Aging is not only read on the face. It is also written where the gaze never goes: in the intimacy of the vagina. If it remains invisible to the naked eye, its changes are indeed felt. And over time, what the woman perceives is not just an impression. The effects of time on the vagina are neither anecdotal nor branch. They concern all women, especially after menopause. If these changes remain taboo, they are however normal, and there are solutions to alleviate the inconvenience they cause. Odile Bagot, obstetrician gynecologist, deciphers this often unknown, but very concrete physiological process.
The vagina is not the vulva
First essential precision: Vagina and vulva should not be confused. “”Anatomically, the woman has access to the vulva and the vestibule, the entrance to the vagina. The vagina is only visible by the gynecologist during a medical examination“, Recalls Odile Bagot. This interior channel of the female genital system is therefore perceived only by the feeling, and not by sight.
But this feeling evolves. Over time, and especially after menopause, vaginal lubrication becomes later and less abundant. “”This explains the feeling of drought felt in some women“, Specifies the specialist. These transformations are the fruit of a hormonal fall, in particular estrogens, after the end of the reproductive period.
Smoother mucous membranes, less tonic vulva
On examination, the signs of vaginal aging are visible. “”In elderly women, the vaginal mucosa is white, smoother and less flexible than that of a young girl, who is pink and flexible“, observes the gynecologist. These modifications are not only internal. They also affect the vulva, in particular the small and large lips, which lose volume and become more flabby.
This relaxation is explained by the scarcity of connective tissue, the same logic as for the skin of the face or muscle relaxation elsewhere on the body. And that’s not all. Pubic hair, too, can become white over time, like hair.
As for the vestibule – the area between the small lips – it undergoes the same effects as the vagina. “”This mucous mesh becomes drier, less pink, more sensitive to friction and can crack more easily“Explains Odile Bagot. Hence the importance of using soft products for intimate toilet and lubricants during reports.
Medical solutions: what really works
To limit these inconveniences, several treatments exist. The most effective, according to Odile Bagot, remains the local estrogen intake. “”If the patient has no history of breast cancer, a hormonal treatment orally or local can be prescribed, in the form of cream or ovum“She says. This treatment is recognized to mitigate the drought and make the mucosa more flexible.
Other more expensive techniques, not reimbursed and variable results are also offered:
- Hyaluronic acid injections to plump the lips, used for a more aesthetic purpose;
- Endovaginal laser, which aims to stimulate tissue regeneration. Some women are satisfied with it, but the sessions must be renewed regularly;
- Non hormonal creams available in pharmacies.
These options, if they do not replace a well -targeted local hormone treatment, can represent a useful complement as the case may be. “”The endovaginal laser, although very expensive, can give good results, but it is not a miracle solution“, tempers the specialist.
To summarize, vaginal aging is a natural, progressive, and potentially uncomfortable phenomenon, but it is not inevitable. Informing, talking about it and consulting are the first steps to find intimate comfort, at any age.