What Causes Vaginal Dryness?
Many factors, including washing habits, clothing detergents, and hormonal fluctuations, can contribute to vaginal dryness.
Menopause is a common cause of low levels in estrogen. Typically, this occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. Lower estrogen levels can cause vaginal dryness, which may cause pain during intercourse, or general discomfort.
How to Cure Vaginal Dryness from Menopause
The best solution for menopause-related dryness depends on the frequency of irritation.
Are you experiencing pain during intercourse with a partner? Then you might want to purchase some personal lubricant for your intimate activities.
Are you feeling uncomfortable during your daily routine? Perhaps you should investigate some vaginal moisturizers.
Does vaginal dryness affect your life both in and out of the bedroom? Maybe you should try lube and moisturizers together. You may also benefit from local estrogen therapy (LET) products, which help to restore estrogen directly to vaginal tissue. This restores internal lubrication processes without imbalancing hormones throughout the body.
What Lube Is Best for Me?
One of the easiest solutions to vaginal dryness during intercourse is to use personal lubricant before and during the deed.
Water-based lubricant is the least invasive to the body. Most brand-name lubricants offer water-based products, including K-Y Jelly, Astroglide, and Trojan.
Pros of Water-based Lubes
- Won’t stain sheets
- Compatible with condoms
- Won’t damage silicone vibrators or toys
- Gentle on skin – unlikely to cause irritation
Potential Cons of Water-based Lubes
- Dry out somewhat quickly
- Can get sticky due to repeated friction
- Will wash away when used underwater or in the shower
Silicone personal lubricants are the longest-lasting and smoothest-feeling type of lube.
Pros of Silicone Lube
- Stay applied longer than other lubricants
- Won’t wash away in water (say hello to intimacy in the bath!)
- Are nearly frictionless – ultra smooth feel
- Compatible with condoms
Potential Cons of Silicone Lube
- Slightly more expensive than other lube
- Cause damage to silicone vibrators and toys
- Might reduce sensation during intercourse. Some couples experience a lessening in sensation due to the ultra-smooth feel of silicone
Oil-based lubes come in many forms, including olive oil, coconut oil, and baby oil. Oil-based lubrication is a tricky matter. Some can use them freely without concern, while others experience substantial deterrents and can’t use them regularly. According to Wikipedia, canola oil and mineral oil have both been approved as personal lubricants by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
Pros of Oil-based Lube
- Some are edible and even classify as food products
- Provide long-term moisturizing to skin
- Are easily purchased in large amounts
Potential Cons of Oil-based Lube
- Have been known to cause serious irritation
- Can interfere with balance of helpful bacteria
- Disintegrate condoms, making them useless
Vaginal Moisturizers
Moisturizers are intended to replenish naturally occurring lubrication in your vagina. They are typically used by women experiencing ongoing or consistent discomfort from vaginal dryness. Vaginal moisturizers are also used to avoid friction during sexual relations, but are applied differently than lubricant.
Moisturizers can be applied regularly to relieve discomfort. Most moisturizers need at least 2 hours to work as intended. If you’re using moisturizers to enhance intercourse, make sure you apply them with that time constraint in mind.
If you don’t have enough advance notice to apply moisturizers, you can use any of the lubes mentioned above for some instant gratification.
At Shades of Love, we do our best to provide products that ignite your relationship, and bring a whole new dimension to your love life. If you’re experiencing vaginal dryness, visit our store to learn more about our products. Don’t let your love life suffer any longer!
