How to treat senile vaginitis?

Senile vaginitis refers to a vaginal disease that occurs in women after menopause. As the ovarian function of women begins to gradually decline after menopause, female hormones also begin to slowly decrease. The vaginal mucosa will tend to become thinner and susceptible to bacterial infection. Bacterial infection can easily lead to vaginal itching or a burning sensation in the vulva. It can be treated with a wash, and some antibacterial washes can be used for cleaning.

How to treat senile vaginitis?

The principle of treatment is to supplement estrogen, enhance vaginal resistance and inhibit bacterial growth.

1. Enhance vaginal resistance

Estrogen preparations are given according to the cause, either topically or systemically. Apply estrone ointment topically twice a day, or estriol cream topically once a day within the first week, and then gradually reduce to the maintenance dose (such as twice a week) based on the relief situation.

2. Inhibit bacterial growth

Flushing the vagina with 1% lactic acid or 0.5% acetic acid solution once a day can increase vaginal acidity and inhibit bacterial growth and reproduction. After vaginal douching, topical antibiotics are applied.

prevention

Increase vaginal acidity and improve vaginal resistance. About 30% of postmenopausal women will develop senile vaginitis. The reason is that after menopause, the level of sex hormones in women decreases significantly, causing the pH value in the vagina to rise, the vaginal mucosa to shrink and thin, the folds to disappear, and the elastic tissue in the vagina to decrease, causing the vaginal opening to open and the wall to bulge. These will weaken the resistance of the vaginal mucosa to pathogens, making it easy to cause bacterial infection and cause vaginal inflammation. Therefore, elderly women should pay special attention to self-care and hygiene in their lives to reduce the chance of vaginal infections.

1. When senile vaginitis occurs, do not use hot water to wash the vulva due to vulvar itching. Although doing so can temporarily relieve vulvar itching, it will make the vulvar skin dry and rough, and the itching will become more obvious soon afterwards. When cleaning the vulva, it is advisable to use a feminine care solution with a weak acid formula.

2. Change your underwear every day during the illness. The underwear should be loose and comfortable, and made of pure cotton.

3. Do not use medications indiscriminately when discomfort occurs in the vulva. Because the bacteria that cause senile vaginitis are mostly Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, etc., unlike women of childbearing age where candidal vaginitis and Trichomonas vaginitis are the most common. Therefore, do not use drugs for treating fungi or Trichomonas indiscriminately, and do not treat vulvovaginitis as vulvar eczema and use hormonal ointments indiscriminately, as this will be counterproductive.

4. Pay attention to hygiene at ordinary times to reduce the chance of illness. Do not use soap or various liquid medicines to clean the vulva for the purpose of "disinfection and sterilization". Because the vulva skin of elderly women is generally dry and atrophied, frequently using soap and other highly irritating cleaning products to clean the vulva will aggravate skin dryness, cause itching, and damage the vulva skin. When cleaning the vulva, use a feminine care lotion with a weak acid formula. The toilet paper you choose should have the words "Xiaozhun" printed on it. Change and wash your underwear frequently. Do not share your own cleaning basins and towels with others.

5. Because the vaginal mucosa of elderly women is thin and the elastic tissue in the vagina is reduced, sexual intercourse may damage the vaginal mucosa and blood vessels in the mucosa, allowing bacteria to invade. Solution: Apply a small amount of oil to the vaginal opening before sexual intercourse to lubricate the vagina and reduce friction.