Doctors Reveal What Causes Vaginal Dryness and How To Soothe It Fast
Everything from stress to diabetes may trigger painful burning and itching
Perhaps you first noticed signs of vaginal dryness after it triggered painful intercourse with your partner, or maybe you feel a burning, itching sensation that doesn’t seem to go away. Regardless of how it manifests, understanding what causes vaginal dryness is the first step toward finding relief.
Although vaginal dryness becomes more common among women who have gone through menopause, women of all ages can experience it. If your vaginal dryness is particularly painful, home remedies aren’t helping (more on that below), or your symptoms are becoming chronic, you should make an appointment with your gynecologist.
Here, experts reveal some of the most common reasons women experience vaginal dryness and the best ways to replenish moisture.
Woman's World Answers
What is vaginal dryness?
Vaginal dryness is a condition where the tissues in the vaginal walls do not produce enough natural lubrication, leading to discomfort, irritation and sometimes pain during intercourse or daily activities. It is commonly associated with hormonal changes, particularly a decrease in estrogen levels, but it can also be caused by other factors.
What causes vaginal dryness?
Many already know that things like harsh soaps or detergents can trigger vaginal irritation and dryness. But if you’re using gentle, unscented products and you notice symptoms of vaginal dryness such as burning, itching, bleeding after sex or recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) or yeast infections, one or more of the culprits below may be to blame.
Changes in your hormone levels
One of the biggest causes of vaginal dryness is hormonal imbalance, particularly when the body is hormonally deprived, says Sameena Rahman, MD, FACOG, NCMP, IF, a board-certified ob-gyn and menopause specialist.
“When people think of vaginal dryness,people automatically think of menopause and perimenopause, but there’s also breastfeeding, birth control pills and chemotherapy,” says Dr. Rahman, who adds that removal of your ovaries can also impact your hormone levels.
Declining levels of estrogen are especially problematic. Estrogen has a protective effect, and when production starts to drop, the walls of the vagina can become thinner and less elastic (a condition called vaginal atrophy). This makes the vaginal tissue prone to dryness and vaginal bleeding after intercourse.
What’s more, “a decrease in estrogen is going to contribute to lack of blood flow and decrease in secretions in the vaginal area,” adds Jessica Shepherd, MD, MBA, FACOG, a board-certified OB-GYN and author of Generation M: Living Well in Perimenopause and Menopause.
Certain chronic health conditions
Dr. Rahman says diabetes, the chronic condition causing elevated blood sugar, can contribute to vaginal dryness. According to the American Diabetes Association, vaginal dryness is more common among women with diabetes. This is because unmanaged diabetes can cause nerve damage, which can result in vaginal dryness.
Though less common, Sjögren’s syndrome may also be to blame. The autoimmune disorder can cause vaginal dryness, dry mouth and eyes as well as tiredness, pain in joints, a dry cough and swelling of the salivary glands. Anyone can develop Sjogren’s syndrome, but it’s most common in women over age 40.
Increased stress
Noticed an uptick in vaginal dryness symptoms during a particularly stressful period in your life? There’s a reason for that. A 2018 study published in Frontiers in Endocrinology found that stress leads to an increase in cortisol levels, which impacts vaginal microbiome health. An imbalance in the vaginal microbiome (the good and bad bacteria found naturally in your vagina) can cause discomfort and even dryness.
Dr. Shepherd described stress as an indirect cause of vaginal dryness. “If people are going through very stressful times in their life, such as like losing a job, maybe a divorce or maybe having gone through a death in the family that really caused them to have some stress, you can link stress to a reason why your body responds in the way it does, one of those being with vaginal dryness,” says Dr. Shepherd.
Home remedies for vaginal dryness
As noted above, if your vaginal dryness causes intense pain without any sign of improvement, it’s important to speak to your doctor, Dr. Rahman and Dr. Shepherd agree. He or she can perform a pelvic exam and take note of your medical history and symptoms to help pinpoint the underlying cause and best solution.
In the meantime, Dr. Rahman recommends trying a hyaluronic acid-based vaginal moisturizer two to three times a week to help relieve vaginal dryness. Hyaluronic acid-based vaginal moisturizers can be used inside the vagina or on the vulva depending on the product. Why hyaluronic acid? It helps the skin and delicate vaginal tissues retain moisture better than traditional moisturizers can.
If you’re experiencing pain during sex, try using a silicone-based lubricant,which can make intimacy more enjoyable by alleviating vaginal dryness. Dr. Shepherd recommends Uberlube as a good lubricant option.
And finally, for more long-term relief, talk to your doctor about using a vaginal estrogen cream. It improves elasticity and replenishes moisture, which helps with both vaginal dryness and pain during intercourse.
Conversation
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Woman's World does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.
