This just hit me totally out of the blue yesterday. I suffered about 8 months of the severe skin and nipple itchies, then the summer brought peace until now.
Doesn't atrophy mean dead tissue??? Once you have this, you might as well forget ever having a sex life ever again??? I am sure this is part of the problem because I refuse to just get laid, and masturbation is just so empty and depressing. So now I am drying up. Wonderful.
This really is disheartening.

DO NOT BE DISHEARTENED ... i know what you mean about the nipple itching, slather cream all over your arms and body, and don't worry about the dryness elsewhere RIGHT NOW. Your body is just going through changes, your sex life remains as healthy and active as you want it WHEN YOU WANT it right up until forever - just cut yourself some slack. If you are embarassed about dryness, there are gels out there, but remember, your brain is the largest sex organ you own - so relax, and just try to feel good about these NORMAL changes. Atrophy in this case just means not as much natural lubrication in "some" women than others, and that changes as well, it can increase/decrease. It is a well-known fact most people enjoy a good sex life right up into their 90's - so don't panic!!!!!! And this board is excellent for not just venting, but finding out some good answers, as well as hearing of others' experiences, take heart!!

Atrophy just means shinking and drying and can be reversed quite easily. You can ask your doctor for hormone creams to plump it all back up again. If you don't want to use hormones then there are non hormonal routes like Replens and vitamin E oil. Don't worry it is easily fixed!

janet c

I think you're confusing atrophy with necrosis which is the medical term for dead tissue I'm sure you're not suffering from that I dont have a problem with vagina atrophy just yet, but it's nice to know that it can be reversed though, isn't it? Dont worry....

Thank you all for taking the time to respond with your reassuring words!
I'm just feeling a little "crazy" these days. I am sure this is going to be a regular place I visit for the foreseeable future, and will recommend it to my friends and relatives as they reach this stage! Again, thanks!

Vitamin E vaginal suppositories have been highly recommended by others on this site and I too have just discovered they are great! Maybe a good first try for your symptoms as they are natural and easy treatment.

I found some of the older threads on this topic to be life savers. You might find them interesting too....

Thanks Sissy - I haven't had time to explore all the many many interesting threads and forums as much as I would like - am feeling so disinterested in the sex department at present - am still a bit dismayed when my obs/gyne LAUGHED when I said "so I don't have to worry about getting pregnant" .... and truth be told am terrified an egg will slip out and I will be in the headlines of national enquirer "60 year old woman has twins" - heck, to just STOP menstruating like that, not a sign of it, a big relief, but hard to believe I am not on the pill - it was in my system for so many years and I think that is why I get so many hot flashes, my body is pushing it OUT of my system...

(((lilmopeep)))) it IS easily reversed so hang on!! I use just a bit of hormonal vaginal cream (Ovestin). I put about a lima bean size on my finger and put it around the opening of my vagina and the surrounding tissue. I don't even insert it. I started doing it every night, and now I only need to do it about 3x a week to keep everything in working order