Women's Hormone Health · Kingwood, The Woodlands & New Caney
Vaginal Dryness and Painful Sex After Menopause
Dryness, burning, itching and pain with sex affect about half of postmenopausal women. Unlike hot flashes, these symptoms often get worse without treatment.
Why it happens
Genitourinary syndrome of menopause
Estrogen keeps vaginal and urinary tissue thick, elastic and moist. When levels drop, the tissue becomes thinner and drier. Doctors call this genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). It can cause discomfort with sex, irritation, urgency and more frequent urinary tract infections.
Common signs
- Dryness, itching or burning
- Pain or bleeding with sex
- Urgency or frequent urination
- Recurring UTIs
- Light bladder leaks
What can help
Ways to feel better
Everyday steps
- Use a water- or silicone-based lubricant during sex
- Use a vaginal moisturizer a few times a week
- Avoid scented soaps and douches
- Stay sexually active if comfortable
See a doctor sooner if
- Any bleeding after menopause
- Pain that stops you from having sex
- UTIs keep coming back
- Unusual discharge or odor
Treatment options
Treatment for dryness and pain
Low-dose vaginal estrogen treats the tissue directly and is very effective. Systemic hormone therapy can also help, especially when you have other menopause symptoms too. We will explain which approach fits you.
When symptoms are driven by falling or fluctuating estrogen and progesterone, hormone replacement therapy for women may help. Options include bioidentical estradiol, progesterone and, for some women, low-dose testosterone, delivered as creams, patches, pills or EvexiPEL hormone pellets. Women who still have a uterus need progesterone along with estrogen.
We treat vaginal dryness for patients from Kingwood, The Woodlands, Porter, Humble and across the Lake Houston area at our New Caney office. Your first visit starts with lab work and a real conversation about your symptoms.
Questions
Common questions
Does vaginal dryness go away on its own?
Usually not. Because it comes from low estrogen, it tends to continue or worsen without treatment.
Is vaginal estrogen safe?
Low-dose vaginal estrogen acts mainly on local tissue. We review your history, including any cancer history, before recommending it.