Labial Atrophy is the main cause of all the discomfort and pain you go through during your menopause. It is the thinning, drying, and inflammation of your vaginal walls. Labial Atrophy occurs when there are lower estrogen levels in your body. So, it does not only happen during or after the menopause. Some other conditions can also drop the estrogen level, causing labialatrophy. Let us dig into the causes, symptoms, and treatments of the labia atrophy.

Symptoms

Labial Atrophy causes both vaginal and urinary symptoms, so the symptoms are collectively known as Genitourinary syndrome of menopause or GSM. Following are the GSM symptoms that affect your vagina.

Following are the urinary symptoms of GSM:

What Happens in Labia Atrophy

The decrease in estrogen production lowers the blood supply to your vagina. As a result, the vaginal tissues become narrow, thin, and dry. The epithelium or the top layer of the vagina reduces or can even finish off. So, your vagina becomes more vulnerable to infections and inflammations.

The pH imbalance occurs, making your vagina less acidic. So the good bacteria residing in your vagina decrease in number,and other infection-causing bacteria get a chance to outgrow them.

Causes and Risks

Labia Atrophy mainly happens because of the menopause. You may even experience labia atrophy during the years leading to menopause or the perimenopause. However, menopause is not the only reason for labia atrophy. It can result from anycondition that causes a drop in your estrogen levels.

Your estrogen levels are decreased after childbirth and during breastfeeding as well. Labia atrophy after childbirth is temporary, but when you continue to breastfeed, you will experience some of the symptoms of GSM, especially dry and a thin vagina.

If you undergo surgical menopause (removal of ovaries), then also you go through labia atrophy. Pelvic Radiations and chemotherapy for treating cancer also lower your estrogen levels. As a result, you can have labia atrophy while getting treatment for cancer. Certain medications and birth control pills also have a strong effect on estrogen production.

Certain factors can cause a risk of labia atrophy. Smoking cigarettes affects your blood circulation. If you are smoke regularly, your blood flow to body parts including vagina can decrease, leading towards labia atrophy.

Research suggests that women who have never given vaginal birth are at a higher chance of developing GSM symptoms than women who have. Having no sexual activity for a long period may even increase your chances of labia atrophy

Treatment

There are several treatments available for treating the symptoms of labia atrophy. These include vaginal moisturizers and creams. Most of the creams contain estrogens in low doses that help relieve the symptoms and restores your vagina to its normal condition. Vaginal tablets containing estradiol are also used for treating GSM symptoms. Sexual activity is also recommended as it increases your blood flow to the vagina.

Bottom Line

When you experience the symptoms of labia atrophy, do not hesitate in consulting a doctor. Your doctor will tell you what todo and give you the right treatment for relieving the symptoms.