More than 15% of women ages 18 to 50 experience pre-menopause vaginal dryness, and over half of post-menopausal women experience the painful symptom, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The condition is most noticeable when trying to enjoy sexual intercourse, but vaginal dryness can also cause pain and discomfort while sitting, walking, exercising, peeing, and other activities. Reduced estrogen production caused by menopause naturally leads to vaginal dryness in many women, though other health conditions and some medical treatments can cause it, too.

Whether due to menopause or other reasons, Dr. Swapna M. Kallikadan of Tampa’s Health + Glow medical spa offers her patients an innovative treatment for vaginal dryness in Southwest Florida. By using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from the patient’s own blood, Dr. Kallikadan can help revitalize their vaginal walls and boost their lubricating capacity. Let’s take a closer look at the causes of vaginal dryness and the revolutionary treatment that helps restore healthy vaginal functioning.

The Causes of Vaginal Dryness

Menopause and its concurring estrogen level declines are the primary cause of vaginal dryness in most women. Estrogen helps keep the vaginal walls and vulvar tissues healthy and moisturized. When estrogen levels drop due to aging or other causes, vaginal tissues can thin, dry, and lose elasticity in what is known as vaginal atrophy. Periodic or chronic vaginal dryness also links to:

• Childbirth and breastfeeding.
• Birth control pills.
• Chemotherapy.
• Hormone therapy.
• Diabetes.
• Removal of the ovaries.
• Specific medications used to treat uterine fibroids and endometriosis.
• Some antidepressants and antihistamines.
• The autoimmune disorder Sjogren’s syndrome, which can cause tissue dryness throughout the body.

A lack of arousal often causes occasional vaginal dryness during sex. In many cases, this can be addressed by working with your partner on ways to enhance arousal and by using lubricants. If vaginal dryness occurs more frequently or becomes chronic, you may want to talk to a medical professional like Tampa’s Dr. Kallikadan.

Introducing PRP for Vaginal Rejuvenation

To help enhance her patients’ vaginal function and ease the symptoms of vaginal dryness in the Tampa area, Dr. Kallikadan relies on the Vaginal PRP Shot. Also known as the O-Shot—with the “O” standing for “Orgasm—the treatment involves injecting the patient’s own “platelet-rich plasma” into vaginal tissues. With more than 35 different natural growth factors and proteins, PRP helps stimulate the growth of new blood vessels, nerves, collagen, and elastin in the vaginal walls. This tissue rejuvenation helps reverse vaginal thinning, enhances elasticity, and eases vaginal dryness, among other benefits to vaginal health. In fact, many women who undergo the PRP Shot report a noticeable boost in sexual enhancement, including greater ease in achieving climax and stronger orgasms.

The Science Behind PRP

PRP is a concentration of specialized blood cells essential for blood clotting and tissue regeneration. The plasma is separated from a patient’s blood via centrifugation and then injected into the patient’s trauma sites to enhance natural healing capabilities. Sports medicine physicians have used PRP for over two decades to help professional and college athletes recover from muscular, bone, and connective tissue injuries. Although researchers have not unlocked its mechanisms for healing, many doctors swear that it significantly increases healing times. Along with sports injuries, PRP therapy is also extensively used to help treat osteoarthritis, post-surgical repair, bone grafting, hair loss, and various dental procedures.

Your PRP Shot in Tampa

The PRP Shot at Tampa’s Health + Glow medical spa is an in-office procedure that can be performed in about 30 minutes. The simple procedure includes:

• Drawing a blood sample
• Filtering the sample and putting it through a centrifuge to isolate the PRP.
• Application of a numbing gel to the vaginal area.
• Direct injection of the PRP under the clitoris and between the top of the vagina and urethra.

Most patients report limited discomfort and pain during the treatment and no side effects. Minor spotting may occur immediately after treatment, but this should subside within an hour or so. You can immediately resume all normal daily activities, including, should desire move you, sex.

PRP’s rejuvenating action takes time, but most patients typically start noticing enhancements to vaginal and sexual health within the first three weeks of the shot. Full results and benefits are generally noticeable within three months. On average, PRP Shot benefits typically last from 12 to 18 months. For further enhancements to your sexual and vaginal health, Dr. Kallikadan may recommend diVa® vaginal rejuvenation.

Contact Health + Glow to Schedule Your PRP Shot in Tampa

To learn how the PRP Shot can enhance your vaginal health and help ease vaginal dryness, schedule an appointment with our Tampa, Florida, medical spa today. Health + Glow’s primary care, medical spa, and IV drip facility offer patients a one-stop option for a wide range of health and beauty treatments. Further explore our website to see how else we can support your health and beauty needs.