For many women, menopause becomes a time of freedom associated with the end of their childbearing years. For others, it’s a stage of life that requires the recovery of physical equilibrium, as the changes in hormone balances generate a range of side effects.
While you can no longer become pregnant, the enjoyment of risk-free sex may be countered by changes to your body in the form of vaginal dryness. Dr. Anita Petruzzelli and the team at BodyLogicMD in Glastonbury, Connecticut, know that sexual health is important to your overall well-being, so we offer several approaches to treating chronic vaginal dryness, regardless of its cause, to restore your quality of life.
Menopause occurs one year after your last menstrual period, but female hormones, naturally produced by the body, begin to decline in the years and months leading toward this point. This hormonal decline occurs in your 40s and early 50s. After menopause, natural pregnancy and childbirth becomes impossible once your ovaries stop releasing eggs. At the same time, estrogen production declines too.
You may also suffer from premature menopause due to surgeries in which your ovaries are removed, ovarian insufficiency, or cancer treatments that affect the reproductive system.
Declining estrogen levels cause the vaginal lining to thin, affecting its elasticity and natural moisture content. This is called vaginal atrophy, a common symptom for some menopausal women. Additional symptoms of this condition include burning, itching, pain, bleeding, and urinary complications.
About one-third of menopausal women experience vaginal dryness. These conditions can bring unwelcome changes to intimate times with your partner, causing discomfort, self-esteem issues, or even causing strain in your relationship.
In mild cases of dryness, topical lubricants can close the gap. For best health results, choose water-based products with few additional additives. Flavored or scented lubricants may cause tissue irritation or allergic responses.
For more persistent vaginal dryness, we may recommend hormone replacement therapy (HRT), particularly if you’re suffering from other side effects of menopause, including hot flashes and night sweats.
HRT comes in a variety of forms, including oral supplements, topical creams and ointments, and injections. Dr. Petruzzelli prefers bioidentical hormone pellets implanted just under your skin for long-lasting, steady delivery.
Synthetic bioidentical hormones have not only the same properties as natural versions, their molecular structure is identical to hormones produced by your body for the best compatibility.
Every woman has their own unique response to changing hormone levels, and so we customize your treatment to match the conditions occurring in your body. Start the healing process by consulting with Dr. Petruzzelli and her team at BodyLogicMD.
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