Most women know that hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings are symptoms associated with menopause, but fewer are aware that vaginal dryness and painful intercourse can also be associated with menopause. These vaginal changes can impact a woman’s sexual health as she ages, particularly if she does not discuss her symptoms with a health care professional or her partner.
Results from a recent online survey* show that more than half (56 percent) of the postmenopausal women surveyed experience vaginal dryness, and one in four (26 percent) reported experiencing painful intercourse. Of these women, half who reported experiencing vaginal dryness (50 percent) and two out of three who reported experiencing painful intercourse (66 percent) agreed** with the statement, “Vaginal dryness/painful intercourse makes me not want to have intercourse anymore.” However, nearly one in three women experiencing vaginal dryness (29 percent) and one in four (26 percent) who reported experiencing painful intercourse have not spoken to anyone about these symptoms.
For many women, embarrassment about their condition may be to blame for the lack of communication. More than six in ten of the postmenopausal women surveyed who reported experiencing painful intercourse (62 percent) and more than half who reported experiencing vaginal dryness (53 percent) indicated they are at least somewhat embarrassed to talk about their condition.
“Although women may find their vaginal symptoms somewhat uncomfortable to discuss, they should not be embarrassed to talk to their health care professional or partner about them,” said Dr. Michael Krychman, the Executive Director of the Southern California Center for Sexual Health and Survivorship Medicine in Newport Beach, Calif., and one of the survey consultants. “If the lines of communication are never opened, there is a good chance women will not find relief from their symptoms, which can negatively affect their sexual health.”
Communicating With Your Health Care Professional
As Dr. Krychman indicates, many of the postmenopausal women surveyed who reported experiencing vaginal dryness (45 percent) or painful intercourse (41 percent) indicated they have not spoken to their health care professional about their condition.
- Among the women surveyed who had not spoken with their health care professional, embarrassment (30 percent vaginal dryness, 33 percent painful intercourse) and the belief that there is nothing that can be done medically to help their condition (20 percent vaginal dryness, 27 percent painful intercourse) were the top reasons.
- More than one in four (27 percent) of the women experiencing vaginal dryness and 39 percent experiencing painful intercourse who had spoken to their health care professional waited more than two years before having the conversation.
Communicating With Your Partner
But women are keeping quiet about the vaginal symptoms of menopause with more than just their health care professionals about the vaginal symptoms of menopause. Many are also not telling their partner, even when these symptoms cause intercourse to be painful.
- Most women who are in a committed relationship and experience vaginal symptoms report that their condition has put strain on their sexual relationship (54 percent vaginal dryness, 70 percent painful intercourse).
- Yet, of the women surveyed, the majority who reported experiencing vaginal dryness (62 percent) or painful intercourse (59 percent) reported that they have not discussed their condition with their partner.
Start the Discussion
No woman should feel like she should learn to live with the pain and discomfort that can be caused by the vaginal symptoms of menopause. The first step to finding relief is having the discussion. Take control of your sexual health and talk to your health care professional and partner about the symptoms you are experiencing.
For more information about the vaginal symptoms of menopause and additional survey findings, visit www.PersonalMenopauseAnswers.com or www.HealthyWomen.org.
* The HealthyWomen survey was conducted online by HealthyWomen and Harris Interactive among 1,043postmenopausal women 40+ years of age, supported by Pfizer Inc.
**Agreed = Strongly Agree + Somewhat Agree
Content provided by Pfizer in collaboration with HealthyWomen.
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For those women experiencing vaginal dryness and related symptoms, you can join me on Wed Oct 19, @ 11 am EST for an on-line discussion of this topic. Please go to MiddlesexMD.com to register now.