Getting Familiar with Your Unfamiliar Menopause Symptoms

Getting familiar For the estimated 40 million women in the United States who are of menopausal age, The Change can sometimes be a tough transition, especially when it comes to managing some of the more unfamiliar menopausal symptoms including those that affect their vaginal and sexual health.

At menopause, estrogen levels begin to drop, which can cause the vaginal walls to become thinner and less lubricated, often resulting in irritation, dryness, itching and burning. These vaginal changes can also make sexual intercourse difficult or even painful for some women, a condition called dyspareunia, which typically does not subside without treatment.

Unfortunately, many women who experience these symptoms do not explore treatment options with a health care professional. In fact, according to the REVEAL (REvealing Vaginal Effects At mid-Life) Surveys, conducted on behalf of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals (now Pfizer Inc), roughly half of the 1,006 postmenopausal women surveyed (51 percent) agreed they have learned to live with the vulvar and vaginal symptoms of menopause such as dryness as a normal part of getting older. And of the 25 percent of women surveyed who reported that they experienced dyspareunia at least sometimes, less than half (44 percent) have spoken with their health care professional about this condition.

Dont Keep Quiet

So why are women keeping quiet about symptoms that can often cause considerable discomfort? For roughly half of all women surveyed (47 percent) in REVEAL, it is because they think that it is still taboo in society to acknowledge experiencing symptoms of menopause such as vulvar and vaginal dryness or painful intercourse (dyspareunia). And among those surveyed experiencing dyspareunia who have not spoken to their health care professional about this condition, the top reason was embarrassment (39 percent), followed by the belief that there is nothing that can be done medically to help (26 percent).

But there is no need to be embarrassed and there are, in fact, things health care professionals can do to help. Relief starts with a conversation. To help ensure its a positive and productive one, we have provided the following suggested tips.

Educate Yourself

For some women, part of the embarrassment they may feel about discussing vaginal symptoms of menopause may come from the idea that their vaginal symptoms are abnormal or unusual. This is not the case. It is estimated that almost half of all postmenopausal women experience vaginal atrophy (when the vaginal walls become thinner and less lubricated) and its related symptoms, including irritation, dryness, itching and burning, and painful intercourse (dyspareunia), due to menopause. Reading up on menopausal symptoms ahead of your medical visit can help make your visit more comfortable and productive.

Get Comfortable

To help yourself be more at ease about the conversation, practice what you are going to say beforehand. If you are still not fully comfortable when you arrive at your medical visit, let your health care professional know. This will help them understand your concerns and help them to approach the discussion in a manner that makes you feel more at ease.

Take Control

Medical visits sometimes go quickly, so to help ensure you are able to discuss your biggest concerns, prioritize the questions you have for your health care professional. Additionally, to help get the most out of your visit, take notes during the discussion to help you remember key points and follow treatment recommendations appropriately between appointments.

Put it On Paper

In the moment, it may be difficult to share all of your bothersome symptoms with your health care professional especially if you are not 100 percent comfortable having the conversation in the first place. So, instead of going in unprepared, write down your symptoms or use an online assessor, like the one found at RevealSurvey.com. Bring the results with you to your medical visit to discuss with your health care professional. That way, even if you are nervous, you will have a starting point to the conversation.

For information on the REVEAL Surveys and to learn more about the vaginal symptoms due to menopause, visit www.RevealSurvey.com.