Is your vagina neglected?

Just when women thought they had enough to worry about doctors and the media are now harping on about ‘depressed vaginas’. After realising having a “depressed” vagina is a thing; they say women are also at risk of vaginal atrophy. Vaginal atrophy is a common but treatable condition that causes the vaginal wall to thin. Yes, you read that right. Your vagina can start to waste away. Vaginal atrophy causes the vaginal walls to become thin and dry, which can cause itching and burning down there.

The 4th Option

But this word ‘depressed’ seems to me to be a miss diagnosis when surely what most women know is that when their vaginas are neglected, that’s when things get challenging. For whatever reason a woman is not receiving sexual stimulation the effect both physiologically and emotionally can be at best distracting and at worst life changing. Thats when the 4th Option can help.

I describe sensual massage as a woman’s 4th option.

Traditionally, sexual stimulation can be experienced in three ways:

1. With a partner – intimate, trusting, caring.

2. With a stranger (one night stand) – exciting, spontaneous, non-emotional and without commitment.

3. Masturbation – private, I know what I like.

The 4th option:

Taking a sensual (erotic) massage offers all of the above but combined. It is caring, supportive, exciting, focused on you and your pleasure, expertly given by someone who understands a woman’s body and mind, who is also discreet, confidential, non-emotional and non-judgemental – offering you complete openness to explore your feelings, curiosities and desires.

Sensual massage is pleasurable and healthy

Taking a sensual massage shouldn’t be viewed only as a pleasure for women to experience but also as an important part of a healthy lifestyle for both her body and mind. Female sexuality has a profound place within human nature. Without this immensely powerful life force, society as we know it – the human race itself – would not exist. Women have been embodied by nature with complex physiological, psychological and emotional sexual processes that ensure the optimum biology and social support designed to ensure the survival of her offspring. These sexual processes are still beating loudly within every female today and it is vital for a woman’s well-being that this sexual energy is exercised regularly.

Lack of arousal can cause poor well-being

But when a woman finds herself in a situation where her natural sexual feelings are denied, suppressed or simply ignored then nature can be pragmatic and soon her health and well-being can be negatively affected. Disconnection, frustration, rejection, depression and poor health can be a consequence of a lack of sexual intimacy and erotic arousal.

Listen to your body

If a woman is feeling sexually needy then it is a clear indication that her body is speaking to her. Masturbation is one solution and although very pleasurable it does not recreate the intimacy and primal satisfaction of penetrative sex. A sensual massage that includes expert manual stimulation – including deep internal massage of the G, A and S spots – provides an opportunity to satisfy this desire, safely and discreetly.

The skill of a professional sensual masseur is to be able to create the same erotic effect that a woman would experience from prolonged and varied sexual arousal. Combine this with the intimacy and arousing touch of a relaxing full-body massage and she will discover the amazing sensations her body is able to give her.

To read more about the 4th Options treatments available [Click here] 

Read on to learn more about Vaginal Atrophy or using the latest buzz word description Depressed Vagina

It’s a painful condition that can leave you itching, even burning down there – and no, it’s not a sexually transmitted infection.
Just when you thought you had enough to worry about after realising having a “depressed” vagina is a thing; women are also at risk of vaginal atrophy. Vaginal atrophy is a common but treatable condition that causes the vaginal wall to thin. And while it can be a problem for women of any age, it’s more likely to affect women who are going through, or have been through, menopause. This is because the body produces less oestrogen than normal, which has a knock on effect on how the vaginal wall behaves.

Vaginal atrophy can also occur in women who have had been treated for cancer, especially in those who have had hormone treatment for breast cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Common symptoms include discharge, burning, itching, difficulty peeing and pain during sex.

This might seem like enough to put you off having sex for good, but regular orgasms – from your partner or a bit of self love – can actually improve the nasty symptoms. And the key is the increased blood flow to your nether regions when you climax – it works almost like a “work out” down there.

Dr Louise Mazanti, a London-based sex therapist, said: “It is very important that we have a healthy sex life with a partner or with ourselves.

“People very often say, ‘I don’t have a sex life because I don’t have a partner’.

“But forget about that and have a sexual relationship with yourself.

“It’s about using massage and touching the tissue so that it becomes alive, the blood flows and the tissue becomes elastic.

“It is really about exercising the tissue.”

Increasing blood flow helps keep the tissue boosts blood flow and in turn oxygen supply to the vagina, which means it is less likely to become inflamed, thin or dry.

According to Mazanti, if cells are not getting enough oxygen they cannot eliminate waste from the tissue, which can cause inflammation that leads to problems such as vaginal atrophy. A build-up of toxins can also stop vital nutrients getting to the cells, which can leave the tissue slightly weaker and thinner.

Mazanti added said losing the ability to have sex is not just a physical problem, it can have some serious side effects on a person’s mental health. She added: “When your ability to have sex and your desire to have sex decreases, it is a massive change in identity.

“You start to question ‘who am I now if I am not the sexual woman I used to be?’.

“It can cause depression and an identity crisis and deep consideration of an existential nature.”

What are the main symptoms of vaginal atrophy?

Depending on how severe the condition is, you may experience a variety of symptoms.

They include:

  • dryness
  • burning sensation, particularly when you wee
  • discharge
  • itching
  • urgency to wee
  • urinary tract infections
  • incontinence
  • light bleeding after sex
  • discomfort during sex
  • dryness during sex
  • a shortening or tightening of the vagina

What causes the condition?

Vaginal atrophy is generally caused by a decrease in the production of the female sex hormone oestrogen.

Oestrogen is the main hormone that regulates a woman’s menstrual cycle and controls ovulation. It is also responsible for thickening the vaginal wall and causes it to release mucus once a girl hits puberty.

So if you stop producing oestrogen, the walls of your vagina can become thin and dry. Vaginal atrophy is most common in women who have gone through the menopause, but certain cancer treatments and hormone treatments can also cause it.

Women who are smokers, who have never had a vaginal birth or do not have sex or pleasure themselves are also more at risk. Smoking affects your blood circulation, resulting in the vagina and other tissues not getting enough oxygen. It also reduces the effects of oestrogen.

How can vaginal atrophy be treated?

Vaginal moisturisers and lubricants can be used to treat dryness and help improve your sex life.

You may have to apply moisturiser every two to three days but the effects usually last longer than lube. A lubricant is used mainly to make sex easier and more enjoyable.

If symptoms don’t improve, over-the-counter oestrogen therapy may be recommended. Creams can be inserted into the vagina daily to restore the tissue. Oestrogen tablets may also be recommended to help restore the body’s natural levels.

This story originally appeared on thesun.co.uk and is republished here with permission.