IT'S a painful condition that can cause itching and burning down there - enough to have any woman reading this firmly crossing their legs.

And no, it's not a sexually transmitted infection!

6 Vaginal atrophy can affect anyone and anytime, but is more common in women who have been through the menopause Credit: Getty - Contributor

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.

Yes, you read that right.

Your vagina can actually start to waste away.

6 Vaginal atrophy caused the walls of the vagina to become thin and dry Credit: Getty - Contributor

But the good thing is, it is preventable.

Vaginal atrophy can be a problem for women of any age, it's more likely to affect women who are going through, or have been through, the 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.

6 Vaginal atrophy is caused by a reduction in the amount of female sex hormone, oestrogen, in the Credit: Getty - Contributor

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.

6 Orgasms help increase blood flow to the vagina "exercising the tissue" one sexpert revealed Credit: Getty - Contributor

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.”

6 Common symptoms include discharge, burning, itching, difficulty peeing and pain during sex Credit: Getty - Contributor

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

6 Vaginal atrophy can made sex painful, but having more sex can help improve symptoms Credit: Getty - Contributor

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 mucous 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.

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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.

Louise Mazanti has just released a book called Real Sex - Why Everything You Learned About Sex is Wrong, which can be bought online for £12.

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