Since the beginning of time, women have gone through the cessation of their menstrual cycle at a certain age, between 45- to 55-years of age, and dealt with common complications that occur with this natural life stage. Menopausal transition can often result in hot flashes, weight gain, sleep disturbances, and for many women, vaginal dryness, which may cause burning, pain during sex, itching, and tightening of the opening of the vagina. This is often referred to as vaginal atrophy or dyspareunia, due to psychological and medical causes.

Luckily, there are several options your doctor may recommend for vaginal atrophy and dyspareunia treatment, including:

1. Bioidentical vaginal estrogen therapy
   This therapy includes IMVEXXY estradiol vaginal inserts, which offer low dose estrogen therapy. IMVEXXY is created identically to match the estrogen levels produced by the body in order to help restore vaginal health in menopausal women.
2. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
   Hormones can help the symptoms of dyspareunia. The local vaginal treatment includes estrogen cream, tablets, or rings, and usually provides a lower dose of hormones to the rest of the body when treating symptoms of post menopausal complications, and will not increase the risk of uterine or breast cancer.
3. Medications
   A medication has recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration called prasterone (a steroid). This non hormone medication is meant to treat moderate to severe dyspareunia caused by the changes in the vaginal due to menopausal vaginal dryness.
4. Water based lubricants
   Vaginal moisturizers and water based lubricants can often relieve vaginal dryness. These products can be found in drug stores or grocery stores. The vaginal moisturizers are to be used regularly to replenish the moisture in the vagina, and relieve the dryness, and painful sex after menopause. Do not use petroleum jelly as it can cause irritation.
5. Kegel exercises
   These exercises help encourage relaxation while helping to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor (or the muscles that support the uterus, bladder, small intestine and rectum). Once you identify the proper muscles to target you can easily and comfortably do Kegels in your own home while relaxing or watching television.
6. When do women start menopause?
   There is no definitive age when menopause starts. Each woman is different, and the symptoms can start at any age. However, the average age for the onset of menopause is 50-years old.