Vaginal Atrophy

Vaginal atrophy is a condition where the lining of your vagina gets drier and thinner. This results in itching, burning and pain during sex, among other symptoms. The condition also includes urinary tract problems such as urinary tract infections (UTIs) and urinary incontinence.

Vaginal atrophy most often occurs during perimenopause and menopause when your ovaries produce less estrogen. It can occur in younger women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) when their estrogen levels decrease due to cancer treatment or having their ovaries removed. You may experience many uncomfortable symptoms when hormone levels decrease. These symptoms can disrupt your quality of life.

Recently, the term vaginal atrophy has been replaced with the newer term, genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). This new term helps describe not just the vaginal, but also the urinary symptoms that may occur as a result of low estrogen.

How common is vaginal atrophy (GSM)?

At least half of women and people AFAB who enter menopause show signs and symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause. Vaginal dryness is typically the first indication that a person is developing vaginal atrophy.