If you are suffering from vaginal dryness, pain with intercourse and/or incontinence, you may want to investigate the role of estrogen tissue effects, as these can all be symptoms of estrogen deficiency. When estrogen levels are normal, the walls of the vagina are lush, thick, well lubricated and protected. However when levels drop, there is a marked change in the tissue characteristics and huge shift in the vagina milieu, so it’s important to understand how estrogen deficiency affects vaginal health.
Estrogen is a hormone that is produced by the ovaries, and is responsible for the lubrication and health of the vagina. Estrogen levels tend to decline during menopause, but chemotherapy, radiation therapy, lifestyle stress, excessive exercise, being underweight, smoking and scleroderma can also contribute to a decrease in estrogen.
How estrogen affects vaginal health
Estrogen is needed to keep the vaginal tissues thick and elastic, and also assists with natural lubrication. When estrogen levels fall, a condition known as vaginal atrophy often sets in. This is generally characterized by the thinning and dryness of the vaginal tissue, resulting in painful intercourse. Vaginal atrophy also results in the shrinkage of vaginal tissue, leading to a reduction in its all-around size both length and diameter.
Vaginal atrophy can treated with estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). This may take the form of an estrogen patch, cream, pill, vaginal suppository or pellets. However, some women do not benefit from certain routes of administration at the level of the vagina. While it may supply adequate estrogen to the blood stream to treat some “menopausal symptoms” it is often insufficient to fully stimulate the vaginal mucosa.
Women, who continue to experience symptoms after undergoing estrogen replacement, may want to consider contacting the Fowler Gyn International (FGI). Dr. R. Stuart Fowler uses customized treatment protocols using bio-identical estrogens to deal with estrogen deficiency in the vagina.
Dr. Fowler has been able to successfully treat thousands of women suffering with vaginal atrophy. Improvement is gradual, and takes 3-4 months. For more information on how estrogen affects vaginal health, and how it can be treated, call FGI at 480-420-4001. You can also visit them online at http://www.fowlergyninternational.com/.