Many women hear from their gynecologist a diagnosis of atrophic colpitis. Symptoms and treatment in women - what you need to know about this? Can serious complications develop?
Each of these issues requires a detailed explanation so that a woman can properly conduct treatment and avoid serious diseases of the reproductive system.
What is atrophic colpitis?
In medicine, it can have several names: senile, postmenopausal vaginitis - an inflammatory process on the vaginal mucosa. As medical statistics show, during menopause, every second woman hears this disappointing diagnosis from a doctor. One in six in childbearing age knows what atrophic colpitis is, symptoms and treatment in women.
Causes of colpitis
Atrophic colpitis, symptoms and treatment in women, the causes of the disease are directly dependent on changes in hormonal levels. Basically, women begin to feel changes 3-6 years after the onset of menopause. Moreover, such manifestations are characteristic of both natural and artificial menopause. Women can receive such a diagnosis at childbearing age if they have undergone ovarian surgery, underwent chemo- or radiation therapy.
Since the body loses balance in the production of female hormones - estrogens, such changes may begin:
- the natural process of proliferation of the vaginal epithelium is disrupted, with time it will be minimized;
- due to the lack of full renewal, the mucous membrane is depleted;
- the vaginal glands begin to work intermittently, which provokes dryness;
- lactobacilli, which maintain the normal pH of the vagina, becomes smaller, which leads to disruption of microflora;
- the walls of the mucosa become vulnerable, dryness appears;
- pathogenic microflora begins to multiply actively, so any bacteria from the outside easily penetrate and adapt.
Infection mechanism
Given that a woman's normal mucosal function is impaired, natural protection is minimized, bacteria can attach with the slightest microtrauma. Many women mistakenly think that if they no longer live sexually, then they can’t get an infection or microtrauma. Disorders of the mucosa can occur during a medical examination, manipulations.
Gynecologists argue that the diagnosis of atrophic colpitis (symptoms and treatment in women will be described later) can be made not only because of injuries, but also if elementary rules of hygiene are not observed. Wearing synthetic underwear, ignoring the morning and evening toilet is the most common reason that leads to the development of pathological processes in women in old age.
What symptoms indicate the development of the disease?
Atrophic colpitis, symptoms and treatment in women, the development of pathogenic microflora can be independently determined in the early stages. It is enough to pay attention to the signals that the body gives.
Among the most striking manifestations, doctors call the following:
- Pain. It manifests itself constantly, during calm and rest, it bothers when urinating.
- Vaginal discharge. They have a specific smell, white color, blood clots can be observed.
- Severe itching in the external genital area.
- Unpleasant sensations in the vulva during hygiene.
- Pain, discomfort during intercourse.
- Involuntary discharge of urine with minor physical exertion.
- Frequent urge to urinate, which is provoked by atrophy of the walls of the bladder.
- At the gynecological examination, the doctor always sees the inflamed, red vaginal mucosa.
- Pubic baldness, which indicates a violation of the hormonal background.
Diagnosis of the disease in women
In order not to run into the question of what is atrophic colpitis, symptoms and treatment in women, it is necessary to regularly undergo a gynecological examination during menopause. Such an observation should be systematic, at least twice a year.
Diagnose the development of inflammatory processes using the following methods:
- Gynecological mirror. It will allow the doctor to see the inflammatory processes on the mucosa, the presence of pathogenic microflora, specific secretions, microcracks.
- Examination of a smear under a microscope. Here, the doctor will be able to determine the number of vaginal sticks, the level of leukocytes, the presence of pathogenic microflora.
- Conducting cytological analysis.
- Study of the pH balance in the vagina.
- Detailed colposcopy. This analysis will establish the pH level and atrophic changes that the mucosa underwent.
Some gynecologists additionally prescribe tests for sexually transmitted diseases, since some of the symptoms in diseases are similar.
What treatment options does modern medicine offer?
If the diagnosis of atrophic colpitis is established, the symptoms and treatment in women (drugs) and recovery procedures will be aimed at preventing relapse.
Modern medicine can offer two treatment options: hormonal and non-hormonal.
Hormone therapy
The basis of such treatment is local and hormone replacement therapy. In the courses of drug therapy, candles or ointments of local action are used. They are inserted into the vagina within 14 days.
In parallel, tablets or patches are used for systemic treatment. Such exposure should be performed within 5-6 years. Many gynecologists practice the use of phytoestrogens. The natural origin of such funds helps to quickly and efficiently restore the hormonal background, reduce the unpleasant symptoms of the disease.
Etiotropic therapy is necessarily prescribed . She fights not with the symptoms, but with the causes of the disease. If there are problems with urination, uroseptics and antibiotics may be recommended.
If atrophic colpitis, causes, symptoms and treatment in women are associated with cancer, chronic pathological changes in the cardiovascular system, only anti-inflammatory therapy can be recommended. These are vegetable baths, douching, which help relieve inflammation and restore the natural microflora of the vagina.
Non-hormonal therapy
Atrophic colpitis, symptoms and treatment in women, course features, the presence of chronic diseases have forced doctors around the world to look for options for non-hormonal therapy.
To date, it has been proven that hormone therapy has a lot of contraindications, it can cause the development of breast cancer or the formation of a tumor in the reproductive organs.
Among non-hormonal drugs, calendula-based candles are especially popular. The extract of this plant contains salicylic and pentadecylic acid. The use of these suppositories has a bactericidal, wound healing, anti-inflammatory effect. Calendula also helps to calm the central nervous system, relieves high blood pressure.
How to help yourself with the help of traditional medicine?
Atrophic colpitis cannot be treated with traditional medicine, but it is possible to use it as an additional tool to relieve unpleasant symptoms. Gynecologists focus the attention of women on the fact that the use of alternative methods is possible only after consultation with the attending physician. Many of the components can enhance or decrease the effects of medications.
Among the most popular and effective recipes, doctors distinguish the following:
- A decoction of celandine. A decoction is prepared from a small amount of grass. It is necessary to take such a remedy with extreme caution, since the grass can cause severe poisoning. Dosage regimens consist of drops of broth, you need to start one drop 3 times a day, gradually increasing the dose by one drop every day.
- A decoction of clover herbs, licorice root, rose hips, mint, sage (1 tbsp.spoon) is poured with a glass of boiling water and insisted for an hour and a half. Take a filtered broth 3 times a day for 50 ml.
- If a woman is bothered by severe itching, burning, then you can take baths every day with a decoction of Rhodiola rosea. If there are no allergic reactions, then juniper can be added to the composition.
- Perfectly relieves inflammation of aloe juice. It can be inserted into the vagina with a gauze swab dipped in water. The procedure should be performed only in the absence of allergic reactions to aloe.
- It helps with artificial menopause decoction of the leaves of plantain in the form of local baths. The broth is filtered and introduced warmly inside.
- Calendula tincture can be used for daily douching at any age and for various diseases. The unique anti-inflammatory properties of this plant help restore normal microflora of the mucosa, eliminate pathogenic bacteria.
Prevention is the key to health and longevity
Preventive measures are the main way that eliminates atrophic colpitis. Symptoms and treatment in women are described in the article.
In addition, doctors made recommendations that every woman should follow:
- Comfortable and natural underwear. It should be not only beautiful, but fulfill its main purpose - to protect the genitals from direct penetration of pathogenic microflora, to warm in cold weather.
- Daily hygiene in the morning and evening.
- Do not engage in casual sexual relations in order to avoid sexually transmitted diseases or the addition of pathogenic microflora.
- During menopause, atrophic colpitis, symptoms and treatment in women can be determined by a gynecologist. Following his recommendations, taking natural preparations, you can always reduce the manifestations of menopause.
- Undergo regular hormonal studies, starting at age 35. Many women do not even suspect that the amount of their hormones begins to rise or fall rapidly until health problems begin. There is always the opportunity to start hormone therapy on time and avoid such diseases.
The disease is easier to prevent.
Atrophic colpitis, symptoms and treatment in women, developmental mechanisms, complications, prevention are the basic concepts that everyone should possess. Unfortunately, age-related changes, hormonal changes await every woman. Therefore, awareness, attention to symptoms that indicate health problems will become the main weapon in the fight against many diseases at an early stage.