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Signs and symptoms
Vaginal dryness, a symptom of atrophic vaginitis, is an indicator of declining estrogen levels. Other symptoms may include:
- Vaginal irritation
- Vaginal pain
- Painful sexual intercourse
- Light bleeding after intercourse
Before menopause, the tissues lining your vagina remain thick and moist in the presence of estrogen. That's because estrogen helps maintain blood flow to vaginal tissue, keeps vaginal walls supple and elastic, promotes production of natural lubricants, and helps protect against bacterial infections. As estrogen levels decline, the outer genital areas can become dry and irritated. In the vagina, disease-causing bacteria, which would not normally be able to flourish, may grow and lead to infections.
For some women, vaginal changes caused by the decline in levels of estrogen may develop slowly over time with few symptoms. For other women, dryness and related symptoms may develop quite rapidly.
How atrophic vaginitis is diagnosed
Your health care professional will use your health history, physical examination, and laboratory findings to diagnose atrophic vaginitis. It is important to rule out other possible causes of vaginal dryness and irritation—such as infection or allergy—before making the diagnosis. By understanding your symptoms and test results, your health care professional can determine if you have the vaginal changes commonly seen with atrophic vaginitis. You can then discuss the best treatment options with your health care professional. ACTIVELLA® 1.0 mg/0.5 mg is the only ACTIVELLA® product indicated for atrophic vaginitis.
