Vaginal Dryness
It is extremely common for women in the
perimenopause and menopause stages to experience
vaginal dryness. In fact, more than half of
women between the ages of 40 and 60 report
vaginal dryness. Aside from a decrease in fluid,
other symptoms include itching or burning, minor
bleeding during or after sex, and causes
discomfort and pain during sex and overall
limiting your enjoyment.
Thankfully, there are a number of things to help
ease dryness so you can continue a normal sex
life. Talking to your doctor about the issue is
advised, as they can help you determine the
cause and offer some solutions, but we can offer
you a few pieces of advice.
Vaginal dryness is caused by one of three things
- a decline in estrogen levels, as a symptom of
a medical condition or medication side effect,
or unresolved emotional issues. Figuring out the
cause is the most important step in how to best
proceed.
A decline in estrogen levels may be triggered by
a number of things. Because women are constantly
fluctuating in hormone levels, in every way from
menstrual cycles, to pregnancy and the
menopausal stages, one of these is very likely.
Cigarette smoking is another culprit, as well as
decreased sexual activity.
There are many medical conditions in which
vaginal dryness is a symptom. A few of these
medical conditions include, but are not limited
to: diabetes, sexually transmitted diseases,
chemotherapy, yeast infection, and several kinds
of bacterial infections. It may also be due to a
medication side effect; ask your doctor if any
medications you are on may be to blame.
Maybe you just aren't aroused the way you used
to be. It's important to determine whether or
not you're dryer than you used to be all the
time, or just sometimes. Negative feelings like
worry or stress make an impact, so take a minute
to think about how what you're feeling may
affect your desire.
Now that you know what may be causing the
problem, see what you can do to solve it:
Staying healthy is something you can do on your
own to help ease dryness. Make sure to drink
enough water (the recommended eight glasses a
day), and remember to exercise. Diets that are
too low in fat aren't good for increasing
mucosal tissues that your body needs, so try to
keep that in mind. Regular intercourse, whether
by yourself or with a partner, may also help.
Some doctors may recommend estrogen therapy if
self-care doesn't fix the problem. It can come
in three forms: oral medication, a ring or
patch, or topical cream or tablet. The ring is
inserted by your doctor and releases a
consistent flow of estrogen. It is replaced
every three months. Both the topical cream and
tablet are inserted into the vagina with an
applicator, usually two or three times a week at
night. All of these methods are preferable to
the pill taken orally because it does not have
to be processed by the liver before entering the
bloodstream.
Personal lubricant is the
quickest and easiest method to ease vaginal
dryness. A product like
HerSolution Gel™
is sure to help. More than just a lube, this
product increases blood flow, creating more
sensation in the genitals, and is made from high
quality, natural ingredients.