A 60-year-old postmenopausal woman had recurrent vaginal bleeding for 5 years

In life, many women are often troubled by some gynecological diseases. Women of all ages will have some gynecological diseases at different ages. Atrophic vaginitis is more common among some postmenopausal women. When women are postmenopausal, many functions of the body will decline, especially the estrogen level will drop rapidly, so it is easier to suffer from atrophic vaginitis.

A 60-year-old woman who has been postmenopausal for 5 years and has recurrent vaginal bleeding is likely to be caused by atrophic vaginitis. Cancer, including cervical cancer and endometrial cancer, must be ruled out. Cervical TCT examination can rule out cervical cancer, and uterine B-ultrasound examination first determines the thickness of the endometrium.

Symptoms of atrophic vaginitis

1. Vaginal discharge increases, becomes thinner, and light yellow. In severe cases, it may be purulent and bloody leucorrhea with a foul odor.

2. Itching or burning sensation in the vulva.

3. Atrophy of the vaginal mucosa may be accompanied by pain during sexual intercourse. Sometimes there is urinary incontinence.

4. The infection can also invade the urethra and cause urinary system irritation symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, and pain when urinating.

5. Gynecological examination can show atrophic changes in the vaginal mucosa, disappearance of wrinkles, thinning and smoothing of the epithelium, congestion of the vaginal mucosa, small bleeding spots, and sometimes superficial ulcers. The ulcer surface may adhere to the opposite side, and the adhesion may cause bleeding due to separation during examination. When adhesion is severe, it causes vaginal stenosis or even occlusion, and the inflammatory secretions are not drained smoothly, forming vaginal pyometra or uterine pyometra.

Causes of atrophic vaginitis

1. Atrophic vaginitis is common in women after natural menopause and ovarian castration, and may also occur in women with postpartum amenorrhea or pseudomenopause treatment with drugs.

2. As age increases, the body's endocrine estrogen begins to decrease. Estrogen is a hormone that plays an important role in maintaining the health of the body. A significant decrease in estrogen will cause the vaginal wall to become dry and less elastic, and the vaginal mucosal secretions will also decrease. The vaginal lubrication decreases, causing the entire vagina to appear wrinkled (atrophied). A gynecologist at Guangzhou Ren'ai Hospital said that symptoms of vaginal inflammation include: vaginal dryness, tenderness/itching, increased secretions (bloody), recurrent vaginal inflammation, and difficulty in sexual intercourse. A decrease in hormones may cause: thinning of the vaginal epithelium, loss of sphincter tension and elasticity. Symptoms such as recurrent urinary tract infections, dysuria, frequent urination, urgency, and urinary incontinence may occur. These discomforts are very uncomfortable for women and affect their quality of life.