| Caroline Knight
Atrophic Vaginitis Treatment with Magnetic Vaginal Dilators
If you are looking for atrophic vaginitis treatment, know that you are one of many women seeking solutions for this difficult condition. At VuvaTech we speak to women suffering from the symptoms of atrophic vaginitis (also known as vaginal atrophy) every day… and we are pleased to be able to say we have helped a great number of them to understand and treat the problem!
Treatment for vaginal atrophy does not have to be as complicated as you might imagine. It is very common in post-menopausal women, so you can guess that anyone over the age of 50 is at risk of developing it. Similarly, women who have had radiation treatment for cancers of the pelvic region – or breast cancers – are at high risk. To put it into perspective, there are approximately 32 million women in the United States alone with vaginal atrophy.
It’s also true that women who don’t have sex very often can develop atrophic vaginitis. It makes sense that as we age and our libidos drop with our hormone levels, we are less likely to want regular sex. Whatever the reason you are seeking atrophic vaginitis treatment, the solution is both simple and easily accessible: magnetic vaginal dilators are highly effective and have improved so many women’s lives.
This article will answer some of the most important questions about this condition, and how dilators work with vaginal atrophy.
Do I need atrophic vaginitis treatment?
You may not yet be certain whether you have atrophic vaginitis or not, so this section will cover what it is. Atrophy happens when your vaginal tissues are no longer functioning in the usual way, for any of the reasons we mentioned above. Your estrogen levels may have dropped, meaning less blood flow is reaching the tissues, and this (or lack of activity) could also have caused thinning and shrinkage of the lining, and shortening or narrowing of the birth canal.
Many women notice that they have these issues when they attempt to have sex after a while, because the resulting pain doesn’t feel normal. Furthermore, lubricant may not help the situation, thus indicating atrophy. Your tissues may be somewhat inflamed, and sex (or other forms of penetration) can actually cause tearing and bleeding.
Unfortunately this can create negative anticipation around sex. If you then stop having sex, it may actually make the problem worse, so it’s a bit of a catch 22. There is a solution for women who can’t or don’t want to have sexual intercourse though: the best atrophic vaginitis treatment is magnetic vaginal dilators, as they negate the requirement for sex.
What are the symptoms of atrophic vaginitis?
The below vaginal atrophy symptoms are indicators that you have this problem, but it may be a good idea to double check with a physician if you are not sure:
- Vaginal dryness
- Vaginal burning
- Vaginal discharge
- Light bleeding after sex
- Pain or discomfort during sex
- Less vaginal lubrication during sex
- Shortening and tightening of the vaginal canal (vaginal stenosis)
- Genital itching
- Burning when urinating
- Feeling an urgent need to urinate
- Urinary tract infections
- Urinary incontinence
What is the best atrophic vaginitis treatment?
If you have been wondering how magnetic vaginal dilators help vaginal atrophy, it’s simple: they are designed to be the right shape and size(s) to fit inside your vagina, so you are able to gently stretch the tissues in your own time and at your own pace. Our magnetic vaginal dilators are different from other dilators in that they contain a large number of soothing Neodymium magnets, which help to increase blood flow to the area and calm irritated or inflamed tissues and nerves. Another positive effect of increased blood flow is increased production of lubrication. Ultimately it is this calming effect that makes magnetic dilators the best treatment for vaginal atrophy.
Dilators gently expand vaginal capacity by stretching the vaginal walls, increasing tissue elasticity and eventually facilitating comfortable sexual penetration. This means that if you wish to restore your sex life, you can. Even if that isn’t the goal, it is still a great idea to use magnetic vaginal dilators for atrophic vaginitis because the above benefits also lead to greater comfort in general, and ease during pelvic examinations.
How do I choose a magnetic dilator for atrophic vaginitis?
You may be wondering what size vaginal dilator to buy for vaginal atrophy. It is normal for women with this condition to buy a small dilator and work up to using bigger dilators with time. Many purchase a full dilator set and use each one as necessary, rather than testing out one size at a time. You may want to check out our other page on this topic if you are looking for specific information on buying the right size dilator for vaginal atrophy. If you are seeing a qualified physician or pelvic floor physical therapist, they should also be to give you an idea of what size dilators you need.
How do I know if my dilator is working?
Once your vaginal capacity is restored enough to accommodate a penis, or to have sex without any pain, you have reached the desired result. However, women with vaginal atrophy often need to carry on using dilators regularly to maintain this capacity (if they aren’t having regular sex).
Depending on how serious your vaginal atrophy is, you could start seeing results within a month. Those with a more severe case may have to work their way up through all of the dilator sizes, which might take more like six months. It is also worth noting that women often achieve greater benefits when using dilators in conjunction with a form of estrogen therapy.
What other treatments work well with magnetic vaginal dilators?
Estrogen
Estrogen therapy isn’t right for women who have had breast cancer, because it will affect breast and endometrial tissues. In this case, estrogen can increase cancer risk because it stimulates cellular growth. However, for many women estrogen therapy can be very helpful as an atrophic vaginitis treatment, especially in conjunction with dilators.
If appropriate, your physician may prescribe any of the following forms of estrogen treatment for vaginal atrophy:
- Oral tablets
- Transdermal (through the skin via a patch)
- Topical vaginal creams such as Estrace and Premarin (most effective, and a lower dose is required)
- A vaginal tablet (Vagifem)
- Estring (a low and steady estrogen dose via an estradiol-infused silicone ring placed around the cervix)
Estrogen therapy has the following benefits:
- Restores normal vaginal pH
- Restores levels of beneficial bacteria
- Thickens the epithelium
- Increases vaginal secretions/lubrication
- Minimizes or eradicates vaginal dryness
Nueve suppositories
For women who don’t want or need to take estrogen, you can find great relief from vaginal atrophy with NeuEve suppositories. NeuEve suppositories and cream work well with dilators and are excellent products for easing menopausal discomforts such as:
- Vaginal odor
- Vaginal dryness
- Vaginal atrophy
- Itching and burning sensations
- Painful
- Bacterial vaginosis
If you aren’t happy to use chemicals, rest assured that these products contain only all-natural food grade ingredients, and they’re hormone free.
Have sex as often as possible
Regular sex is one of the best ways to prevent and treat atrophic vaginitis. We understand that not everyone is in a position to have regular sex, but if you are, then it will be very helpful to do so. That’s because regular sexual activity during and after the menopause can keep your vaginal tissues thick and moist, thus preventing the thinning, tearing and inflammation that characterizes vaginal atrophy. It also prevents the narrowing and shortening of the birth canal, which can lead to pain when you do attempt sex.
Water-based personal lubricants
It is a good idea to invest in a natural personal lubricant to use alongside your dilators or during sex. Natural products won’t lead to the troublesome itching and burning that some chemical-laden store-bought products can cause. Our Slippery Stuff Lubricant is recommended by Pelvic Floor Physical Therapists because it is safe and effective.
We hope this article has brought some clarity and certainty about the best atrophic vaginitis treatment for you. If you have any questions about our magnetic dilators or products, do get in touch and we will do everything we can to help you out. Don’t forget to check out the VuvaCare blog for plenty of great advice on this issue and many other women’s health concerns. Thanks for reading!
Resources
Vuvatech.com/pages/vaginalatrophy
Vuvatech.com/pages/vaginal-atrophy-and-vuva-dilators-your-questions-answered
Vuvatech.com/blogs/care/how-do-estrogen-and-dilators-help-with-vaginal-atrophy
Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8797530/
Do you need to order vaginal dilators so you can start your pelvic floor therapy process? Made in the USA. Visit www.vuvatech.com
VuVa Helpful Links:
How do Neodymium Vaginal Dilators work?
7 Reasons for a Tight Vagina and How to Loosen
How to Relax Vaginal Muscles, Vaginismus & Sex
Vaginal Stretching - Keeping in Shape with Dilators
Do Dilators Really Work? Yes, and They can Improve Your Sex Life!
Shop for VuVa Vaginal Dilators
Tara Langdale Schmidt is the inventor of the VuVa Dilator Company. She has pelvic floor dysfunction herself and wanted to create a dilator set that is made in America that women can trust. VuVatech has been in business since 2014 and has helped over 150,000 women all over the globe. She patented the Neodymium Vaginal Dilator, that is clinically proven to help with blood flow and nerve pain.
