Santa Cruz de Tenerife, February 12, 2021. Hospiten reminds us that there are effective treatments for vaginal dryness, a problem common among menopausal women or patients who have had cancer treatment, and which affects the quality of sexual relations.
According to Dr. Dolores Perez-Jaraiz, specialist in Gynecology and Obstetrics with the Cosmetic Gynecology and Intimate Surgery Unit at the Hospiten Rambla University Hospital, the number of naturally menopausal women and those who go through menopause as a result of cancer treatment giving up sexual intercourse because of pain caused by vaginal dryness is worrying.
"As a result of these changes, many women have symptoms that may affect their quality of life, starting with itching, a stinging or burning sensation and pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse or even the inability to maintain relations," she says. Although, as the gynecologist states, "sometimes the first warning sign is initial dryness during sexual relations".
For that reason, it is important not to ignore the discomfort, since diagnosing vaginal dryness in its early stages has a better outcome. Dr. Perez-Jaraiz states that "a woman should never settle for discomfort if she starts to see that some symptoms prevent her from maintaining a normal sex life and she should know that there is a solution".
Vaginal dryness, which can affect 50% of menopausal women, is caused by a lack of hormones or by the side effects of radiation therapy or chemotherapy. However, there are treatments for the condition, which range from daily moisturizing with vaginal cream, hyaluronic acid infiltration (injected into the vaginal area to be treated), Platelet Rich Plasma "PRP" (also injected), or laser.
In the latter case, laser therapy stimulates the production of new collagen and elastin, which rejuvenates the tissue and restores normal vaginal function, so specialists often recommend it for the good results and positive effects achieved in the treatment of different conditions.
On the occasion of European Sexual Health Day, on February 14, Hospiten wishes to reinforce a message of optimism and remind women that there are very advanced medical options to recover genital and sexual health, and that also improve the quality of life of many women.