Medical Questions » Female Problems Questions » Question No. 395
| Question: | What causes senile vaginitis? I have had it for 9 years and I am a 75 year old pensioner. |
| Answer: | A woman' s vagina is kept moist by the production of a mucus from glands in and around it. During sexual stimulation, these glands secrete more mucus, to give added lubrication. After the menopause, the female hormone oestrogen is no longer produced by the ovaries. It is this hormone that stimulates the vaginal glands to produce the mucus. Without the oestrogen, the glands do not function, and so many older women complain of a dry, sore, itchy vagina. Oestrogen also causes the formation of breast tissue and pubic hair. It is because oestrogen is lacking after the menopause that the breasts sag and the pubic hair becomes scanty.
The vaginal problem can be overcome in several ways. Simple moisturising creams can be purchased from chemists (or are available on script for pensioners) to apply when the vagina is irritated. A more effective treatment is to use creams containing oestrogen in the vagina. These creams are available under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and they usually need to be used only once or twice a week. Excess use can cause absorption of the oestrogen, which may result in nipple soreness and other symptoms of oestrogen excess.
The final method of treatment is to give oestrogen in very small doses by tablets.
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