Do women have leucorrhea after menopause?

Women generally have a small amount of leucorrhea after menopause, but the amount of secretion is significantly reduced and the characteristics change. Postmenopausal leucorrhea is mainly caused by vaginal mucosal atrophy, decreased hormone levels and other factors. If it increases abnormally or changes in color and smell, it may be related to vaginitis, cervical lesions and other diseases.

Postmenopausal ovarian function decline leads to a significant decrease in estrogen levels, thinning of the vaginal mucosa and reduced glandular secretion. Leucorrhea is small in amount, thin in texture, and white or light yellow in color. At this time, the leucorrhea mainly plays a lubricating role and usually has no obvious odor. Some women may experience dryness due to reduced elasticity of the vaginal wall. Medical lubricants can be used appropriately to relieve discomfort. Just keep the perineum clean every day to avoid excessive washing that damages the vaginal microenvironment.

If leucorrhea suddenly increases after menopause, is purulent or bloody, and is accompanied by symptoms such as itching and burning pain, you need to be alert to pathological changes. Senile vaginitis is common in postmenopausal women. Due to the lack of estrogen, the vaginal resistance decreases and it is easy to be infected by bacteria. You can use estriol cream locally to supplement hormones as directed by your doctor. Cervical polyps or endometrial lesions may also cause bloody discharge, and the risk needs to be ruled out through gynecological examination and cervical cancer screening. When abnormal discharge occurs repeatedly, vaginal microecological testing and HPV testing should be carried out in a timely manner.

It is recommended that postmenopausal women undergo an annual gynecological examination, including combined cervical TCT and HPV screening. Choose cotton underwear every day and change it frequently, and avoid using alkaline detergents to clean the vulva. Appropriate supplementation of phytoestrogens such as soy products can help maintain mucosal health, but hormone drugs should not be taken by oneself. When persistent abnormal secretions, contact bleeding, etc. occur, you must seek medical attention as soon as possible to rule out the possibility of malignant lesions.