Vaginal dryness doesn’t just happen because of menopause.
Vaginal dryness doesn’t just happen because of menopause.
Around 1 in 5 women aged 18 to 50 have a problem with vaginal dryness during sex. And it’s common to get a dry vagina after giving birth, especially if you’re breastfeeding.
As well as causing pain during sex, a dry vagina can make you feel generally uncomfortable and get you down. But the good news is that there are treatments available, as well as easy things you can do to help yourself.
Read on to learn about the common symptoms and causes of vaginal dryness and the self-care and treatment options available.
Common vaginal dryness symptoms include:
These symptoms can make you feel less like having sex, so a knock-on effect of vaginal dryness can be a slump in your sex drive and even relationship problems.
If you think you’re
, read more about dry vagina symptoms in menopause.If you have a dry, itchy vagina, read about the
Find useful information on other areas of vaginal health with our .
There are a number of other possible causes of a dry vagina – some of which may surprise you.
Oestrogen is a female sex hormone that has many jobs in your body, including keeping your vagina healthy and moist (lubricated). This most often occurs during menopause but it can also happen for other reasons.
If your oestrogen levels fall, this can lead to dryness, soreness and a thinning of the skin in and around your vagina, sometimes known as vaginal atrophy.
Several things can cause oestrogen levels to fall, including
When you’re sexually aroused, or ‘turned on’ your vagina makes fluid for lubrication to make sex more comfortable. But if you’re not sexually aroused, your vagina might not make enough fluid, which can lead to dry, painful sex.
This can be due to lack of sexual attraction, not having enough foreplay before penetrative sex, or psychological reasons such as stress.
Some medication can cause the thin, soft tissues that line the cavities of your body (mucous membranes) to dry out – including in your vagina.
Medication that may cause vaginal dryness includes
Certain chemicals can have a drying effect on the vagina, including some of those found in everyday products such as soaps, body washes and washing powders, or used to treat swimming pools and Jacuzzis.
Some medical conditions can cause vaginal dryness including
Self-help measures and treatments you can try for vaginal dryness, include
Read what
Your doctor can usually diagnose vaginal dryness from your description of your symptoms and medical history, but sometimes they may want to examine you – don’t be embarrassed – doctors are well used to doing these and it’s over in a couple of minutes.
They may also decide to do blood tests to check your hormone levels to rule out any underlying conditions.
In most cases, vaginal dryness isn’t a cause for concern, and there are several self-care measures and treatments you can try to help (see above).
Do see a doctor about vaginal dryness if:
It’s also worth seeing a doctor if you’re breastfeeding and finding vaginal dryness is a problem, as they may be able to suggest treatment to help (see below). You can also ask to see a female doctor if this makes you feel more comfortable.
Vaginal dryness is a common problem before menopause and beyond and you may feel embarrassed about it – but you shouldn’t be. It’s worth getting over your embarrassment as it’s a highly treatable condition.
If you’ve tried using vaginal moisturisers and they haven’t worked, speak to your doctor about other treatments. If you are cringing at the thought of it, remember your GP will have had hundreds, if not thousands of conversations about it with other women (plus you can always ask to see a female GP).
Answered by:
“Yes, local vaginal oestrogen products, such as creams, rings and tablets, can be prescribed while you’re breastfeeding. However, the UK Drugs in Lactation Advice Service advises avoiding them until your baby is 6 weeks old, because of the possibility of your milk supply being affected by absorption of oestrogen.”
Answered by:
“Yes, usually. Once you stop breastfeeding and your monthly
starts again, your ovaries will be making oestrogen and your vaginal dryness should go away. In the meantime, you can try using vaginal lubricants.”Important: Our website provides useful information but is not a substitute for medical advice. You should always seek the advice of your doctor when making decisions about your health.