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Vaginal dryness is a challenging yet incredibly common issue. The majority of women experience it at some stage of life, often during the perimenopause and menopause phases of life. However, some can experience it earlier, for various reasons. While the condition can be challenging, some solutions and treatments can significantly improve your quality of life.

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When do we talk about vaginal dryness?

The vagina typically has a layer of moisture lining its interior walls. This moisture provides comfort during sexual intercourse and in everyday life. However, hormonal changes during menopause or while breastfeeding can reduce the amount of moisture resulting in vaginal dryness.

The walls of the vagina become thin and dry and make intercourse more difficult and painful. It can also have other negative effects, such as pain or discomfort while sitting or using the toilet.
If you are experiencing any of these conditions, discuss vaginal dryness with our specialist, who can suggest treatments, medications, and lifestyle changes to help ease the symptoms.

Additionally, vaginal dryness may be a symptom of a more serious condition in some cases. Discussing it with our doctors can help you identify the root cause and receive the necessary assistance.

What are the symptoms of vaginal dryness?

Common symptoms of vaginal dryness include:

  • Feelings of soreness or itchiness in and around the vagina
  • Burning or painful sensations, especially during sex
  • The need to urinate more frequently than normal
  • Recurring urinary issues or infections
  • Light vaginal bleeding at random times or after sex
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Vaginal dryness can also have mental and emotional impacts and affect people’s relationships and intimacy levels. Some women find their quality of life decreasing and their mood drops due to the difficult symptoms they endure. They are often less eager or interested in having sexual intercourse.

What does a dry vagina feel like?

Many women are unsure what does vaginal dryness feel like, so they may not immediately know that they have this issue. In some cases, they may only experience it in mild forms, with subtle levels of irritation or discomfort. In others, these feelings are more pronounced, with pain and burning sensations while sitting, having sex, urinating, getting dressed, or even just walking around.

What causes vaginal dryness?

There are numerous underlying causes of vaginal dryness, with many, but not all, related to hormonal changes. For example, vaginal dryness is a quite common symptom of menopause, when oestrogen levels decline. This can cause the tissue of the vulva and vagina to become drier, thinner, and less elastic.

Certain types of birth control and medications also impact hormonal levels, which can lead to vaginal dryness. Childbirth and breastfeeding, as well as different forms of hormonal therapy, can also result in the condition.

Next, surgical procedures, like an oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries), can also induce vaginal dryness. It is also a symptom of certain conditions, including diabetes and autoimmune disorders.

Finally, vaginal dryness may be a result of psychological or emotional conditions, like a low sex drive or lack of arousal, or the use of certain products like scented soaps and sprays in and around the vagina.

How can I prevent it from occurring?

There are certain types of vaginal dryness you cannot prevent, like perimenopause/menopause vaginal dryness or dryness during the postpartum stage.

However, you can still reduce your risk of suffering this symptom in other situations, including:

  • Not using products that might irritate the sensitive skin of the vagina, like douches and soaps or lotions with synthetic fragrances and opting for gentler, safer products instead.
  • Avoiding condoms that contain nonoxynol-9, or N-9, which has been linked with vaginal dryness in studies
  • Staying hydrated, having a healthy diet, and following a generally healthy lifestyle, which includes not smoking
  • Seeking support, therapy, and other forms of professional care where needed, such as if you are struggling with a low sex drive

Vaginal dryness treatment options

While vaginal dryness is undoubtedly a challenging problem, it is easy to treat after making the diagnosis. Options for how to treat vaginal dryness include both natural and medical solutions, ranging from simple lifestyle changes to medications and even laser therapy.

When to seek medical help for vaginal dryness?

If you experience any recurring pain, discomfort, dryness, or other symptoms in and around the vagina, it is always best to contact your doctor or gynaecologist at your earliest convenience. Vaginal dryness can, in rare cases, be a sign of serious conditions. It is essential to undergo a professional assessment in order to identify the cause and determine the most suitable treatment, rather than attempting to address the problem alone.

The next sections will explain how to deal with vaginal dryness in various ways.

Professional solutions for dry vagina

In many cases, professional medical solutions are the most effective ways to combat vaginal dryness, providing long-term improvements and benefits. These treatments include:

  • Topical Oestrogen: Vaginal dryness is often linked with declining or low levels of oestrogen production. Thus, an effective way to treat it is by introducing more oestrogen to the body, which can be accomplished with topical creams, rings, or pessaries. This is often used to combat vaginal dryness in menopause.
  • Systemic Hormone Therapy: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is also often prescribed for women facing vaginal dryness due to low oestrogen during menopause or other stages of life. There are HRT gels, tablets, and patches that can increase your levels of key hormones to restore vaginal moisture, though they can also present other side effects.
  • Other topical hormonal treatments like Prasterone (DHEA) or oral medications like Ospemifene (selective estrogen receptor modulator). They can be very efficient especially when topical estrogen preparations fail to treat the atrophic changes.
  • Hyaluronic Acid: Vaginal moisturisers containing active ingredients like hyaluronic acid may also prove effective in reversing the effects of vaginal dryness. This acid is a natural substance that helps hydrate the skin and keep it flexible, but its levels in the body can decline with age. With the right moisturiser, the vaginal wall cells will retain more water, becoming plumper and more hydrated.
  • Laser Therapy: A more modern form of vaginal atrophy treatment is laser therapy, like MonaLisa Touch, uses intense beams of light to rejuvenate and restore weak and dry vaginal tissue. In a non-invasive and painless way, the laser helps to stimulate the body’s natural collagen production, which restores strength and moisture to the vagina.
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Vaginal dryness natural remedies and lifestyle tips

While it’s best to seek professional help if you have serious problems with vaginal dryness, including bleeding or recurring, severe pain, there are also steps you can take yourself to ease your symptoms. These include:

Water-Based Lubricants

Safe, water-based vaginal lubricants can temporarily restore moisture to the vagina. These are recommended for use before and during sexual activity to make sex much more comfortable and pain-free. You may also use them at other times, as needed, such as before inserting tampons.

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Moisturisers and Suppositories

Applying safe, gentle vaginal moisturisers in the vagina regularly – every few days, in most cases – can also help maintain moisture levels. Suppositories can also offer similar benefits.

Natural Oils

Individuals who are sensitive to synthetic creams or products may opt for more natural solutions, such as plant oils. Certain natural oils, such as grape seed, olive, and coconut oil, can be used as alternatives to commercial lubricants. However, note that some oils may also damage condoms, so it is important to assess them carefully before sex.

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Pelvic Floor Exercises

Vaginal dryness is sometimes linked with weakness of vaginal muscles, which occurs naturally with age. Certain exercises, such as pelvic floor exercises or Kegel exercises, can help strengthen these muscles. Learning and practising these movements can strengthen the vagina, boost blood flow, and may increase moisture levels, too.

Phytoestrogen-rich Foods

While there hasn’t been extensive research into the links between diet and vaginal dryness or moisture levels, some evidence suggests that consuming foods that are rich in phytoestrogen can help manage certain symptoms of low oestrogen and menopause, including vaginal dryness. Examples include tofu, soy, sesame seeds, broccoli, and cabbage.

Stress Management

High stress may contribute to vaginal dryness, as it impacts hormonal levels, and blood flow, and can make it harder to become aroused or interested in sex. Finding ways to manage your stress levels, such as meditation, exercise, hobbies, or medication, can help alleviate this issue.

Adjusting Your Sexual Habits

As well as using lubricant, many women suffering from vaginal dryness find that changing the way they approach sex allows them to maintain their sex lives with less of the pain and problems that the condition can bring. More focus on foreplay helps to increase arousal and natural lubrication, along with exploring alternative activities to penetration.