What happens to your vagina and vulva as you age?

Last Saturday, we investigated what happens to a man’s penis as he ages.

Naturally, vaginas and vulvas are the next step.

Firstly, there is no such thing as bad, ugly or strange when it comes to genitals.

What’s more, despite brands feeding women products to detox, clean, douche or otherwise mess with their vagina, you do not need to ‘improve’ any aspect of it. We all look, smell and taste differently, and there is no such thing as a perfect vagina (because they are all glorious).

That being said, if you’re concerned about a funky odour or unusual colour in your vaginal discharge, do chat to a doctor about it.

Meanwhile, here’s what you can expect to happen once you get older.

Your pubic hair will thin out and turn grey

Women spend hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds every year on trimming, waxing and shaving their genital region.

As it turns out, we needn’t bother because it will eventually disappear on its own.

When exactly this will happen is completely individual, though the process will likely begin in your 40s or 50s. Your pubic hair will thin out, as well as turn grey.

Some women will lose all of their public hair, others may not.

Your vulva and vagina will shrink

You’ll see very little changes in the appearance of your vulva and vagina during the first few decades of your life.

However, once your body starts producing less oestrogen, it’s possible that your vaginal opening, as well as the length of your vagina will shrink.

You will experience menopausual changes

Once menopause hits, a lot of things will happen to your body.

This includes symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, difficulty sleeping, low mood, anxiety, concentration problems and more.

During this time, you can also develop vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA), a genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM).

It sounds scary, but all it means is that your body is producing less oestrogen, and so your vaginal walls get thinner, drier and can get inflamed. The vaginal canal can also shorten and become tighter.

Other symptoms include burning when urinating, having to wee more often and not being able to hold it for very long.

Some women also find that intercourse becomes painful, as they see a reduction in vaginal lubrication.

It sounds like a nightmare, but don’t worry – there are simple treatments available to help you.

There is a stigma attached to GSM and many women avoid telling their doctor about the issues for fear of what they might say or because they feel ashamed. If you’re in pain or have any questions or concerns about your vaginal area, talk to a medical professional.

There’s nothing you can show them that they haven’t already seen.

You may get frequent yeast infections and UTIs

The culprit in this scenario is, once again, oestrogen (or rather, a lack of it).

As the vaginal tissue changes, you could become more prone to yeast infections and UTIs, though it’s not guaranteed this will happen to every woman.

Your pelvic floor will lose its strength

As we age, our pelvic floor loses its strength, which can bring all kinds of trouble to your genitals.

These muscles support the bladder, uterus and bowel, and when your pelvic floor weakens it could cause these organs to slip out of place – a condition known as prolapse.

It gets worse; you can also develop urinary incontinence (which also often happen after you’ve given birth).

Keep your precious cargo intact by regularly doing kegel exercises.

Your vulva will lose elasticity, fat and colour

During their 30s, some women will begin to lose some of the fat and elasticity of their vulva, and it may also become paler.

As a result, some women experience irritation, as well as pain during sex.

You should watch out for STIs

Anyone at any age can get a sexually transmitted infection.

After menopause or while you’re going through GSM, the vaginal tissue that surrounds the uretha will thin out, as will the vaginal epithelium (think of this as a bunch of cells).

This means that it will become easier for your body to catch STIs.

There’s an easy solution – use condoms or ask your partner to take an STI test before you sleep together.

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