What Are the Risks and Side Effects of Treatments?
While treatments for vaginal atrophy are generally safe, they can come with potential side effects:
- Non-Hormonal Treatments: Generally have minimal side effects but may cause irritation or allergic reactions in some women. - Hormonal Treatments: Can pose risks such as increased chances of blood clots, stroke, and breast cancer, especially with systemic HRT. Topical treatments have fewer risks but can still cause localized irritation or discharge. - Other Treatments: Medications like ospemifene can lead to hot flashes and an increased risk of blood clots. Laser therapy is relatively new, and long-term safety data is still being gathered.
