Oh I've missed all this! Double apologies to you honorsmum - I thought you meant just the initials
. When I first joined the forum I was mystified by all the initials and don't tend to use them anyway!!!
Nothing clumsy either - we all need to know.
Hmmm well Vaginal Atrophy = Atrophic vaginitis = Urogenital atrophy = shrivelled dried up bits!!!!!!!!!! Sounds delightful however you put it.....
Yes Suzi Q has described somewhere in lurid detail what's happened to hers - I'm sure she won't my pointing this out.
I think googling it will explain it better than I can! Dancinggirl already linked to the info on this site - or there is patient.co.uk
http://www.patient.co.uk/health/atrophic-vaginitis-vaginal-drynessBasically there are large numbers of oestrogen receptors all around and inside the vagina and up the urethra - possibly also the bladder ( you would need to check this out where they all are). When oestrogen declines the tissues thin, dry up and if that wasn't bad enough they shrivel up (atrophy) physically as well ie the labia and all the important bits and flaps that were plumped up!
Some women have a habit of inspecting their parts in a mirror so have seen what's happened to them structurally, but I haven't done this - so unaware to some extent although you can actually feel the difference yourself.....
Here you can read about it in all the gory detail - including a delightful picture in case you wondered what it could look like
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2000/0515/p3090.htmlMostly women are concerned about the consequences (rather than the physical/structural changes) which appear as very unpleasant symptoms - it's effect on sexual intercourse, and the irritation, itching dryness, razor blades, urine infection.
Well you did ask!!!
This doesn't tell you anything you don't already know - and you've probably all googled away anyway!
IS THIS THREAD IN THE PRIVATE SECTION? IF NOT IT SHOULD BE!!!
Hurdity x