Vaginal atrophy or vaginal dryness is a common condition in women that occurs when they begin to approach their menopause period.[1] Women who have vaginal dryness or atrophy experience several symptoms. These including anything from painful sex, thinning vaginal walls, dryness, and more. It is essential in such conditions to be careful with it. Small changes in lifestyle will eventually have a significant impact later on. Vaginal atrophy can prove to be extremely painful for intercourse.
It is uncomfortable and painful. The sudden drop in estrogen levels of the body can pave the way for dryness. Often immune system disorders too can pave the way for vaginal dryness. It is essential in such conditions to reach out to the doctor to find out a potential treatment for the problem. [2]Often your doctor may recommend you undergo certain dietary changes or opt for topical creams to ease the problem.
Causes
A drop in the estrogen levels during the menopause and postmenopausal period gives way to vaginal dryness. During this time, the vaginal walls tend to become thin and less elastic, which is why it causes several problems.[3] Since the vagina cannot produce enough lubrication, women experience painful sex as well.
Apart from that, certain medications may as well interfere with the condition leading to dryness across the body. Allergy and antidepressant medicines are some of the leading causes of vaginal dryness. Moreover, people undergoing chemotherapy may as well experience vaginal dryness.
When to see a doctor?
The severity of vaginal atrophy varies from person to person. Since it is a very personal issue, several women are not comfortable discussing it. But, being hesitant will only delay the treatment. However, seeking treatment as soon as possible from the doctor will help to restore normal conditions.[4] Apart from that, it will also help boost libido, thereby leading to a healthy sex life.
The symptoms may get severe and lead to burning sensation and bleeding from the vagina. In some conditions, women also experience night sweats, which is a far worse condition. Although you may be prescribed the medicines, there is a natural way to manage the situation too. This can, however, help improve your quality of life too.
The symptoms may get severe with time.[5] Thus, it is for this reason that it is essential to see a doctor in time. Not taking the condition seriously will not only affect your physical life but sexual life as well.
Are there natural ways to treat vaginal dryness?
Of course, there is. However, it is essential to bring about small changes in life for better functioning.
Doctors may ask you to bring changes in your lifestyle to ease the symptoms of vaginal dryness. Some of the noticeable changes that can be of great help in reducing the symptoms include the following.
· Are you a smoker? Give up.
If you are an ardent smoker, you need to give it up because smoking lowers the estrogen levels in the body. This further increases the risk of developing vaginal atrophy, which may further complicate situations leading to osteoporosis.
· Stay hydrated
One of the best ways to keep your vaginal area moisturized is to stay hydrated. This only helps to maintain the moisture level of the body.
· Stay active
Exercising and staying active can be of great help for restoring the hormonal balance. Often women have complained about disturbing hormonal balance owing to their lack of activeness.
· Stay sexually active
If you have lost the spark in your relationship, maybe it is time that you reignite it. Spanish Fly Pro is one of the best products that can help you ignite the lost spark in your relationship. It aids in natural vaginal lubrication and ensures that you can have painless sex. Plus, it gets you in the mood too – and all you need to do is take a few drops of it. Without any side effects, it’s one of the easier ways to make love with your partner, anytime.[6]
There are other added benefits too. Being sexually active helps to enhance blood flow around your genitals. Improved blood flow across genitals can prove to be healthy for avoiding vaginal dryness.
· Avoid perfumed products
You should refrain from using soaps, deodorants, and powders around your vagina because these perfumed products irritate the vagina. This further increases the risk of developing dryness.
Natural lubricants
The loss of moisturization will also lead to the loss of libido, thereby causing dryness further.[7] You must take care of the problem from the beginning only. Small steps can be of great help for removing dryness. However, several natural lubricants can be of great help for restoring moisturization and soothing your genital area. [8]
Some of the natural lubricants that can be of great help include the following.
- Aloe vera
- Coconut oil
- Jojoba
- Vitamin E suppositories
These tend to lubricate the vagina and lowers the risk of contracting infections.
Complementary treatments
Although more scientific research needs to be done regarding the additional treatments on vaginal dryness, some surely support it. Some studies have shown that the application or consumption of probiotics can be of great help for relieving the vaginal dryness symptoms. [9]
Women suffering from vaginal dryness are also victims of urinary infections. Thus, probiotics can be of great help in managing the vaginal dryness and restoring it.[10] However, more research needs to be done to determine the aspect.
Hormonal Therapy
Estrogen therapy is considered to be one of the most effective treatments for vaginal dryness. However, it is necessary to determine that hormonal therapy may not suit everybody. If you have a medical condition, you should refrain from hormonal therapies.
Estrogen therapy may work fine, but it can also trigger several side effects. Some of the common side effects include breast tenderness, weight gain, lethargy, nausea, fatigued feeling, and so on.
But there are other treatments as well, which can further help to ease vaginal dryness. Some of these include the following.[11]
Wild yam is one of the most prominent supplemental ingredients that can help ease the symptoms of dryness.
You should be using water-based lubricants as they can help to moisturize the vaginal lining, thereby helping to ease the discomfort during sex.
Vaginal dryness is an uncomfortable condition, but if the right measures are taken, it can be easily treated. Don’t forget to consult a doctor if the problem persists.
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11252940
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29916947
[3] Johnston SL, Farrell SA, Bouchard C, et al. The detection and management of vaginal atrophy. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2004;26(5):503–515. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
[4] Laumann EO, Paik A, Rosen RC. Sexual dysfunction in the United States: prevalence and predictors. JAMA. 1999;281(6):537–544. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
[5] Nappi R, Maamari R, Simon J. The partners’ survey: implications of postmenopausal vaginal atrophy for women and their partners. Maturitas. 2012;71:S64. [Google Scholar]
[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436725/
[7] Santen RJ, Pinkerton JV, Conaway M, et al. Treatment of urogenital atrophy with low-dose estradiol: preliminary results. Menopause. 2002;9(3):179–187. [PubMed]
[8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4819835/
[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6345451/
[10] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6074805/
[11] Castelo-Branco C, Cancelo MJ. Compounds for the treatment of atropic vaginitis. Expert Opin Ther Pat. 2008;18(12):1385–1394. [Google Scholar]