What happens to your vagina as you age, from a shrinking vulva to recurring UTIs
IT’S not just your face which gathers wrinkles as the years go by, every part of your body ages. And women can expect a few changes in their intimate areas – as our vaginas and vulvas adapt over the years. Here are the changes you can expect to see as you get older – and […]
IT’S not just your face which gathers wrinkles as the years go by, every part of your body ages.
And women can expect a few changes in their intimate areas – as our vaginas and vulvas adapt over the years.
Here are the changes you can expect to see as you get older – and they’re all completely normal…
1. Shrinking violets
After menopause, your body produces less oestrogen – which can cause your vagina to get shorter and narrower.
“The vaginal opening can shrink, and the length of the vagina can shrink. You can also get irritation,” Dr Yael Swica told HuffPost.
2. Infection connection
Oestrogen is also to blame for a proneness to UTIs, STIs and bacterial vaginosis – which gives women a wetness and unpleasant odour down below.
This is because of a thinning of the vaginal tissue which makes it easier to catch nasty infections.
Dr Swica added: “Without oestrogen, the flora of the vagina changes and the tissue around the urethra is thinner, so we become more prone to urinary tract infections.”
3. Wax lyrical
Many women spends hundreds of pounds every year waxing their nether regions, but the need to do this lessens as you age.
By your 40s or 50s, your pubic hair will start thinning out and turning grey – although it’s unlikely to disappear completely.
4. High and dry
Vaginal dryness is a common symptom of menopause, which can cause pain during sex and a need to pee more than usual.
The NHS warn: “These things may make you feel less like you want to have sex.”
Experts recommend using water-based lubricants before sex, vaginal moisturisers and to avoid putting any perfumed soaps or lotions near the area.
What can I do about my plunging oestrogen levels?
If you want to slow down some of these changes, hormone replacement therapy can help.
HRT is a treatment which uses oestrogen and progesterone to relieve menopausal symptoms.
It’s widely available on the NHS, unless you have a history of blood clots, liver disease, high blood pressure or breast, ovarian or womb cancer.
If you want to know more, book an appointment with your GP.
5. Plump down
Your vulva starts to lose its fat, elasticity and some of its colour – normally during your 50s.
“The tissue can become more pale and smoother, the labia can become less distinct, and the vulva will lose its fullness,” Dr Swica told HuffPost.
6. Pelvic flaw
Your pelvic floor starts to weaken as you age, which brings a whole host of consequences with it.
Most of us only consider this area while pregnant – but these muscles support the bladder, uterus and bowel.
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A weakening pelvic floor could cause the muscles to shift out of place, known as prolapse.
Dr Margery Gass told HuffPost between 30 and 40 per cent of women experience this to some degree.
We previously revealed all the ways skinny jeans are harming your vagina – as a doctor urges women to stop wearing them.