Postmenopausal atrophic vaginitis, or vaginal atrophy, is the thinning of the walls of the vagina caused by decreased estrogen levels. It is the thinning of the walls of the vagina caused by decreased estrogen levels.
Synonyms: urogenital atrophy. Atrophic vaginitis is very common in postmenopausal women due to the falling levels of oestrogen. During the reproductive years, the vaginal epithelium thickens under the influence of oestrogen and produces glycogen. 1 These may co-exist, as atrophic vaginitis predisposes the vagina to bacterial infection. 2  Other causes of vaginal bleeding or postmenopausal bleeding. 3  Uncontrolled diabetes may cause vaginal or urinary symptoms. Postmenopausal Atrophic Vaginitis. Postmenopausal atrophic vaginitis, or vaginal atrophy, is the thinning of the walls of the vagina caused by decreased estrogen levels. This most commonly occurs after menopause. Menopause is the time in a woman’s life, usually between ages 45 and 55, when her ovaries no longer release eggs. Topical estrogen is available in several forms to fit your preferences: 1  A vaginal estrogen ring, such as Estring. 2  A vaginal estrogen cream, such as Premarin or Estrace. 3  A vaginal estrogen tablet, such as Vagifem, is inserted into the vagina using a disposable applicator. Atrophic vaginitis is the thinning and inflammation of vaginal tissues due to a drop in estrogen levels. This is accompanied by a decrease in lubrication. Symptoms of atrophic vaginitis include itching, burning and discomfort; sometimes a bad-smelling, yellowish discharge may be present. Sexual intercourse may be painful and may be followed by light bleeding. Estrogen is a female hormone that plays many roles, including keeping the vaginal tissue healthy and lubricated. Estrogen levels naturally drop during menopause; therefore, atrophic vaginitis mostly affects postmenopausal women. Standard dosages of systemic estrogen, however, may not eliminate the symptoms of atrophic vaginitis in 10 to 25 percent of patients. 16 Systemic estrogen in higher dosages may be necessary to alleviate symptoms. Some women require coadministration of a vaginal estrogen product that is applied locally. Menopause is the leading cause of decreased levels of circulating estrogen; therefore, it is the etiology in almost all cases of atrophic vaginitis. In nonmenopausal women, production of ovarian estrogen can be interrupted by radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunologic disorders and oophorectomy. Medications or hormones used to decrease estrogen levels in women, as part of the treatment for breast cancer, endometriosis, fibroids, or infertility can lead to atrophic vaginitis. Also, radiation treatment to the pelvic area or chemotherapy, severe stress, depression, or rigorous exercise can be causes. Certain medications, smoking, tampons, and condoms may also cause or worsen vaginal dryness. It is important not to assume a diagnosis of atrophic vaginitis in the postmenopausal patient who presents with urogenital complaints. A patient history should include attention to exogenous agents that may cause or further aggravate symptom From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Atrophic vaginitis (also known as vaginal atrophy or urogenital atrophy) is an inflammation of the vagina (and the outer urinary tract) due to the thinning and shrinking of the tissues, as well as decreased lubrication. These symptoms are due to a lack of the reproductive hormone estrogen. In addition, sores and cracks may occur spontaneously. Atrophic vaginitis is one possible cause of postmenopausal bleeding (PMB). Urinary symptoms include painful urination, blood in the urine, increased frequency of urination, incontinence, and increased likelihood and occurrence of infections. To summarize, symptoms related to atrophic vaginitis are common in postmenopausal women. The severity of symptoms increases with age and time after the onset on menopause. At present, more women request treatment. Vaginal ET is a modality that is more specific for treating patients with atrophic vaginitis. As we know, the efficacy of treatment depends on levels/activity in vaginal cells of the estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-alpha) and of ligands such as 17-beta estradiol that bind with high affinity to ER-alpha.
http://patient.info/doctor/Atrophic-Vaginitis http://www.healthline.com/health/atrophic-vaginitis http://www.healthgrades.com/conditions/atrophic-vaginitis http://www.aafp.org/afp/2000/0515/p3090.html http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/189406.php https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atrophic_vaginitis http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/560168
what is postmenopausal atrophic vaginitis