Vaginal dryness is most common in women of menopause age and may be caused by fluctuations in hormones due to the onset of peri-menopause and menopause. The Mayo Clinic explains that as estrogen levels decline, about 40 percent of women in menopause have some degree of symptoms ranging from vaginal itching, burning, dryness, pain or bleeding. Pain from intercourse, hot flashes and severe mood swings often accompany vaginal symptoms. Dryness may be a temporary condition or chronic, depending on the source of the problem. There are a variety of treatments you can use to relieve this condition and make yourself more comfortable.
Step 1
Avoid using scented soaps, lotions, perfumes, douches and feminine hygiene sprays, which all contribute to drying out sensitive vaginal tissues adding to the problem of ongoing vaginal dryness.
Step 2
Prevent vaginal dryness by wearing only natural fiber clothing, keeping it on the loose side for better air circulation. This decreases the risk of vaginal infections and promotes healing.
Step 3
Use personal lubricants as a way of reducing symptoms of vaginal dryness. These are non-hormonal, so they have no effect on any of the hormonal systems, and are applied locally. They are made for daily use and available for purchase in pharmacies.
Step 4
Add more phytoestrogens and soy-based foods to your diet. Foods such as tofu, soymilk, raw soybeans called edemame, and flaxseed have been found to reduce symptoms of menopause and relieve vaginal dryness, irritation and hot flashes, reports University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). Including these foods in your diet several times a week will yield better results rather than taking supplements. Find these at health food stores and in the organic section of local grocery stores.
Step 5
Use black cohosh herbal extract, suggests the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). Black cohosh is an herb that has estrogen-like qualities and helps to relieve vaginal dryness as well as other menopausal symptoms. Generally, the dose consists of a few drops of extract mixed in water daily. Because each person's needs are individual, it's best to discuss dosing with your health care practitioner or with the herbal expert in the health food store where you purchase it.
Step 6
Visit your gynecologist if you are still experiencing problems after following the above steps. She will perform a physical to ascertain the reason for your vaginal dryness.
Step 7
Try Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to relieve menopausal symptoms and vaginal dryness, suggests the Mayo Clinic. There are several different forms of HRT including bio-identical hormones that come from natural sources and are alleged to be safer and more gentle to the system. This should be considered a last resort for treatment of vaginal dryness as there are many other remedies that can help in the meantime.
Tips and Warnings
- Phytoestrogen compounds known as isoflavones are found in soy products and additional compounds known as lignans are found in flaxseed and flaxseed oil. Be sure to use products from both groups. Use these treatments one at a time to see which work the best for you. Several can be combined for optimal relief.
- Although black cohosh may help relieve some symptoms, too large a dose may cause liver damage, stomach discomfort and headaches. HRT does have side effects, regardless of what kind you use and may increase the risk of breast and uterine cancer.
Things You'll Need
- Black cohosh
- Soy products
- Flaxseed
- Personal lubricants
- Natural fiber clothing
- HRT
