Ailments and Situations - Menopause (and Related Issues) - Vaginal Dryness - Introduction

Vaginal tissue is composed of a number of cell layers where the vaginal mucosa, when in the company of normal estrogen levels, contains cornified, or tough and resilient cells (referred to as "cornified epithelium", or a well estrogenized vaginal mucosa). As estrogen levels decrease in the body during menopause, the outer cornified layers of vaginal tissue are lost, leading to dryness and irritation.

Urinary tract infection and increased urinary frequency may also accompany thinning of the vaginal mucosa and urethral tissues. pH levels may also increase, resulting in a more alkaline environment in the vagina and increasing the risk of bacterial infection. Other women do not experience any symptoms at all