms
  • Vulvovaginal Atrophy (VVA)

Definition

What is vaginal atrophy?

DotS the definition of vaginal atrophy may vary. The (United States) Mayo Clinic’s definition is:

“Vaginal atrophy used to be a medical term for thinning and drying of the vagina’s inner lining, often after menopause. Another name for it was atrophic vaginitis. These terms are no longer used. The physical changes they described are now considered to be part of a group of symptoms that affect the genitals and lower urinary tract, called genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM)”.2

Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause

What is the genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM)?

DotS the definition of GSM may vary. On page one in Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause, dated May 2025, the (United States) Menopause Society’s (previously the North American Menopause Society) definition is:

“The genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) includes bothersome vaginal, vulvar (lips of the vagina), and urinary symptoms that can affect quality of life, sexual satisfaction, and even your relationship with your partner”.3

Common or Not

How common is GSM?

In Menopause: Menopausal Symptoms – Bladder, Vaginal and Vulval Problems the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) note:

“Around 1 in 2 women are affected by ‘genitourinary syndrome of menopause’ (GSM). GSM affects the bladder, vagina and vulva”.4

Symptoms

What may be GSM symptoms?

In Vaginal Atrophy: Symptoms, dated 20 December 2025, the Mayo Clinic explain:

“Genitourinary syndrome of menopause symptoms can include:

  • Dryness, burning or itching in the vagina
  • Thin, watery, sticky, yellow or gray fluid that comes out of the vagina
  • Frequent or urgent need to urinate, or a burning feeling during urination
  • Losing control of the bladder, also called urinary incontinence
  • More-frequent infections of the urinary tract and vagina
  • Pain during sex due to less lubrication, or light bleeding after sex
  • Shortening and tightening of the vaginal canal”.5

Cause

What causes vaginal atrophy?

In Vaginal Atrophy: Symptoms & Causes – Causes the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“Genitourinary syndrome of menopause happens when the body makes less estrogen. Lower estrogen causes the tissues in the vagina to become thinner, drier, less elastic and more fragile”.6

Treatment

How can VVA be treated?

In Vulval and Vaginal Conditions: Vulovaginal Atrophy: Can Vulvovaginal Atrophy Be Reversed? the JH note:

“You can’t reverse vulvovaginal atrophy, but you can stop it from getting worse by seeking a diagnosis and starting treatment early.

Research suggests that MHT eliminates vulvovaginal atrophy symptoms in 75% of cases, while vaginal oestrogen therapy is effective in 80% to 90% of cases.

Without treatment, vulvovaginal atrophy may get worse over time”.7

On page one and two in Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: Treatment Options, dated 2025, the (United States) Menopause Society, (formerly the North American Menopause Society) elaborate on:

“There are many effective treatment options for GSM, including over-the-counter and prescription therapies. Therapies for less severe symptoms include nonhormone over-the-counter lubricants used as needed for sexual activity and moisturizers used regularly (several times per week) to maintain moisture. Prescription therapies include low-dose vaginal estrogens, vaginal dehydroepiandrosterone inserts, and oral ospemifene. Nonhormone lubricants and moisturizers can be used in combination with prescription therapies for more severe symptoms.

  • Nonhormone Remedies
    • Vaginal Lubricants…
    • Vaginal Moisturizers…
    • Regular Sexual Stimulation…
    • Expanding Your Views of Sexual Pleasure…
    • Vaginal Dilators…
    • Pelvic Floor Exercises…
  • Vaginal Hormone Therapy…
    • An effective and safe treatment, low-dose local estrogen applied directly to the vulva and vagina relieves vulvar and vaginal discomfort, irritation, dryness, or pain with sexual activity…
    • FDA-approved low-dose vaginal estrogen products…
    • Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA; Prasterone)
    • Low-dose vaginal estrogen or DHEA may be options for…
  • Systemic Estrogen Therapy
  • Other Therapies…
    • Ospemifene
    • Vaginal Laser Therapy…”.8

The Mayo Clinic also note:

“…make an appointment if you have painful sex that doesn’t get better after you use a vaginal moisturizer (K-Y Liquibeads, Replens, Sliquid, others), water-based lubricant (Astroglide, K-Y Jelly, Sliquid, others) or silicone-based lubricant (ID Millennium, Pink, Pjur, others)”.9

Vaginal Estrogen

Can estrogen be placed directly into the vagina?

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use the Menopause Society explain:

“If you are bothered only by vaginal dryness, you can use very low doses of estrogen placed directly into the vagina. These low doses generally do not raise blood estrogen levels above postmenopause levels and do not treat hot flashes. You do not need to take a progestogen when using only low doses of estrogen in the vagina”.10

In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Management – Local Treatment of Urogenital Atrophy dated December 2023, the authors note:

“Urogenital symptoms due to estrogen insufficiency are under-recognized and under-treated. These symptoms can be effectively treated with an array of local therapies including intravaginal estrogen preparations or DHEA (prasterone) and intravaginal moisturizers. Concurrent progestogen therapy is not required. Many women require local therapy, in addition to systemic MHT, to relieve urogenital symptoms. It is important patients understand that treatment needs to be ongoing and is not simply a short course of therapy”.11

Sexual Activity

May regular sexual activity help?

In Vaginal Atrophy: What You Can Do About Vulvovaginal Atrophy – Regular Sexual Activity Including Masturbation the Mayo Clinic explain:

“GSM symptoms might begin to bother you during the years leading up to menopause. Or they might not become a problem until a few years into menopause. Although the condition is common, not everyone who goes through menopause gets GSM. Regular sexual activity or masturbation can help keep the tissues in the vagina healthy”.12

Health Care Provider

What if I think I have vaginal atrophy?

In Vulval and Vaginal Conditions: Vulvovaginal Atrophy – When To See Your Doctor the JH note:

“Many women have symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy, such as painful sex. But they don’t seek treatment because they feel embarrassed or think nothing can be done.

It’s important to get the right diagnosis and treatment, so see your doctor if you have any symptoms”.13

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to the Vaginal Atrophy?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Vaginal Atrophy?

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Links

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New or Updated

  1. 3D Mapping of Female Anatomy
  2. A Man’s Guide To Menopause
  3. Anatomy of the Vagina
  4. Askearlymenopause.
  5. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  6. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  7. Bladder Leakage: How To Talk To Your Doctor
  8. Caredownthere.com.au
  9. Complementary & Alternative Therapies: Non-Hormonal Treatments for Menopause Symptoms
  10. Complementary Medicines and Therapies: Options for Menopausal Symptoms
  11. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  12. Caredownthere.com.au
  13. DHEA
  14. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  15. Douching
  16. Dyspareunia – Vaginal Atrophy and Beyond [Webinar] [ Sign In To Confirm Your Age]
  17. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM): Diagnosis and Evidence-Based Management
  18. Enjoying Your Sex Life
  19. Essential Information: See Your Doctor If
  20. Estradiol (Vaginal Route)
  21. Experiencing Vaginal Dryness? Here’s What You Need To Know
  22. FAQs: Vulvovaginal Health
  23. FDA Direct: Removing Black Box Warnings for HRT (Part 1/2)
  24. FDA Direct: Removing Black Box Warnings for HRT (Part 2/2)
  25. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  26. Find A Practitioner [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  27. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  28. Gaslighting of Genitourinary Symptoms of the Menopause
  29. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
  30. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM)
  31. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: AUA/SUFU/AUGS Guideline (2025)
  32. Healthy Relationships
  33. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Vaginal Oestrogen
  34. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Vaginal Oestrogen: About Vaginal Oestrogen
  35. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Vaginal Oestrogen: Common Questions About Vaginal Oestrogen
  36. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Vaginal Oestrogen: Side Effects of Vaginal Estrogen
  37. How To Manage Menopausal Symptoms: Managing Bladder, Vaginal and Vulval Problems
  38. How To Talk To Your Doctor About Vulval Changes
  39. How Vaginal Hormones Can Transform Lives | The Dr Louise Newson Podcast
  40. International Menopause Society (IMS) Recommendations and Key Messages on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause
  41. International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Diseases: Patient Handouts
  42. International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health: Find A Provider
  43. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
  44. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Sexual Wellbeing, Intimacy and Menopause [+ Video: Menopause Is the End of Your Sex Life]
  45. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Supporting Someone Through the Menopause [+ Video: Men Don’t Need To Know About Menopause]
  46. Lubricant Alternatives: What To Use and What To Avoid
  47. Menopause
  48. Menopause Hormone Therapy and Urinary Symptoms: A Systematic Review [Video]
  49. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  50. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
  51. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
  52. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  53. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  54. Non-Hormonal Treatments Offer Relief for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
  55. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2025: The Burn, the Itch, the Pain, the Urge: GSM In Women
  56. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: New IMS Recommendations – Midlife Body Changes
  57. Perimenopause
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  59. Perimenopause
  60. Prosayla.com [Prosayla Supported By the ISSWSH [International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health]]
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  62. Sex and Sexual Health As You Age
  63. Sexual Health
  64. Supplements: What Works, What Doesn’t and the Truth About Menowashing
  65. Talk About Painful Sex
  66. The Role of Topical Vaginal Oestrogen
  67. The Vulva & Vagina Explained: Sex Ed #2
  68. Topical Vaginal Oestrogen for Breast Cancer Patients
  69. Urogenital Problems
  70. Vaginal Atrophy
  71. Vaginal Atrophy
  72. Vaginal Dryness
  73. Vaginal Dryness
  74. Vaginal Dryness
  75. Vaginal Dryness
  76. Vaginal Dryness After Menopause: Since going through menopause, I often have vaginal dryness. The dryness makes having sex painful. Is there anything I can do about it?
  77. Vaginal Dryness Alternative Treatments
  78. ‘Vaginal Dryness’ Can Be Fatal. No, Really.
  79. Vaginal Dryness Alternative Treatments
  80. Vaginal Laser Therapy
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  81. Vaginal Oestrogen Is A Treatment on the Rise, But Is It Safe?
  82. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  83. Vulva and Vagina
  84. Vulva and Vagina [Multiply Languages]
  85. Vulval Irritation and Treatment
  86. Vulval and Vaginal Conditions
  87. Vulval and Vaginal Pain
  88. What Is the Difference Between Vagifem and Estring?
  89. What Types of Vaginal Oestrogens Are There?
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  93. World Menopause Day 2024: Leaflet for Women – Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy [Multiply Languages]
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Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Vaginal Atrophy: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 20 December 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vaginal-atrophy/symptoms-causes/syc-20352288 Accessed: 25 May 2026
  2. Vaginal Atrophy: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 20 December 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vaginal-atrophy/symptoms-causes/syc-20352288 Accessed: 25 May 2026
  3. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause. May 2025:1. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/for-women/MenoNote-GSM.pdf Accessed: 25 May 2026
  4. Menopause Symptoms: Menopausal Symptoms – Bladder, Vaginal and Vulval Problems. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/#section-menopausal-symptoms Accessed: 25 May 2026
  5. Vaginal Atrophy: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms. 20 December 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vaginal-atrophy/symptoms-causes/syc-20352288 Accessed: 25 May 2026
  6. Vaginal Atrophy: Symptoms & Causes – Causes. 20 December 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vaginal-atrophy/symptoms-causes/syc-20352288 Accessed: 25 May 2026
  7. Vulval and Vaginal Conditions: Vulvovaginal Atrophy: Can Vulvovaginal Atrophy Be Reversed? Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/vulva-and-vagina/vulval-and-vaginal-conditions/#section-vulvovaginal-atrophy Accessed: 25 May 2026
  8. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: Treatment Options. 2025:1-2. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/for-women/MenoNote-GSM.pdf Accessed: 25 May 2026
  9. Vaginal Atrophy: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms: When To See A Doctor. 20 December 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vaginal-atrophy/symptoms-causes/syc-20352288 Accessed: 25 May 2026
  10. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use. 2025:1. The Menopause Society https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/default-document-library/MenoNote-Deciding-About-HT-2025.pdf Accessed: 25 May 2026
  11. Davis, S. R., Taylor, S., Hemachandra, C., Magraith, K., Ebeling, P. R., Jane, F., and Islam, R. M. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Management – Local Treatment of Urogenital Atrophy. Published Online: 01 December 2023 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2023.2258783 Accessed: 25 May 2026
  12. Vaginal Atrophy: Symptoms & Causes – Causes. 20 December 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vaginal-atrophy/symptoms-causes/syc-20352288 Accessed: 25 May 2026
  13. Vulvovaginal Atrophy: When To See Your Doctor.  Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/vulva-and-vagina/vulval-and-vaginal-conditions/#section-vulvovaginal-atrophy Accessed: 25 May 2026
Topic Last Updated: 25 May 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 25 May 2026

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