THEN AND NOW
Ageing doesn’t just affect the skin on your face.
‘Pre-menopause, the vagina should be pink and moist,’ explains Tania Adib, a Consultant Gynaecologist who works on Harley Street.
‘But when oestrogen decreases during the menopause, the skin becomes paler and the vagina may become less plump. Ageing also causes the elastic quality of the vagina to become less efficient,’ adds Tania.
As the muscles in the vagina weaken, some women may experience a prolapse (the dropping of the uterus, bladder, or rectum into the vagina).
• If you’re concerned about your vagina feeling looser or you think you have a prolapse, speak to your GP. They can suggest pelvic floor exercises to help improve vaginal tone, or recommend treatments for a prolapse such as a supportive pessary or surgery.
FEELING DRY?
One of the most noticeable changes after the menopause may be vaginal dryness.
This can cause soreness during intimacy, and can even make daily tasks like walking painful.
Thankfully, there are many ways to improve the symptoms such as using an over-the-counter oestrogen cream, and you should also take care to treat a dry vagina more gently.
‘It’s important to be delicate when washing as this can be a cause of aggravation,’ explains Tania.
‘One of the key pieces of advice is to not use any perfumes or scented soaps on and around the vagina when washing, as they can be very irritating.’
Wash your intimate area with plain water or an unperfumed, specialist wash from the pharmacy.
80% of British women are unaware that washing too much and using scented products can upset the vagina’s natural bacteria balance and cause infections to occur.
THRUSH IN LATER LIFE
Three out of four women will experience thrush at some point in their lifetime, and the risk increases after the menopuase.
‘When oestrogen levels drop and the vagina dries out, the pH of the vagina rises and this is associated with a reduction in the healthy bacteria – which makes the vagina more susceptible to infections such as thrush,’ says Tania.
If you’re suffering with symptoms such as a thick, white curd-like discharge with a yeasty, sweet smell, itching and discomfort, you may well have thrush.
‘In some cases, thrush may go away on its own, however it may take time, and it is best to get your symptoms checked out,’ says Tania.
‘There are some women who are just incredibly prone to getting thrush and find it very difficult to treat.
‘This can often be down to their immune system, which can be affected by a number of factors such as pre-existing conditions and illnesses caused by stress.
‘One common cause of thrush is wiping back to front, as this means you wipe bacteria from the back of your body to the front.’
TREAT IT
Thrush is easy to take care of at home with over-the-counter medication such as Canesten Thrush Duo Oral Capsule & External Cream (£14.69, Boots) which clears the infection and helps relieve symptoms.
138 million women around the globe suffer from recurrent thrush, and that is set to rise to 158 million by 2030.
ALL ABOUT KNICKERS
Whether you’re into lace lingerie or big comfy pants, it’s the material that matters most.
‘Cotton knickers are best for your intimate health, as many synthetic fibres have harsh chemicals and dyes in them that can be very irritating to the vulva,’ explains Tania.
‘I always recommend that women do not wear knickers at night, but I’d advise wearing knickers in the day, because materials in tights and trousers can be very harsh on the intimate area.’
For more on intimate health, go to Canesten.co.uk
Source: Read Full Article