Impact

The symptoms of VA can have a significant effect on the quality of life (QoL) of both women and their sexual partners:^2,10

• It affects women’s emotional wellbeing and self-esteem¹¹
• Women may feel old, less sexy and not themselves¹²
• VA symptoms may also interfere with aspects of everyday life, including sleep, ability to exercise without pain and general enjoyment of life^1,10

The good news is that women who are successfully treated for VA report considerable improvement in their symptoms and QoL – for themselves and their partners.^13-15

However, due to the intimate nature of the condition, women may be reluctant to speak to healthcare professionals about their symptoms. Increasing your knowledge about VA and adopting a proactive approach to conversations around symptoms associated with the condition could help improve diagnosis and treatment.¹⁵