What Causes Vaginal Dryness?

Millions of us experience it, but we’re not always necessarily the most eager to discuss it. Yep, we’re talking vaginal dryness. Vaginal dryness during sex can be frustrating, to say the least, but the good news is there’s a lot you can do to help find relief.

So, what is vaginal dryness, what causes it, and what can you do about it? Here at Ann Summers, we’re answering all your questions.

What Are Vaginal Dryness Symptoms?

The main symptom of vaginal dryness is, well, dryness ‘down there’. However, there are a few further symptoms you may experience which can be caused by vaginal dryness. These include feeling sore, experiencing pain during sex, needing to go to the loo more often than usual, or having repeated UTIs (urinary tract infections).

What Causes Vaginal Dryness?

From the ones you probably know about to the ones you maybe don’t, there are so many reasons vaginal dryness can occur. Menopause, medications, childbirth, stress… sometimes, something as simple as a lack of foreplay can cause vaginal dryness.

As with lots of body issues, problems with vaginal dryness usually come down to hormones. Estrogen is the hormone tasked with creating vaginal fluid – simply put, it helps keep everything lubricated and healthy. If you experience a loss of estrogen, this decrease means your vagina will naturally produce less moisture.

Loss of estrogen is most commonly associated with ladies entering menopause but can also occur for several different reasons, including childbirth and breastfeeding, chemotherapy, certain medications, autoimmune disorders, and birth control tablets. As with any health issue, it’s important you talk to your doctor. They’ll be familiar with the condition and can offer you the best advice from a medical perspective.

As you can see from the reasons listed, vaginal dryness and its causes are all common. What you’re experiencing is totally normal and best of all, there are loads of things both you and your partner can do to help the problem and ensure your fun in the bedroom isn’t affected.

Does Vaginal Dryness Go Away?

Sometimes vaginal dryness is temporary. It all depends on why you’re experiencing it. Vaginal dryness can be brought on by stress, using highly fragranced bath and body products, or even a hangover! Yep, as if hangovers couldn’t get any worse, the dehydration and decreased sensitivity in your nerve endings can affect the mind-body connection and contribute to vaginal dryness. If you feel yours is caused by any of these reasons, it should go away once you’ve tackled the other issues at hand.

However, vaginal dryness can also be more of a long-term condition, for example, if it’s caused by ongoing illness or following menopause. Again, your doctor should be able to provide help with specific conditions.

How to Treat Vaginal Dryness

If you’re experiencing vaginal dryness and it’s affecting your sex life, we’re sure you’re wondering what to do. Here are some simple changes you can make to decrease vaginal dryness.