- Vulvar and vaginal atrophy (VVA) is a common menopausal condition
- It affects 45% of women over 40, causes discomfort and vaginal pain
- But 80% of women have never heard of the condition or its treatments
Mia De Graaf For Dailymail.com
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More than 80 per cent of women have never heard of a treatable menopausal condition that could cause chronic pain if left untreated, a new study reveals.
Vulvar and vaginal atrophy (VVA) affects 45 per cent of women over 40, causing dryness, itching, burning, discharge and discomfort.
If left untreated, sufferers could face years of chronic vaginal pain, making sex incredibly painful.
But new research shows most women do not even know what the condition is – let alone how to seek treatment.
Vulvar and vaginal atrophy (VVA) affects 45 per cent of women over 40. But a new study reveals 80 per cent of women do not know about the condition or how to treat it
WHAT IS VULVAR AND VAGINAL ATROPHY?
Vulvar and vaginal atrophy is a typical side effect of menopause.
It is caused by lowered estrogen levels and a decreased blood supply to the vagina.
The vagina does not produce natural lubricant as regularly as before, does contract and expand as easily, and stops growing new cells.
As the remaining cells die, the vaginal walls become thinner, drier, and often inflamed.
The results of the study, by the North American Menopause Society, show large-scale multimedia campaigns to raise awareness about VVA have had little impact.
The findings echo six previous studies which showed general ignorance about VVA and how it develops.
‘The results of these surveys should send a clear message to healthcare providers that they need to initiate education and discussions with their postmenopausal patients,’ Dr JoAnn Pinkerton, NAMS executive director, warns.
VVA can be treated with hormone replacement therapy and vaginal lubricants to restore the thinning tissue.
It is a typical side effect of menopause, resulting from lowered estrogen levels and a decreased blood supply to the vagina.
The vagina struggles to produce natural lubricant, cannot contract and expand as deftly as before, and stops growing new cells.
Gradually, as the remaining cells die, the vaginal walls become thinner, drier, and often inflamed.
This will come as news to many, according to the Women’s EMPOWER survey by NAMS, an internet-based survey of 1,858 US postmenopausal women with symptoms of VVA.
The survey was specifically designed to assess women’s awareness of VVA and their behaviors and attitudes associated with the treatment of symptoms.
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Researchers found women tend to be reluctant to discuss vaginal or sexual symptoms with their healthcare providers.
As a result, 81 per cent of women were not aware that VVA is a medical condition.
And more than two-thirds of respondents were not familiar or only somewhat familiar with most of the prescription VVA products.
Dr Michael Krychman, of the Southern California Center for Sexual Health and Survivorship Medicine and a lead author of the Women’s EMPOWER survey, said:
‘Women remain naive to the safe and effective treatment options that are currently available and are still, for the most part, underinformed and undertreated.’
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