Are your female intimate health problems worth worrying about? Doctors reveal the signs of cancer every woman should know - and the 'life-changing' medication that can make sex enjoyable again, in our ultimate guide

They are nan very friendly issues that fewer women for illustration to talk – fto unsocial bring up pinch their GP.

From itching 'down there' to problem rashes, dryness, symptom during activity and colourful discharge, location are myriad complaints affecting women's genitals which are each excessively often overlooked aliases endured.

Some tin beryllium prompted by hormonal changes linked to perimenopause aliases menopause which statesman to impact women successful mid-life from their 40s onwards.

As levels of nan activity hormone oestrogen fall, nan tegument astir nan genitals and successful nan pussy becomes thinner and much vulnerable – much prone to infections, prolapse, dryness and pain.

Other issues are simply a broadside effect of women's unsocial anatomy which has, experts say, respective 'design flaws'.

The urethra (the conduit which passes urine retired from nan bladder) is short, and adjacent to nan vulva and rectum, making it easy for germs to dispersed around.

Because everything is truthful adjacent together, it tin besides beryllium difficult to spot what's going connected aliases for women to pinpoint precisely wherever a problem is occurring.

As GP Dr Philippa Kaye, an master connected women's wellness issues, explains: 'The female genito-urinary strategy – arsenic we telephone it – is simply a marvel successful its complexity: it produces eggs, nurtures a foetus, gives women intersexual pleasance and eliminates discarded arsenic urine.

'But dissimilar men's genitals, astir of it is neatly tucked distant truthful it's not precisely easy to spot what's going on.

'It tin beryllium difficult to cognize wherever nan symptoms are coming from, peculiarly if it's symptom aliases itching, and a problem successful 1 area tin quickly dispersed to different because germs tin beryllium easy passed around.

'Women often put up pinch these problems, enduring achy sex, incontinence aliases recurring infections, each because they deliberation it's a normal portion of ageing.

'But that's not nan case. There is nary request to suffer successful silence.'

Whatever nan cause, thing caller aliases unexpected should ever beryllium investigated by a GP, caregiver aliases gynaecologist – and you should ne'er beryllium embarrassed to talk thing you're concerned about.

And astir issues are not only highly communal but easy to treat.

Here, we said to nan experts to find retired everything that tin spell incorrect – and what you tin do to hole it.

Intimate itch? A hormone gel tin help

An friendly itch tin beryllium a distressing rumor for astir 8 successful 10 women aft nan menopause – though fewer will talk astir it.

But if your pussy feels dry, itchy aliases sore and there's a burning discomfort, and you're complete 40, you could beryllium suffering from genito-urinary syndrome of nan menopause, besides called vaginal atrophy.

'The pussy becomes barren from nan deficiency of oestrogen and little acidic,' explains Dr Kaye. 'There's besides little of a constituent called glycogen produced, which has a domiciled successful nan maturation of patient bacteria.

'All of this tin origin itching, symptom and discomfort during sex, and tin summation nan consequence of urinary tract infections.'

Dr Kaye says nan first point to do is to extremity utilizing soap aliases fragranced cleansers.

'These tin each irritate nan delicate tegument down there,' she adds.

'Pat – don't swipe – aft a shower, deterioration fabric underwear and debar tight clothing.'

Products aimed astatine relieving vaginal itching activity by numbing nan discomfort alternatively than treating it, truthful doctors don't mostly urge them.

Instead, usage a vaginal moisturiser to relieve nan dryness (some are disposable connected prescription) and a lubricant is basal for reducing clash during sex.

What tin beryllium 'lifechanging', says nan Mail's GP columnist Dr Ellie Cannon, is vaginal oestrogen.

It comes arsenic a cream, gel aliases pessary and does not person nan aforesaid risks and broadside effects arsenic HRT because it isn't absorbed into nan remainder of nan body.

'For astir women it's safe to use, though those pinch immoderate forms of bosom crab should debar it,' adds Dr Cannon. 'If this mightiness beryllium you, speak to your GP aliases master earlier utilizing it.'

You tin get it connected medicine aliases over-the-counter pursuing a consultation pinch a pharmacist.

Other causes of itching see thrush, caused by an imbalance of a fungus called candida. You tin bargain antifungal creams, pills and pessaries from nan chemist to dainty it, but besides alteration your bathing habits arsenic supra and effort to debar tight-fitting, synthetic apparel that tin make you basking and sweaty, irritating nan area.

You should besides spot your GP to norm retired different issues if you fishy thrush but are post-menopause, says Dr Kaye.

Although taking HRT tin make you much prone, it's little communal erstwhile your periods person stopped. If it comes backmost much than 3 aliases 4 times a year, spot your GP for investigations.

White patches could beryllium linked to cancer

If you person achromatic patches connected your genitals don't presume it's important not to disregard them – it could beryllium nan early signs of thing serious.

Experts opportunity that galore patients wrongly presume that achromatic patches are a motion of a sexually transmitted disease, meaning they are often excessively embarrassed to show their partner – aliases their GP.

However, successful astir cases, this denotation will beryllium owed to a information called lichen sclerosus – an inflammatory information which causes tremendous itching.

It is mostly diagnosed successful women aged betwixt 40 and 60.

It isn't contagious aliases sexually transmitted, but nan symptom and discomfort it causes erstwhile urinating aliases having activity tin person a immense effect connected women's lives and their relationships. It tin besides origin nan entranceway to nan pussy to narrow.

'It's phenomenally itchy, and nan tegument mightiness beryllium easy damaged and bleed if you touch it,' says Dr Cannon. 'You'd consciousness nan request to itch moreover successful public, which tin consciousness terribly embarrassing.'

Lichen sclerosus is thought to create erstwhile nan immune strategy mistakes nan tegument for overseas insubstantial and attacks it. Treatment includes high-strength steroid and aesculapian moisturising creams - but if there's nary betterment aliases immoderate thickening, aliases ulceration lasts for much than 2 weeks, spell backmost to your GP, Dr Cannon recommends.

One successful 20 cases create into vulval cancer, truthful it's important to get it treated and to get immoderate lingering issues checked out.

Know your normal and don't disregard changes

It is normal to person vaginal discharge, but if it changes colour aliases develops an different odour – thing that's not normal for you – past you mightiness person a problem which warrants a sojourn to nan doctor.

Changes specified arsenic these could bespeak a sexually-transmitted infection called trichomonas.

'We get tons of women successful our clinics who person been pinch nan aforesaid personification for decades, but past are separated by decease aliases divorce,' says Dr Kaye.

'They get a caller partner and travel to america pinch worrying symptoms. For nan first clip successful their lives, they're getting STIs.'

It's becoming progressively common: nan number of STIs being diagnosed successful older adults has accrued by astir 20 per cent since 2014 – successful fact, nan largest increases successful gonorrhoea and chlamydia are successful nan over-65 property group.

Changes to discharge tin besides bespeak an overgrowth of germs called bacterial vaginosis.

'This is not an STI, but immoderate women find it is triggered by sex,' explains Dr Cannon. 'To dainty it, you tin bargain an antibiotic gel aliases pick over-the-counter, aliases you tin return a dose of antibiotic metronidazole.

'If discharge is blood-stained it mightiness beryllium an STI specified arsenic chlamydia aliases gonorrhoea, which again is treated pinch antibiotics.

'Blood mightiness besides bespeak a cervical polyp – a benign maturation connected nan wall of nan cervix which tin beryllium removed nether section anaesthetic.'

Always get immoderate bleeding betwixt periods checked out, aliases if you bleed aft activity aliases aft you've gone done nan menopause.

Some bleeding erstwhile taking sequential HRT – cycles of 2 weeks of oestrogen and 2 weeks of oestrogen and progesterone, usually fixed to women still having periods who are successful peri-menopause – tin beryllium expected.

But Dr Kaye says if you're connected continuous HRT – taken regular without a break – you shouldn't bleed aft astir 3 to six months.

'That could bespeak thickening of nan womb lining, known arsenic endometrial hyperplasia,' she says. 'This is benign but needs monitoring arsenic successful uncommon cases it tin lead to womb cancer.'

Simple and nosy ways to a pain-free activity life

Women who find activity much achy arsenic they property tin sometimes create a information known arsenic vaginismus.

This is an involuntary tense of nan vaginal muscles – linked to nan encephalon associating activity pinch symptom – which tin make penetration achy aliases moreover impossible.

'First of all, usage lubricant,' says Dr Kaye. 'It's everyone's champion friend erstwhile it comes to sex.'

The adjacent measurement is vaginal dilators, which are tube-shaped devices that travel successful a scope of sizes. Using these, on pinch pelvic level exercises, tin thief to regain power of nan muscles.

When utilized successful operation pinch activity toys, they tin besides rebuild nan relation pinch pleasure.

Details of these tin beryllium recovered astatine jodivine.com.

Very dense periods? Go and spot your GP

Some peri-menopausal women find they person heavier, longer periods.

This tin origin fatigue because nan assemblage stores little robust and is linked pinch encephalon fog and mediocre concentration.

'How dense is excessively dense is up to you to decide,' says Dr Cannon. 'No 1 will inquire you to measurement it. But spot your GP if you're soaking done sanitary protection regularly aliases are having to usage some tampons and pads, arsenic you whitethorn request robust supplements aliases medication.'

There are ways to tackle a prolapse

Pelvic organ prolapse is erstwhile 1 aliases much organs successful nan pelvis gaffe retired of their accustomed position.

Think of your pelvic level arsenic a hammock holding everything from your womb to your bladder and bowel successful place.

But arsenic we turn older – and peculiarly aft having babies, putting connected weight and reaching nan menopause – those muscles loosen and things aren't held arsenic tightly successful place, Dr Cannon explains.

'If thing has moved, you mightiness consciousness a heavy, dragging sensation successful nan pelvis aliases wrong nan vagina,' she says. 'It mightiness besides consciousness for illustration there's a play shot up location aliases you whitethorn spot a bulge aliases lump.'

Sex tin go achy and you whitethorn struggle to quiet your bladder aliases bowels properly.

Sometimes, elemental manner changes specified arsenic losing weight, stopping smoking and avoiding constipation tin help.

But each women should besides study really to do pelvic level exercises, Dr Cannon recommends.

'There are besides non-surgical interventions specified arsenic a pessary aliases a support pessary – which is for illustration a doughnut inserted into nan pussy to clasp everything successful place,' she adds. 'Vaginal oestrogen tin besides thief easiness immoderate symptoms.'

If nary of these are successful, room tin beryllium considered to stitch nan organs backmost into spot aliases support nan muscles.

Burning symptom that whitethorn beryllium a urinary infection

Burning symptom successful nan genitals, discomfort successful nan little abdomen and nan request to urinate often are immoderate of nan classical symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI).

They impact 1.7million group a twelvemonth successful nan UK, astir of them women, and are mostly easy to dainty pinch antibiotics.

But successful immoderate cases they tin recur, Dr Kaye explains.

'This tin beryllium arsenic a consequence of uncontrolled type 2 glucosuria and different underlying problems, which should beryllium checked by your GP,' she says. 'Otherwise, doctors will prescribe a debased dose of regular antibiotics, taken long-term, and urinary antiseptic tablets to forestall harmful germs from growing.'

In a very mini number of cases, recurrent symptoms tin beryllium suggestive of ovarian cancer, truthful a GP whitethorn nonstop you for a scan, conscionable to beryllium sure.

A wee problem is not conscionable a portion of ageing

Incontinence – nan involuntary emptying of nan bladder – affects astatine slightest 1 successful 5 women complete 40 successful nan UK, though astir don't talk astir it.

It is not a normal portion of ageing. So if you've stopped exercising because you're acrophobic of a leak, you can't cough aliases sneeze without wetting yourself, aliases you request to tally to nan toilet astatine nan first motion of needing to go, speak to your GP.

Stress incontinence is nan astir common, pinch leaking during immoderate beingness activity that increases abdominal unit – coughing, sneezing, laughing aliases exercise. This happens because of weakened pelvic level muscles.

Urge incontinence is erstwhile you consciousness a beardown request to spell and don't make it to nan toilet successful time. It is often related to an underlying information called overactive bladder syndrome.

Pelvic level exercises to thief fortify nan muscles is nan main curen for accent incontinence. If they don't work, you mightiness request a referral to a women's wellness physiotherapist who whitethorn usage various devices to thief train nan muscles. A medication, duloxetine, tin besides beryllium used.

And for an overactive bladder, injections of Botox aliases medicine to relax nan organ whitethorn beryllium helpful. Vaginal oestrogen tin beryllium useful for some types.

P.S... There's nary request for friendly washes

Your vulva and pussy are expected to person an odour. 'Vaginal discharge isn't soiled and neither is menstrual blood, which intends you do not request to lavation wrong your vagina,' says Dr Kaye.

'It already has a awesome equilibrium of germs which people maintains a somewhat acidic pH and stops other, much harmful germs coming in.

'So don't usage soap and don't usage products moreover if they opportunity they're suitable for vaginal cleansing.

'Just time off it alone.'

Your tegument down location is overmuch thinner and much prone to irritation compared pinch nan remainder of nan body, she adds, which intends if you upset nan pH equilibrium you're much apt to origin a problem for illustration thrush aliases bacterial vaginosis.

'Wash pinch h2o and conscionable connected nan extracurricular – you don't request to nonstop thing up your vagina,' Dr Kaye says.

For nan aforesaid reasons, besides debar utilizing talc, babe powder, wipes aliases friendly deodorants.

How to springiness your pussy a speedy MOT

If you study what your pussy looks for illustration normally, it will beryllium easier to prime up thing different if it develops.

Dr Kaye recommends washing your hands and uncovering location quiet wherever you won't beryllium disturbed, pinch a reflector and a torch.

'Sit wherever you're comfortable, which mightiness beryllium pinch your backmost against a wall aliases pillow, and propulsion your heels into your bottommost truthful your legs are for illustration a diamond.

'Then usage nan reflector and torch to research nan full area. Make judge you dispersed your labia and cheque nan tegument inside.'

Check for discolouration connected nan skin, for immoderate patches which are itchy aliases sore, lumps and bumps, rashes and moles.

'Note down thing different and, if you execute these checks regularly, you'll beryllium capable to spot whether it has changed aliases worsened,' says Dr Kaye. 'And get immoderate concerns checked retired by your GP.'