What to expect about your vagina as you grow older, gynaecologist explains

Ageing doesn’t just affect the skin on your face.
‘Pre-menopause, the vagina should be pink and moist,’ explains Tania Adib, a Consultant Gynaecologist.
‘But when oestrogen decreases during the menopause, the skin becomes paler and the vagina may become less plump. Ageing also causes the elastic quality of the vagina to become less efficient,’ adds Tania.
As the muscles in the vagina weaken, some women may experience a prolapse (the dropping of the uterus, bladder, or rectum into the vagina). One of the most noticeable changes after the menopause may be vaginal dryness. This can cause soreness during intimacy, and can even make daily tasks like walking painful.
Thankfully, there are many ways to improve the symptoms such as using an over-the-counter oestrogen cream, and you should also take care to treat a dry vagina more gently.
‘It’s important to be delicate when washing as this can be a cause of aggravation,’ explains Tania.
‘One of the key pieces of advice is to not use any perfumes or scented soaps on and around the vagina when washing, as they can be very irritating.’
Wash your intimate area with plain water or an unperfumed, specialist wash from the pharmacy.
If you’re suffering with symptoms such as a thick, white curd-like discharge with a yeasty, sweet smell, itching and discomfort, you may well have thrush.
‘In some cases, thrush may go away on its own, however it may take time, and it is best to get your symptoms checked out,’ says Tania.
‘There are some women who are just incredibly prone to getting thrush and find it very difficult to treat.
'This can often be down to their immune system, which can be affected by a number of factors such as pre-existing conditions and illnesses caused by stress.
'One common cause of thrush is wiping back to front, as this means you wipe bacteria from the back of your body to the front.’