Vaginal dryness, causes and treatments

02/10/2017
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  Vagical dryness is for women one among the most common health issues. It mainly occurs in women over 50 years, especially after menopause.

  Despite the fact that vaginal dryness is a very common condition, very few women communicate their problem with their gynecologist. As vaginal dryness can deteriorate the quality of life and especially of sexual life, it should be properly treated.

What is vaginal dryness

   Vagina has many small glands which are responsible for keeping the vagina hydrated due to secretions they produce. Uterus also contributes to the moisture of the vagina as it also has secretions and moisture the mucosal of the vagina. Due to these secretions there can be maintained the normal vaginal lubrication, tissue elasticity and acidity (pH).

  Vaginal dryness occurs mainly in postmenopausal women but it may also occur even in younger women. The result of vaginal dryness is pain during sex, dryness, and inbalance of vaginal pH, which in turn significantly increases the incidense of vaginal infections and fungal infections.

Causative factors

    The most common cause of vaginal dryness is atrophic vaginitis, an inflammation of the vagina and uterine walls along with inbalance of vaginal microflora and estrogen levels.

   Another important cause is the decrease of estrogen levels. Estrogens are the main regulator of vaginal health and they are also called as female sex hormones. The estrogen levels may be reduced due to:

  • menopause or pre-menopause
  • radiotherapy or chemotherapy
  • anti-estrogen medications
  • pregnancy, childbirth or breast-feeding
  • immune disorder (Sjogren’s syndrome)
  • hysterectomy (ovarian removal)

Additional factors such as smoking or excessive vaginal cleanliness with inappropriate cleansing soaps can also lead to vaginal dryness.

How it is treated

   Dryness of the vagina is not a permanent condition, but can be overcome and reversed to a large extent.

Application of lubricating or moisturizing gel and suppositories

   There are many lubricating gels which help restore the moisture of the vagina but in short term. They offer temporary relief and should be applied in to the vagine prior to the sex, so that there is no vaginal injury during contact.

   Moisturizing gels and suppositories are applied daily and offer an effective treatment for vaginal dryness as they help maintain the moisture longer. They usually contain hyaluronic acid that can absorb water and thus achieves hydration of the vaginal mucosa. The systematic use of moisturizing gels and suppositories can substitute the hormone replacement treatments.  Avoid gels containing glycerin.

Hormone replacement therapy

   It is an estrogen treatment used to treat menopausal symptoms, including atrophic vaginitis. However, as various adverse health effects have been reported with the use of estrogen, it is recommended not be used without the permission of the gynecologist.

Changing lifestyle

   Changes in lifestyle can alsο help reduce vaginal dryness. Quitting smoking, avoiding unnecessary vaginal cleansing and increased consumption of fruits and vegetables can help treat vaginal dryness. Moreover, more frequent sex helps to increase the blood flow in the vagina and thus it is achieved natural lubrication.

   In Vita4you you can find a great variety of products to treat vaginal dryness.

Iro Gounitsioti

Msc, Bsc Clinical Dietitian - Nutritionist specialized in obesity, diabetes management, athletic nutrition as well as in nutritional supplements.

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Disclaimer

The content of this blogspot is not and can not be considered as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All information is provided to readers solely for informational purposes. There is no intention to substitute this content for personalized medical advice, diagnosis, prognosis or treatment.

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