The use of Vaginal dryness home remedies is one of the effective ways to arrest the symptoms of vaginal dryness and restore the health of your vagina; its wetness ad suppleness. Using these remedies requires your understanding of their effectiveness. Before suggesting these treatment option, you need know some things about vaginal dryness.
Vaginal dryness is a prevalent issue that can affect individuals at various stages of life. This condition can lead to discomfort during activities like sitting, exercising, urinating, and sexual intercourse. Normally, the vaginal lining is kept moist and elastic by natural lubrication.
However, when the tissues in the vagina become dry, thin, and lacking in moisture, it results in vaginal dryness, causing discomfort, particularly during sex.
While vaginal dryness can occur at any age, it is most commonly experienced by women during or after menopause, when estrogen levels decrease.
Estrogen plays a crucial role in maintaining the vaginal lining’s moisture and health. When estrogen levels drop, the vaginal walls become thinner and drier, leading to a condition known as vaginal atrophy.
Statistics About Vaginal Dryness
Vaginal dryness is a prevalent issue, particularly during or after menopause, when estrogen levels decline. It can cause irritation, itchiness, and discomfort, making sexual intercourse painful and even leading to postcoital bleeding.
Surprisingly, around 17% of individuals assigned female at birth experience vaginal dryness during sex between the ages of 18 and 50, even before menopause. After menopause, over half of them continue to experience vaginal dryness.
Despite its common occurrence, many women do not openly discuss this problem with their doctors and refrain from seeking solutions. This reluctance perpetuates a taboo surrounding the topic of vaginal dryness.
A study tracking data from 2,435 women over 17 years revealed that a significant number of women experienced vaginal dryness, but only half of them reported it to their physicians. Shockingly, less than 4% of women with vaginal dryness sought therapy to address the issue.
It is essential for women not to shy away from discussing vaginal dryness with their healthcare providers. Effective treatments are available, such as vaginal estrogen therapy and other hormone therapies. Lubricants and vaginal moisturizers can also provide relief, and medical advice can offer appropriate guidance based on individual needs.
Don’t let vaginal dryness affect your quality of life. Seeking help from a healthcare professional is crucial to finding the best solution for you.
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Causes of Vaginal Dryness
Vaginal dryness is often a result of decreasing estrogen levels, a natural occurrence during aging or menopause. However, other factors can also contribute to this condition, including:
- Breastfeeding and childbirth
- Birth control pills or hormonal birth control methods
- Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and hormone therapy
- Diabetes
- Oophorectomy (removal of ovaries)
- Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disorder causing dryness throughout the body
- Not being sexually aroused; using scented or perfumed products around or in the vagina; Use of antihistamines and antidepressants Stress and anxiety • Reduced blood supply to the vagina
- Flammer syndrome, an unusual reaction of blood vessels to stimuli like cold and stress
Symptoms of Vaginal Dryness
Individuals experiencing vaginal atrophy and dryness may encounter symptoms such as itching, burning, irritation, pain during sex, discomfort during physical activity, and a higher risk of vaginal and urinary tract infections.
If the dryness is due to decreased estrogen levels, they may also have lower levels of natural vaginal secretions, a tightening of the vaginal opening, and a narrowing of the vagina, collectively known as dyspareunia, which can lead to pain during penetrative sex. This can be corrected with vaginal dryness home remedies.
Vaginal Dryness Diagnosis
If you are experiencing symptoms of vaginal dryness, seeking medical advice is essential for proper treatment. Healthcare providers will likely inquire about your symptoms and menstrual changes and perform a pelvic examination. In some cases, a lab test may be necessary, but no single test can conclusively diagnose vaginal atrophy and dryness.
Although discussing such personal details may initially feel embarrassing, doctors are accustomed to these conversations and can provide the help needed to manage symptoms effectively. Seeking medical assistance is the first step toward finding relief from vaginal dryness.
Vaginal Dryness Home Remedies
Various treatments are available for vaginal dryness, ranging from over-the-counter options to prescription medications. The home remedies involve certain lifestyle changes and healthy ingredients you can help alleviate vaginal dryness and discomfort.
1. Topical Estrogen Cream
One option is topical estrogen therapy, which involves the use of a cream or ointment directly applied to the vaginal area for symptom relief. Using a topical cream results in lower estrogen absorption compared to taking estrogen orally, minimizing the likelihood of adverse effects.
2. Vaginal ring (Estring):
A flexible ring inserted into the vagina that continuously releases low levels of estrogen. The ring needs to be replaced every 90 days.The NHS stated that this ring, a small soft plastic ring releases frequent dose of hormone estrogen and progestogen into the bloodstream to help women prevent pregnancy.
3. Vaginal cream (Estrace, Premarin)
Applied with an applicator into the vagina. Studies have shown that estrogen cream effectively treats vaginal atrophy and dryness compared to a placebo.
4. Vaginal tablet (Vagifem)
A tablet placed into the vagina using an applicator.
5. Lubricants
For over-the-counter solutions, lubricants can be used during intercourse to increase moisture. Water-based lubricants are preferred over oil-based ones to avoid irritation and condom breakage.
Additionally, vaginal moisturizers can be used every one to two days to maintain natural moisture in the vagina.
woman hands applying moisturizing cream to her skin
6. Other Vaginal Dryness Home Remedies
- Regular sexual activity, with proper foreplay and arousal, can stimulate moisture production and manage dryness.
- Avoid using hygiene products with fragrances and dyes, as they may irritate and dry out the vaginal tissue.
- Phytoestrogen supplements found in soy-based foods may help improve vaginal dryness, although more research is needed.
- Avoid relying on wild yam cream and black cohosh for an estrogen boost or relief from dryness, as there is no scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness.
- Talking to a healthcare provider is crucial if vaginal dryness persists or accompanies other symptoms. Estrogen-based creams, moisturizers, and water-based lubricants are common treatments, but it’s essential to consult a healthcare professional before trying any alternative medicine.
Why is My Vagina Dry During Sex?
Vaginal dryness can be most noticeable during sexual penetration. Without sufficient lubrication, sexual intercourse can cause pain and discomfort due to friction. Engaging in foreplay and using water-based lubricants can help alleviate this issue.
Painful sex can lead to a loss of interest in sex and intimacy with your partner, making it essential to discuss the symptom with your partner to seek support.
What Does a Dry Vagina Feel Like?
Vaginal dryness causes discomfort and pain during sex. It may also lead to burning, itching, bleeding after sex, soreness in the vulva, recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), and increased frequency of urination. Less moisture in the vagina can cause dryness and irritation even during normal activities like walking or sitting.
Foods to Increase Female Lubrication
While specific foods for increasing vaginal lubrication lack research, staying hydrated by drinking water and other fluids helps retain moisture and is beneficial for overall health.
Some of the key healthy foods that can serve as vaginal dryness home remedies include Soy. Soy, in particular is rich in phytoestrogens. This is a plant-based form of estrogen, known as isoflavones. Phytoestrogens has shown positive effect on vaginal health and dyspareunia in Peri- and postmenopausal women, knowing it is capable of filling hormonal gap in the body of a woman.
You may also find Flaxseed very useful as vaginal dryness home remedies. Flaxseed is rich in omega-3 fatty acid and phytoestrogens. This helps to combat the impact of vaginal dryness and at the same time relieve the symptoms of menopause.
Treating a Dry Vagina Naturally
Using natural oils like grape seed, olive, vegetable, sunflower, or coconut oil externally before intercourse may provide relief. However, it’s essential to avoid oil-based lubricants with condoms to ensure their effectiveness. Regular sexual stimulation and longer foreplay can also encourage vaginal moisture, which is closely linked to arousal.
When to Seek Medical Help
Vaginal dryness is common but may interfere with daily activities or your sexual life. If over-the-counter treatments don’t work or if you experience severe vaginal bleeding, consult a healthcare provider for various treatment options.
Vaginal Dryness Home Remedies Tips
- Drinking more water can help with vaginal dryness if you’re truly dehydrated.
- Some foods, like apples and soy-based foods, may improve vaginal lubrication.
- Natural lubricants for sex include avocado, coconut, peanut, and olive oils, but avoid using them with latex condoms.
- Certain herbs in traditional medicine like Shatavari root, Chinese asparagus, liquorice root, calendula, and comfrey may support vaginal health, but further research is needed.
- While there are no natural cures for vaginal dryness, some natural remedies may help improve it.
Takeaway
Vaginal dryness home remedies can bring relief from symptoms of vaginal dryness and restore estrogen while bringing the health, suppleness and wetness of your vagina.
Natural remedies like wild yam cream and black cohosh lack sufficient research to support their use. Some evidence suggests that kudzu and soy may help, but more research is required.
For now, using estrogen cream, lubricants, or vaginal moisturizers can provide relief from vaginal dryness during sex and other related issues. Seeking help from a healthcare professional is essential to finding the best solution for you and improving your overall well-being and sexual health.
