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7 things that happen to your vagina and vulva as you become older

Just like the rest of your body, your vagina also goes through a plethora of changes as you age.
vagina
Your lady bits are susceptible to ageing too! Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Shreya Gupta Updated: 7 Oct 2020, 11:03 am IST
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With ageing comes a whole plethora of changes. And while changes in your hair, skin, muscles, and bones are expected—hardly any woman realises that her vagina will age too. 

And if you think that it is just the appearance of your vagina that is going to change, then you are wrong! With age, the way your lady bits feel and function also changes. If you are not well prepared, it can surprise you in many ways.

Knowing these seven things will not only prepare you for the impending act of nature, but can also help you delay ageing down there:

1. Your pelvic floor muscles weaken
Loss in muscle mass is common as you age, thus leading to weak muscles. Pelvic floor muscles, which are responsible for supporting your pelvic floor, are no different. With the weakening of pelvic floor muscles, the support to the bladder and uterus also decreases—leading to conditions like urinary incontinence or even vaginal prolapse.

Since pelvic floor muscles can also get weak because of an increased body weight, it is important to maintain a healthy body weight. Also, doing Kegel exercises can help in strengthening these muscles.

2. Your pubic hair changes
Like the hair on your head, your pubic hair ages with you too. From greying to thinning and loss of pubic hair—all these things are fairly common as you age.

vagina
Greying of pubic hair is completely normal with your age. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

3. Visible changes in your vulva
As you age, the levels of oestrogen in your body decrease. Because of less oestrogen, the tissues in your vulva become thin, pale, and less plump. While these changes are very much normal, you must be gentle while washing your intimate area to ensure that you end up injuring yourself.

4. You become more prone to urinary tract infections
With lower oestrogen levels in your body, recurrent infection and urinary incontinence can become more frequent. This is because the tissues around the urethra also get thinner along with the tissue around the vulva, which makes you more prone to UTIs.

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5. Increased vaginal infections could also be on the cards
Just like UTIs, the thinning of the vaginal wall increases the chances of vaginal infections like bacterial vaginosis and STDs. Not to mention, changing hormones mean altered pH levels which can impact the habitat of the good bacteria in your vagina. This is part of the reason why you become more prone to vaginal infections.

vagina
You ageing can make you prone to vaginal infections. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

6. Sex might feel different for you
As you age, your vagina may lose its elasticity and can become narrower because of lower oestrogen levels. This can make the experience of sex not so pleasurable for you. But the good news is that staying sexually active can help prevent these changes!

7. Vaginal dryness is a harsh reality
The main culprit here is lower levels of oestrogen again. With lower estrogen levels in the body, there’s less lubrication which can lead to vaginal dryness. This dryness can lead to itchiness which can get really uncomfortable.

Moreover, the dryness can impact your sexual experience too, so using lubes during such times can come handy.

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About the Author

Finding nirvana in good food, Shreya also loves reading books and is a die-hard Potterhead. Confident and motivated she's fun to be with. Plus food. Always. ...Read More

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