Clinical features of senile vaginitis

Senile vaginitis is caused by ovarian function decline, decreased estrogen levels, vaginal wall atrophy, thinning of the mucosa, decreased glycogen content in epithelial cells, increased pH value in the vagina, decreased local resistance, and easy invasion and reproduction of pathogenic bacteria, causing inflammation. Senile vaginitis has the following characteristics:

Vaginal discharge

Patients with senile vaginitis have increased vaginal discharge, which is thin and light yellow. In severe cases, it is purulent and bloody leucorrhea with a foul odor. The discharge irritates the vulva, causing itching or burning sensation.

Vulvar examination

During the examination, the vagina showed senile changes, epithelial atrophy, disappearance of wrinkles, and smooth epithelium. The vaginal mucosa was congested, with small bleeding spots and sometimes superficial ulcers. If the ulcer surface adhered to the opposite side, the adhesion could be separated during vaginal examination, causing bleeding. Severe adhesions could cause vaginal atresia, and poor drainage of inflammatory secretions could form vaginal or uterine pyosis.

When chronic inflammation occurs, two results may occur: one is fibrosis of the connective tissue under the vaginal mucosa, loss of vaginal elasticity, and eventually formation of vaginal stenosis and scarring; the other is adhesion of the vaginal wall to form vaginal atresia, and even formation of vaginal abscess above the atresia.

Complications

Elderly patients with vaginitis may have atrophy of the vaginal mucosa, which may be accompanied by pain during sexual intercourse. Sometimes there is urinary incontinence. When infection occurs, the urethra may be invaded, causing urinary system irritation symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, and pain during urination.