What are the symptoms of atrophic vaginitis

Estrogen is one of the main hormones that promotes the development of female secondary sexual characteristics, and it also plays an important role in maintaining body health. Once estrogen decreases, it will affect women's physical health. For example, the vaginal wall becomes dry and loses elasticity, and even atrophic vaginitis may occur. Generally speaking, atrophic vaginitis is common in the elderly. So what symptoms can be used to judge it?

Senile vaginitis is common in elderly women after menopause. It is caused by the decline of ovarian function, decreased estrogen levels, atrophy of the vaginal wall, thinning of the mucosa, decreased glycogen content in epithelial cells, increased pH in the vagina, and reduced local resistance, making it easy for pathogenic bacteria to invade and multiply, causing inflammation. The main symptoms are increased vaginal discharge and vulvar itching and burning sensation.

Examination revealed that the vagina showed senile changes, with epithelial atrophy, disappearance of wrinkles, and smooth and thin epithelium. The vaginal mucosa is congested, with small bleeding spots and sometimes superficial ulcers. If the ulcer surface is adhered to the opposite side, the adhesion can be separated during vaginal examination and cause bleeding. Severe adhesions can cause vaginal stenosis or even occlusion. Poor drainage of inflammatory secretions can cause vaginal abscesses or even intrauterine abscesses. This situation is rare at present.

Clinical manifestations

1. Vaginal discharge increases, becomes thinner, and light yellow. In severe cases, it may be purulent and bloody leucorrhea with a foul odor.

2. Itching or burning sensation in the vulva.

3. Atrophy of the vaginal mucosa, which may be accompanied by pain during sexual intercourse. Sometimes there is urinary incontinence.

4. The infection can also invade the urethra and cause urinary system irritation symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, and pain when urinating.

5. Gynecological examination can show atrophic changes in the vaginal mucosa, disappearance of wrinkles, thinning and smoothing of the epithelium, congestion of the vaginal mucosa, small bleeding spots, and sometimes superficial ulcers. The ulcer surface may adhere to the opposite side, and the adhesion may cause bleeding due to separation during examination. When adhesion is severe, it causes vaginal stenosis or even occlusion, and the inflammatory secretions are not drained smoothly, forming vaginal pyometra or uterine pyometra.