Navigating Vaginal Dryness During Menopause

Vaginal dryness can be a distressing symptom to live with, especially when it interferes with your ability to relax and enjoy intimacy. Unfortunately, many women don’t talk about their menopausal symptoms or seek out treatment. Vaginal dryness can be treated with the help of an intimate health provider who can help you reclaim your sex life and feel more confident in your body. Here’s what to know about vaginal dryness treatment and what you can do about it.

What are Symptoms of Vaginal Dryness?

Vaginal dryness can range in severity, meaning it might not be immediately apparent. It can be as mild as discomfort during sexual intercourse or as severe as vaginal bleeding. Itchiness and burning are also common, and vaginal dryness can even make you more susceptible to yeast infections and urinary tract infections. Since vaginal dryness often occurs with menopause, you might also experience symptoms like vaginal atrophy, mood changes, weight gain, hot flashes, night sweats, and more.

What Causes Vaginal Dryness?

Normally, the vagina secretes its own lubrication to ensure a moist and healthy environment, but this lubrication can fade, leaving the tissue dry and unprotected. Vaginal dryness can be the result of many different health concerns, medications, or products, but it’s most often associated with low estrogen levels during menopause. Estrogen is often responsible for ensuring the vaginal tissues secrete moisture. With low estrogen levels, vaginal moisture becomes less likely.

What Treatment Options are Available?

A variety of treatment options are available for vaginal dryness, and your intimate health provider can help you learn more about which ones are right for your situation – and whether you can benefit from multiple options.

Vaginal Moisturizers

Vaginal moisturizers are products that provide hydration to the vaginal tissues, much like moisturizer you’d apply to your skin. These are often used multiple times per day or as needed and can keep the tissues hydrated, alleviating symptoms. They come in different forms such as gels, creams, and vaginal suppositories, typically containing moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, or coconut oil. Maintaining the right balance of microorganisms in your vaginal environment is important, and some products contain ingredients that aren’t safe. Your intimate health provider can help you find one that is safe for vaginal use and will produce the result you want.

Avoiding Water-Based Lubricants

Water-based lubricants can work against you during sexual intercourse because they quickly dry out. Consider switching to oil-based lubricants, which last for much longer and won’t irritate the dry, thin tissues of the vagina. Just be aware that these will erode latex or polyisoprene condoms, so take precautions accordingly. Silicone-based lubricants are safe to use with condoms and can last for long periods but can be damaging to any silicone toys or aids you may use during intimacy.

Hormone Therapy

Hormone therapy is often the most effective treatment option for vaginal dryness because it treats the underlying cause. Hormone therapy can balance your hormone levels by supplementing progesterone and estrogen levels, also alleviating other symptoms of menopause. Hormone therapy comes in many different forms, such as pills, creams, patches, or implants, and an intimate health provider can help you pick the right option. Most women choose the implant option because it can release a steady stream of hormones for months at a time, and you don’t need to do anything aside from return for your next implant.

Treatment for Menopause Symptoms in Long Island, NY

To get relief from vaginal dryness and meet with our knowledgeable and understanding intimate health providers, contact us today. We conveniently serve the greater Long Island and Queens, NY areas.