An atrophy characterised by the thinning, dryness, and loss of elasticity in vulvar tissues. It is directly caused by the deprivation or decrease of estrogen levels (primarily during climacteric), which weakens epithelial health and generates symptoms of pain, itching, and discomfort during sexual intercourse. While the term atrophic vulvitis is used when inflammation is prominent, vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) remains the standard clinical term to describe the combined thinning of the external and internal genital tissues.