Chapter 90 Vaginal Dryness
INTRODUCTION
Description: Vaginal dryness is characterized by loss of normal vaginal moisture resulting in irritation, itching, or pain with intercourse. This loss may result from alterations in vaginal physiology caused by infection or the loss of estrogen stimulation (atrophic change). This may also occur situationally because of inadequate or inappropriate sexual stimulation, sexual phobia, or pain.
Prevalence: Common in menopausal women not receiving estrogen replacement therapy. Estimated to affect one in five women around the time of menopause and more than half of women after 5 years without normal estrogen levels.
