Vaginal dryness is more than just a little bit of dry skin that clears up on its own. The discomfort it causes can range from mild to severe. For many women who experience it, vaginal dryness can make sitting, walking, and sex uncomfortable.
So, what is vaginal dryness, exactly? What are its symptoms and causes? Most importantly, how can it be treated? Let's explore these questions, and more, in our guide to vaginal dryness.
The Basics
The Cleveland Clinic defines vaginal drynessas "a painful symptom" that occurs "when the tissues in your vagina are dry, thin and not well-moisturized."
Normally, the vaginal lining is kept lubricated with fluids the body produces naturally. But for any number of reasons, fluid production can be reduced or completely interrupted, resulting in vaginal dryness.
Its Causes
The Cleveland clinic estimates that roughly 17% of women from 18-50 experience vaginal dryness during sex. More than half of all women experience it after menopause. This gives us some clue as to what might cause it.
Vaginal dryness is often the result of decreased estrogen levels linked to aging. And of course, women in menopause experience all sorts of hormonal fluctuations. Estrogen levels decline during menopause, allowing the vaginal skin to thin, lose elasticity, and dry out.
There are other possible causes, including:
● Certain medicines and prescription hormones
● Surgical procedures
● Chemotherapy and radiation
● Stress, depression, etc.
● Smoking
It's important to note that vaginal dryness can be exacerbated by laundry detergents, soaps and lotions, perfumes, and even douches. Tampons and condoms can be problematic for some women with vaginal dryness.
The Symptoms
Vaginal dryness presents with some easily recognizable symptoms. In addition to the dry tissue, patients tend to report:
● A burning sensation when urinating
● Slight to moderate vaginal discharge
● Pain, itching, and burning
● Pain during sex
● Post-intercourse bleeding
A pelvic exam can clearly show thin, pale, and red vagina tissue that could indicate vaginal dryness, or related conditions such as atrophic vaginitis. If a pelvic exam is inconclusive, a doctor may request a hormone level test to check estrogen levels.
The Treatment
Doctors have multiple avenues for treating vaginal dryness. Once the cause is known, a doctor may recommend at-home therapies that don't require a prescription. At the top of the list is a vaginal lubricant.
Vaginal lubricants come in a variety of forms including moisturizing creams. Most offer relief for several hours. They would be used daily. On the other hand, LivRing is an FDA-cleared and clinically proven intravaginal lubrication device that provides continual moisturization for up to 7 days.
In addition to using vaginal lubricants / moisturizers, clinicians tend to recommend avoiding:
● Tight fitting clothing
● Scented soaps and lotions
● Perfumes
● Douching
If at-home treatments don't seem to work, a doctor might recommend prescription estrogen therapy. Prescription estrogen also comes in many forms including tablets, suppositories, creams, and transdermal patches.
It's not unusual for doctors to recommend a combination of at-home treatments and hormone therapy. The reality is that women respond differently. There isn't one perfect solution for every case of vaginal dryness.
Give LivRing a Try
Do you experience vaginal dryness that makes sex uncomfortable? Have you found that vaginal creams and lotions just don't work for you? If so, we invite you to give LivRing a try. Take a few minutes to check out our website, which contains even more helpful information about LivRing. If you have questions before you purchase, don't hesitate to ask. LivRing could be the solution you've been looking for to manage your vaginal dryness symptoms.