Relieving Vaginal Dryness
Relieving Vaginal Dryness

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Relieving Vaginal Dryness

Relieving Vaginal Dryness

Vaginal dryness is a problem often caused by menopause and it is a result of a hormonal imbalance in the body. There are many ways to treat and relieve vaginal dryness, and it can happen in people of all ages. Menopause is a slow process lasting several years and vaginal atrophy, as it’s also known, affects around 80% of perimenopausal women alongside 50% of postmenopausal women. Continue reading to find out how this occurs and how to relief vaginal dryness.

Why does vaginal dryness happen?

vaginal dryness relievingThe estrogen that is found in a woman’s body is used to give lubrication that keeps the vagina moist and helps it to stay flexible and strong. Alongside this, it contains some acidity to make sure that the vagina is protected from any bacteria or invading infections. A decrease in estrogen means a lack of lubrication production.

This means that the vagina becomes dry and thin and this makes the walls sensitive and increasingly weak, whilst a lack of lubrication means the acid levels are low and puts a woman more at risk of urinary and yeast infections.

The experience of vaginal dryness can be irritating to the daily life of a woman, and symptoms include itching, urinary infections, incontinence, and painful intercourse. This is due to a lack of moisture in that area, and this makes the vagina irritable, sensitive, and at risk of infection.

How to treat vaginal dryness

Vaginal dryness can be an issue that affects daily life, and like many menopausal symptoms and hormonal imbalance problems, the choices are three-fold. These are:

Lifestyle changes

vaginal dryness fruitsIncreasing your intake of soy-based foods alongside the use of a healthy diet full of fruit and vegetables, daily exercise and stress relief classes such as yoga and tai chi can help the body to maintain a healthy level of hormones and keep the body in working order. In a surprising double-edged sword, it is also suggested that women with vaginal dryness engage in sexual activities more often to maintain the flow to the area.

Alternative medicines

Lubricants are a well known alternative medicine for adding moisture to the affected area, and tend to provide 24-hour relief from the symptoms of vaginal dryness. Alongside this, there are herbal remedies in the form of phytoestrogen and non-estrogenic herbs. The former includes estrogen hormones to top up the body. However this makes the body less responsive to producing its own. Contrarily, non-estrogenic herbs don’t contain any hormones and instead nourish the glands to produce their own naturally.

Drugs and surgery

Generally it is believed by experts that a healthier lifestyle combined with an alternative non-estrogenic herb medicine such as Macafem is the best way to treat menopausal symptoms and restore a hormonal balance.

Other Related Articles:
Vaginal Dryness Help
Vaginal dryness in post menopausal women
Lubricants for vaginal dryness
Vaginal Dryness Intercourse

Sources:
  • "Vaginal Dryness". Mayo Clinic Health Resource. 2007.
  • "Vulvovaginal Symptoms". The Changing Body: Menopause Handbook. www.menopause.org.
  • Love, Susan M.D. Menopause and Hormone Book. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2003.