Vaginal Dryness – What Is It And How To Beat It?

There are a number of reasons why you could be experiencing vaginal dryness and it is definitely not something that you should feel ashamed about.

There is so much going on inside your body that you don’t even realize and that includes a flurry of hormones, especially amongst women.

Vaginal Dryness

Vaginal dryness happens to women at all different stages in their life from start to finish. Let’s have a look at some of the ways that vaginal dryness could be happening to you and at some possible remedies for what you are experiencing.

Vaginal dryness is a common condition that often affects women as they go through menopause. While the condition has been associated with older women, young women can experience it, too. Women who experience vaginal dryness tend to be uncomfortable during sexual intercourse.

Vaginal dryness can be very embarrassing, especially if you cannot fulfill your companion’s sexual desire. If you have been affected by this condition, and you are currently looking for a solution, then keep reading. We will comprehensively talk about vaginal dryness, causes, symptoms, diagnosis and the best treatment methods. Get yourself comfortable.[1]

What is vaginal dryness?

As the name suggests, vaginal dryness is a result of lack of moisture in the vaginal linings. Women with vaginal dryness experience pain during penetration, as there is too much friction because there is no lubrication. The friction will sometimes cause a rupture of the vaginal lining resulting in bleeding.

Vaginal dryness occurs when the body is not producing as much estrogen as it did in the past. Estrogen, a hormone, serves several different purposes in the female body. It is especially important when it comes to vaginal health.

It is estrogen which helps the vagina stay lubricated, while at the same time ensuring that the wall of the vagina is kept nice and healthy. This means that if you are experiencing dryness of the vagina, it is likely that you will also be experiencing other problems.

We will talk about the symptoms of dryness in a short while. All you really need to know right now is that this problem is characterized by your vagina not being lubricated properly. There may still be some ‘wetness’, but not as much as in the past.

Causes of vaginal dryness

Vaginal dryness mostly affects older women due to the fact that the estrogen hormone responsible for keeping the vaginal lining thick, elastic and lubricated decreases as menopause approaches. Estrogen hormones are produced in the ovaries and control the development of a female’s physique, like body shape and breasts. Estrogen also plays an important role in the menstrual cycle by keeping the lining of the vagina thick, moisturized and healthy.

As the hormone decreases, the vagina will experience vaginal atrophy. Vaginal atrophy is the thinning, drying and lack of elasticity of the vaginal lining. In most cases, affected persons will see their vagina change color from light pink to blue.[2]

Vaginal dryness is not a condition in itself.

Instead, it is a symptom of a multitude of other conditions. Most of these conditions are tied to a drop is estrogen levels, although not all of them.

Essentially, if you are suffering from a condition that can impact the hormone balance in your body, there is a chance that it could lead to vaginal dryness.

The most common ’cause’ of the condition is menopause. In fact, the vast majority of women going through menopause will suffer from dryness to some degree.

The reason why estrogen levels drop is because the body no longer needs as much as it. Estrogen is important for the menstrual cycle and childbirth, and when you are no longer going to be going through that, your production falls. 

The same will occur if you go through what is known as ‘surgical menopause’ i.e. when one or both of your ovaries are removed. Your body will no longer produce as much estrogen as it did previously. Your doctor will be able to provide you with advice on how to deal with this, however.

When women have given birth, and when they are breastfeeding, they are more likely to see a hormonal imbalance in the body, which will have an impact on estrogen production.

These conditions can also cause vaginal dryness:

  • Sjogren’s Syndrome: this is an autoimmune condition which causes inflammation in certain glands in your body. While it is rare, it can have an impact on the tissues in the vagina, which will result in them becoming dry.
  • Depression: there is some evidence that depression can result in dry vaginas. However, it is more likely to be the antidepressants which you are prescribed with, which are well-known for their ability to reduce sexual libido.
  • Reduction in libido: any condition which can have an impact on the libido i.e. your desire to have sex, can also cause vaginal dryness.

Finally; there are certain drugs which can influence estrogen production. For example; some forms of chemotherapy. There are also certain drugs that have been specifically designed to reduce estrogen production in the body e.g. certain drugs which are used for the treatment of breast cancer. Your doctor should list that vaginal dryness may be a problem when you are prescribed with the medication.

Vaginal dryness after childbirth

Postpartum vaginal dryness is completely normal and happens to the majority of women who have just given birth.

There are so many different hormones coursing through your body when you are pregnant, After you have delivered, your hormones return to normal so quickly and estrogen and progesterone in particular are on a rapid decline.

Estrogen is what provides a natural lubricant and this is what leads to any vaginal dryness after pregnancy. This can result in discomfort particularly when attempting to have sex.

For most people, this will disappear by itself as your body readjusts to not being pregnant. You can also take estrogen supplements if you want to speed up the process and help your body get back to normal quicker.

For most women, they do not feel like having sex immediately after childbirth anyway but if this does go on to become more of a problem, it is best to consult your doctor for further advice on the matter.

Vaginal dryness during menopause

If you are at that age where you are reaching your menopause, there are many possible side effects, including vaginal dryness.

For the majority of women, the menopause process lasts for a total of 4 years and is usually signified by a lack of periods. In addition to all the changes happening to your body, certain hormones are dropping and many of them will never be the same.

The lead-up and early stages of the menopause are known as perimenopause, and one of the symptoms is vaginal dryness. Reduced estrogen causes a number of changes in the vagina during this time including dryness. The decrease is testosterone leads to a lack of sex drive and this combined with the vaginal dryness will not usually spell good news for your sex drive. 59 percent of women reported that sex became painful during menopause and most of them stopped having it altogether. This is obviously a real issue because the natural lubricant is something that is necessary to enjoy a good and pain free sex life for both parties. So what can you do to counteract this side effect during menopause?

The best ways are through hormonal treatments, i.e. supplements and drugs that can be prescribed by your physician. If the vaginal dryness is something you want to treat at home, there are many vaginal moisturisers and lubricants that you can try so have a look what is available on the market.

Vaginal dryness during ovulation

Ovulation is a time when naturally your sex drive should increase and you WANT to be having more sex during ovulation, particularly if you are trying for a baby. However, many women report experiencing vaginal dryness during ovulation.

So why is this and what can be done about it? Each month is a cycle, from the start of the period, the end of your period and ovulation.

Most people will actually feel wetter down there during ovulation due to the increase in vaginal mucus. This is not always the case however and vaginal dryness during ovulation can happen due to your hormones going up and down at a fast rate. If you are ovulating and finding sex a little painful because of dryness, use a water based lubricant and also make sure to do lots of foreplay before sex.

Vaginal dryness and bleeding

Your period plays a big part in how your vaginal feels during the month. Many women find that they experience vaginal dryness either right before or right after their period.

This does, of course, vary from woman to woman but you will probably have a fairly good idea of where you sit on this scale because of past experience. Many people worry about whether there are any side effects of vaginal dryness.

While it is not particularly dangerous, some women do experience bleeding when they are dry downstairs, particularly during sex. If you are bleeding during sex and you think it’s due to the dryness of your vagina, stop and seek further advice for your doctor.

If you have tried using lube and have exhausted other methods, it’s best to refrain from sex for the time being until you get a little more insight into what is going on.

It’s not all…

There are even more causes of vaginal dryness other than what has been mentioned but these are the most common reasons and are the MAIN reasons why women are noticing their vagina is much drier than usual.

There are some underlying health conditions that could be causing vaginal dryness. If you are noticing a difference downstairs but are not experiencing any of the typical reasons and hormonal changes that have been mentioned, it’s best to get yourself checked out.

This might not be a subject that is ideal to talk about with your doctor but it’s so important that you do so that anything more serious can be ruled out. 

Causes of low estrogen hormone levels

Decrease in estrogen levels can be caused by the following:

  • Thyroid disorders
  • Chemotherapy treatment
  • Radiation treatment
  • Poof functioning of the pituitary gland
  • Long term use of anti-estrogen drugs – being underweight
  • Depression
  • Breastfeeding
  • Childbirth
  • Intense exercise

Doctors have also suggested that the decrease in the hormone may be a family inherited issue especially if your family has been having hormonal issues. Additionally, women who smoke experience a faster decrease in the estrogen levels as compared to non-smoking women.

Effects and symptoms of vaginal dryness

Vaginal dryness not only causes discomfort during sex but can also affect one mentally and physically. Below are some of the effects and symptoms one may experience.[3]

  • Bleeding after intercourse
  • Vaginal itching
  • Soreness
  • Intense paining during intercourse
  • Burning sensation
  • Lack of interest in sex or low libido.

Additionally, one may experience mood changes or even low self-esteem.

When do you need to visit a specialist?

At first, some women may assume the symptoms are normal. However, if you have these symptoms and they persist, see your doctor. Leaving the condition untreated for long may result in severe vaginal damage, such as rupturing of the vaginal lining and developments of cracks.[4]

A doctor will perform a pelvic examination and examine your vaginal lining for any lacerations and even collect a vaginal discharge sample for the testing.

There is no known test for the vaginal tests but a specialist will easily recognize the problem if you are open and share every detail with him/her.[5]

Treatments for vaginal dryness

If you have vaginal dryness, then it could indicate an underlying condition which needs to be treated. You should talk to your doctor about this. They will be in the best position to help you to deal with the condition. There are several treatments that can be used.

Topical estrogen creams

Perhaps the best way to combat vaginal dryness is to increase the amount of estrogen in the body. This can be done ‘topically’, and there are several solutions. Some will be creams that can be applied to the vagina daily, while others involve applicators being inserted into the vagina for several weeks which will release estrogen into the body at regular intervals.

Over the counter options

This will (mostly) involve the use of lubricants. Although, they are not there to be used regularly. Instead, you use them just before sex. Make sure that you only opt for ‘water-based’ lubricants. Oil-based can cause more issues.

Regular sex

Regular sex will help ensure that the vagina stays healthy and well-lubricated. It doesn’t even need to be with a partner. You could penetrate yourself with a ‘sex toy’ for the same effect. Once every couple of days should be more than enough. If you go without sex for long periods of time, estrogen levels can fall.

Avoiding certain hygiene products

It is important that you do not use fragranced hygiene products around your vagina. This can cause dryness. Make sure that you use dedicated cleaners for ‘sensitive areas’. There will be plenty of options available.

Eat certain foods

Finally, the consumption of certain foods can help deal with vaginal dryness. All foods which contain phytoestrogens should work here. Phytoestrogens increase estrogen production. Nuts, seeds, and certain beans are perfect for this.

Spanish Fly products

Once your doctor has ascertained that the condition is vaginal dryness, you can begin treatment right away. There are numerous treatments but one that is not only incomparable to the rest but also the best is natural; thus there is no need to ingest chemicals into your body in the form of estrogen boosting drugs. This method is FDA approved and hence you don’t need to worry about any side effects.[6]

Using Spanish fly to treat vaginal dryness

Spanish fly is one the most popular aphrodisiacs widely used by women to boost low libido. If you have been uncomfortable during sex, then its time you said goodbye to the discomfort and try Spanish fly. Made from the 100% natural ingredients, Spanish Fly Pro will give you a craving for sex and desire by just taking few drops.[7]

History of Spanish fly

The use of Spanish fly dates back over two thousand years ago during the Roman Empire regime when King Augustus Caesar’s wife used Spanish fly to boost sexual desire and blackmail her guests. At one time, King Henry IV used Spanish fly to seduce women to participate in orgies. Several years later, scientists noticed that bees left a white substance that would attract Spanish fly and this made them curious on how it worked. It is then that they tested the substance on women and the results were surprising. Women grew strong sexual desire.

What is Spanish fly?

Spanish fly is a sexual enhancement product obtained from powdered bee mostly found in Southern Europe. In the past, people crushed these bees to make a substance called ‘Cantharinid‘ used to make love potions. However, people experienced negative side effects that led to it being banned in most nations. This forced scientists to go back and do further research. After years of hard work, they finally came up with a super safe libido-enhancing product that was embraced by the FDA. The product was Spanish super fly drug.

What is the color and taste of Spanish fly?

The color of Spanish fly differs since there are numerous categories of Spanish fly products. However, most of these drugs are colorless due to the nature of the cantharidin compound.

 

Since there are multiple products, some will come with a fresh taste while others may not. You can mix the drug with different drinks or just take it as usual. It won’t change the color of the drink.

What is the dosage?

The dosage may vary from one user to another. However, the dosage will mostly range from 10 to 15 drops for most users. You can check the manufacturer’s description for the right dosage.[8]

How safe is Spanish fly?

Spanish fly has been used throughout the centuries and despite the failures that were witnessed at one point, scientists have perfected it. The USA Food and Drug Administration has now approved the drug. Some Spanish fly competitors have been spreading rumors that the drug is dangerous, but since its use for three decades there have been no reported deaths.[9]

What is the best Spanish fly product?

Well, there are numerous products but there is one specific formulation that people have given a positive review and that is Spanish Fly Pro. This is the best because it’s made of 100% herbal ingredients and also helps deal with vaginal dryness. The drug has been tested by numerous labs worldwide and found to have no side effects. The product proposed is the best as per our knowledge and years of experience in dealing with female genital issues.[10]

Conclusion

Vaginal dryness is a surprisingly common problem among women of all ages. In fact, most women will experience vaginal dryness at least once in their life. The good thing is that it is not necessarily a serious problem. In the majority of cases, it is easy to treat and to keep at bay. 

Now that you know a little bit more about vaginal dryness at different stages throughout your life, hopefully you can see that you are not alone with what is going on.

There are things that you can do about this issue and it isn’t something that you have to just put up with. While for most people, your hormones will re-balance and the problem will fix itself over time, occasionally you might need to seek further advice or treatment from your healthcare professional.


[1] Dunn KM, Croft PR, Hackett GI. Sexual problems: a study of the prevalence and need for health care in the general population. Fam Pract. 1998;15:519–24. 

[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10078790

[3] Leiblum SR, Hayes RD, Wanser RA, Nelson JS. Vaginal dryness: a comparison of prevalence and interventions in 11 countries. J Sex Med. 2009;6:2425–33.

[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19627461

[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20883118

[6] Palacios S. Managing urogenital atrophy. Maturitas. 2009;63:315–18.

[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19493638

[8] Panay N, Fenton A. Vulvovaginal atrophy – a tale of neglect. Climacteric. 2014;17:1–2.

[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24423884

[10] Sturdee DW, Panay N. Recommendations for the management of postmenopausal vaginal atrophy. Climacteric. 2010;13:509–22.