Vaginal Dryness -How to Treat it

There are really two main ways to improve your vaginal dryness during menopause:

• hormonal therapy
• non-hormonal therapy

Hormonal therapy comes in two main forms:

• local treatment
• systemic treatment

I found some research on the subject of estradiol vaginal ring. In the 2006 report from the Canadian Consensus Conference on Menopause written by members of the journal of obstetrics and gynaecology, it is one of the recommended forms of treatment (prescription) especially when vaginal changes is the main symptom the woman complains about. They also recommend conjugated estrogen cream, estradiol vaginal tablets and lubricants.

Both hormonal and non-hormonal treatments work for most women. However, hormonal treatment taken systemically is usually prescribed for women who also suffer from other menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats etc.

Local hormonal therapy is usually prescribed for women when their only irritating complaint is a dry and irritated vagina with the resulting painful intercourse and/or frequent vaginal infection.

Other perimenopausal complaints such as hot flashes usually decrease at the time of menopause. Unfortunately vaginal dryness will be here to stay unless you treat it.

The decline in estrogen experienced during perimenopause and menopause may cause:

• the vagina to become shorter and narrower
• the vagina to lose some of its elasticity
• the blood supply and secretions to decrease
• a decrease in vaginal lubrication during sex
• the thinner vaginal walls to become more susceptible to infection
• intercourse to become painful

Non-hormonal Therapy

I can’t emphasize enough the importance of fitness, a nutrition-rich diet, relaxation, and a positive spirit to keep your entire body, including your vagina, in tip-top shape. All the other suggested remedies should be done only in addition to a healthy lifestyle if you want to benefit fully.

I’ve already mentioned kegel exercises with and without weights in another article. Now I want to focus on the non-hormonal treatments you can try. Remember that each woman is unique and what works for some simply doesn’t work for others. Try these methods to see what works for you.

Do

• Use water-based lubricants
• Use vaginal moisturizers which may provide more continuous benefits than simply lubricants
• Drink lots of water
• Eat yogurt (to reduce bacterial infections and vaginal irriations)
• Soy may help relieve vaginal dryness
• Pure Vitamin E applied as a cream, oil or suppository to relieve itching and irritation

Avoid

• Avoid oil-based products such as Vaseline and baby oil
• Avoid products containing alcohol (drying) or perfume(irritating)
• Avoid antihistamines (drying)
• Avoid or decrease your caffeine intake (drying)
• Avoid or decrease your alcohol intake (drying)
• Avoid diuretics (drying)


To read about menopause and sex.

To read about Kegel Exercises click here

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