When menopause begins in a woman’s late forties or early fifties, a number of changes take place in the body. Some of these changes can lead to vaginal discomfort, and two symptoms in particular have women around the world worried—spotting and vaginal discharge. Menopausal spotting and discharge are common; however, there are cases in which this can be an indicator of a more serious health problems as well.
As you reach an age close to menopause, the hormones in your body change drastically and you stop ovulating. Rather than experiencing a regular monthly period, you may find that your bleeding only lasts for a few days or is preceded by a few days of spotting. This is normal. Even when periods stop completely, you may at first experience spotting. This is due to the hormonal changes in your body that cause your vagina to change in size. When this occurs, vaginal dryness and decreased sexual drive are also common.
On the other hand, if you experience painful vaginal symptoms in conjunction with spotting, you may have a more serious problem, such as uterine cysts. You should see your doctor, and he or she can give you proper diagnosis. It is always better to be safe, so protect your health by seeing a medical professional if you have any questions or feel uneasy about the spotting you are experiencing.
Vaginal discharge is a whole other type of problem. This problem is difficult to solve for many women, as it is an embarrassing subject. Although excessive vaginal discharge is something that most women must face at some point in their lifetime, women going through menopause are more likely to develop this problem. As your hormones fluctuate, vaginal dryness persists, making sexual encounters painful if you are not using proper lubricant. This can tear the vaginal walls. Tears can naturally occur as well. In either case, this makes you more susceptible to yeast infections, which are the primary cause of abnormal vaginal discharge. This can be easily cleared, however, once your doctor diagnoses the problem, ruling out other infections and viruses, such as STDs.
Vaginal discomfort due to spotting or discharge cannot be stopped, but you can treat the problem if you see your doctor. He or she can recommend a number of options for you—it might be as simple as changing the soap your use or changing your exercise routine. Diet also plays a role, and your doctor can suggest a number of natural remedies. Vaginal discomfort is something than most menopausal women experience, so you are not alone in your struggle. You don’t have to live with these problems, and although it may be an embarrassing topic, trust me, your doctor has heard worse. Stay healthy by keeping an open dialogue with your doctor and take heart—spotting and discharge are not long-term problems and can be cleared quickly in most cases. Although uncomfortable, these are both normal signs of menopause for women in the forty to fifty year old age range.
Kathryn Whittaker has an interest in Menopause. For further information on Menopause please visit
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