Have you ever experienced symptoms of a dry vagina? Unfortunately, most of us will. According to Women's Health, around 17% of women aged 18-50 experience vaginal dryness before menopause, and more than 50% of post-menopausal women over 51 experience problems with it.
In this guide, we look into exactly what vaginal dryness is, what causes it, how to treat it, and how to prevent it.
Like many people, I grew up being warned not to use perfumed soap inside my vagina, because it's self-cleaning — and it turns out, it's true! Our cervix naturally produces lubrication, which moves slowly through the vagina and keeps it moist.
This thin layer of moisture shouldn't be confused with vaginal discharge. The natural lubricant keeps the vagina moist, while vaginal discharge cleans the vagina and removes dead cells, helping prevent infections. The natural lubrication, aka vaginal moisture, coats the walls of the vagina and keeps the lining of your vagina healthy, tight, and elastic. It also helps prevent friction during sexual intercourse.
However, as we age, our hormone production changes, and we experience a drop in oestrogen, which reduces the amount of moisture available, causing the walls of the vagina to get thinner. Although ageing is the most common cause, it can happen at any age from many other causes.
The decrease in vaginal moisture causes vaginal dryness, which can be painful and irritating, and have a huge impact on your life in different ways. Luckily, there are several treatments available to help relieve the symptoms that come with vaginal dryness.
The main symptom of vaginal dryness is a feeling that your vagina is dry and sore. However, there are usually other symptoms. You should see your doctor if you:
Most people experiencing vaginal dryness will also have a reduced interest in having sex because of the discomfort that is felt during sexual intercourse.
As we age, we produce less estrogen which leads to the end of menstruation during a time known as perimenopause. Vaginal dryness is a common perimenopause and menopause symptom, however, there can be other causes. These can include:
Luckily, there are many ways to treat vaginal dryness. If you're not sure why you have vaginal dryness, we recommend seeing your doctor. However, if you know the cause, there are a few treatments you can try out yourself as the first port of call.
In some cases, you won't be able to treat vaginal dryness yourself, and you'll need medical advice from a doctor. If vaginal dryness is a symptom of menopause, your doctor or healthcare provider might prescribe oestrogen therapy in a pill, cream, or ring. This releases the oestrogen lost due to menopause, helping relieve your symptoms.
Creams and rings release oestrogen directly to the tissues. If you are experiencing other uncomfortable menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, your doctor might prescribe a pill instead.
Sometimes, vaginal dryness is a symptom of things such as menopause, meaning it can't be prevented. However, there are a number of other things that you can avoid doing in order to prevent causing vaginal dryness. Here's our five top tips to prevent dry vagina symptoms:
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