Q: How common are the symptoms?

A. Up to 55% of post-menopausal women experience vaginal dryness, and as many as 41% of us feel pain during sex.

Vaginal what!?!

The Big Ow is an uncomfortable but common problem… down there. Your healthcare professional will call it vaginal atrophy, or VA, but we know it as burning, itching, dryness, pain during sex, and other unpleasant symptoms.

Vaginal atrophy often happens during menopause as our hormone levels change. The loss of estrogen causes changes to the vaginal environment. When there is less estrogen circulating in our bodies, the vaginal tissues become thinner, drier, and less elastic, and the vagina itself can become shorter and narrower. These changes are a normal part of aging, but they can lead to uncomfortable symptoms.

Unlike temporary symptoms of menopause (like hot flashes), vaginal atrophy will not go away on its own. In fact, it can continue throughout life.

Luckily, we can get relief from our symptoms. Your doctor knows about mess-free treatment options that can help. Make an appointment to talk to your doctor or nurse practitioner about The Big Ow today.

What's The Big Ow?