About this app
Vaginal dryness is a common problem for many women. Usually benign, it can be caused by certain medications, menopause, or hormonal imbalances. There are a variety of treatment options for vaginal dryness, ranging from lubricants and creams to hormonal treatment plans. Talk to your doctor about your issues to best determine which route is best for you.
During menopause, estrogenproduction slows and then stops. When that happens, a number of changes -- many of them unwelcome -- happen in a woman's body. Periods become irregular and then stop. You may have hot flashes, mood swings, a deeper voice, and an increase in facial hair.
Vaginal dryness is another common symptom of menopause -- and close to one out of every three women experiences it while going through "the change." And it becomes even more common after menopause. Vaginal dryness also can occur at any age from a number of different causes. It may seem like a minor irritation. But the lack of vaginal moisture can have a huge impact on your sex life. Fortunately, several treatments are available to relieve vaginal dryness.
What causes vaginal dryness?
Normally, the walls of the vagina stay lubricated with a thin layer of clear fluid. The hormone estrogen helps maintain that fluid and keeps the lining of the vagina healthy, thick, and elastic. During menopause, the drop in estrogen levels reduces the amount of moisture available. It also makes the vagina thinner and less elastic. This is called vaginal atrophy.
In addition to menopause, estrogen levels can drop from:
Childbirth and breastfeeding
Radiation or chemotherapy treatment for cancer
Surgical removal of the ovaries
Anti-estrogen medications used to treat uterine fibroids or endometriosis
Vaginal dryness is a common but treatable problem that many women experience at some point in their lives.
It can be a problem at any age, but is a particular issue for women who are going through or have experienced the menopause.
Don't ignore a dry vagina or feel embarrassed to seek help if it's a problem for you. There are a number of treatments that can help.
This page covers:
Symptoms
Causes
What to do
Treatments
Symptoms of a dry vagina
Some women only have symptoms of vaginal dryness at certain times, such as during sex, while others have them all the time.
Problems associated with having a dry vagina include:
vaginal irritation, discomfort, itchiness or a burning sensation
discomfort during sex
a reduced sex drive
difficulty getting aroused and reaching orgasm
the surface of the vagina looks pale and thin
narrowing or shortening of the vagina
needing to pee more often than usual
repeated urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Causes of vaginal dryness
Causes of a dry vagina include:
the menopause – decreased levels of the hormone oestrogen during the menopause can cause persistent vaginal dryness (also known as vaginal atrophy or atrophic vaginitis)
breastfeeding or childbirth – oestrogen levels can temporarily decrease after giving birth and make your vagina feel drier than usual
not being aroused before sex – if you don't feel aroused before having sex, your vagina may not produce natural lubricant and sex may be uncomfortable
some types of contraception – the combined contraceptive pilland contraceptive injection can occasionally cause vaginal dryness, although this is uncommon
cancer treatment – radiotherapy to the pelvic area, hormonal cancer treatments, and sometimes chemotherapy can cause vaginal dryness
Vaginal dryness is also sometimes caused by an underlying condition such as diabetes or Sjögren's syndrome, where the immune attacks the glands in the body that produce fluid.
What to do if you have a dry vagina
If you're having problems with vaginal dryness, it's worth trying self-help options first.
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