Vaginal dryness and atrophy, itching, redness and dyspareunia (pain during sexual intercourse). These are the main symptoms of genital ageing which affect many women following menopause. The only recommended treatment consists in taking oestrogen supplements (in cream, ovule or pessary form) to be introduced directly into the vagina using special applicators.

If, however, the symptoms are caused by accelerated spontaneous genital ageing (vulvar dystrophy) or self-generated antibodies (vulvar lichen sclerosus), other treatments, all of which topical, can be considered: from a vitamin E gel, to apply to the entire genital and perineal area, including the fold between the buttocks, once or twice a day, to a cortisone cream, recommended especially in the case of itching at night, to be used every evening for 15–20 days, in the affected area only. There is also a galenical preparation (made up by the chemist to the doctor’s prescription) of 2% testosterone to apply in the evening when not using the cortisone cream.

Regenerated tissues
The good news? There is now a very effective and innovative way to rejuvenate the genital area, solving these unpleasant disturbances. The treatment is called PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma), and it helps stimulate bone development and regenerate the soft tissues (cutaneous, subcutaneous and myofascial tissues) of our body, improving the response to biological damages and favouring the healing of wounds, thanks to the “growth factor” properties present in our blood.

There are numerous possible applications: from eye surgery to sports injuries, from dentistry (to favour the regrowth of bone around implants), to reconstructive plastic surgery, from cosmetic medicine and antiaging to treatments for acne and hair loss.

In particular, PRP can be used to regenerate and, consequently, rejuvenate, not only the skin of the face, neck, décolleté and hands, but also abdomen, legs and, as mentioned earlier, the genital area. It improves the exterior aspect of the vulva (labia majora), toning the tissues and consequently reducing dryness, redness and itching. The specialist applies the anaesthetic cream locally, leaving it to work for thirty minutes, before carrying out microinjections of PRP, with autologous plasma (taken from the patient’s own body), rich in platelets and fibroblasts.

Which, in turn, release PDGF (Platelet Derived Growth Factor), which is capable of promoting the natural renewal of the vulvar tissues, improving tone and turgidity. The treatment is usually repeated 3 or 4 times, every 2-3 weeks. There are no side effects or risks of rejection, allergies or incompatibility, because the blood used is the patient’s own, and it never comes into contact with the external environment, meaning that it cannot be contaminated. The important thing is that the treatment be carried out by a qualified and experienced doctor.