Vaginal dryness is one of the symptoms of menopause that could damage your quality of life and affect your sexual relationship, but it is one that most women do not report to their physicians, due to embarrassment or the thought that it is an inevitable occurrence that you must accept.

However, if vaginal dryness is really troubling you, you can do something about it. There are several vaginal dryness treatments available for you.

Estrogen Replacement

Due to conflicting data on its benefits and side effects, you need to consult with a doctor to carefully decide on whether you should be on estrogen replacement, and which type of estrogen replacement is correct for you.

If you are experiencing other menopausal symptoms aside from vaginal dryness, such as hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, mood swings, and depression, your doctor might prescribe you with systemic estrogens (patches, skin creams, vaginal creams, under the tongue treatments).

However, if you’re only experiencing vaginal dryness, then your doctor might advice you to take local estrogens that are placed directly into the vagina.

Keep in mind, though, that this treatment has risks. For example, oral estrogens are converted into estrone, which is considered a “bad” estrogen and may be the cause of estrogen’s cancer-causing properties.

Vaginal Lubricants

There are several different types of vaginal lubricants available over-the-counter, and they come in tubes, bottles, and as vaginal suppositories. However, it is important for you to read the label of a vaginal lubricant and buy only the water-based ones.

Petroleum-based vaginal lubricants can harbor bacteria inside the vagina, which can lead to infection, as well as cause damage to latex condoms, rendering them ineffective against unplanned pregnancy and STDs.

Also, there are several drugs that interfere with vaginal lubrication, such as contraceptives, sedatives/sleeping pills, prescribed and over-the-counter cold and allergy medications, etc.

Vaginal Moisturizers

While vaginal lubricants are good for short-term use, vaginal moisturizers work for several days, and can make the vaginal and surrounding tissues stronger and more pliable.

They can be used any time of day or night, and are best when used on a regular schedule and not just prior to sexual intercourse. Apply moisturizer every other day or every three days to help ward off dryness and decrease symptoms.

However, some vaginal moisturizers give side effects after initial usage, such as vaginal residue or discharge. Manufacturers say the natural shedding of dry vaginal tissue that has built up over time causes this, and the discharge should be gone when used on a regular basis.

Meanwhile, there is no proof yet whether natural and herbal remedies for menopause could also be used for vaginal dryness treatment. While some women report great relief with wild yam progesterone creams, there is no research that definitively supports this kind of treatment.
 

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