Your sex life plays a vital role in your well-being and relationships. As you age, factors like menopause can make sex more difficult and painful due to vaginal dryness.
If you’re concerned about sex due to vaginal dryness, New England Women’s Healthcare offers women’s health exams, Pap smears, ultrasounds, and menopause treatments.
Our OB/GYN specialists identify causes of vaginal dryness and recommend tips and treatments to rejuvenate your sex life.
Vaginal dryness has several causes; the most common is decreased estrogen during menopause. Lower estrogen reduces vaginal lubrication.
However, menopause isn’t the only reason you may be feeling drier during sex. Other common causes of vaginal dryness include:
Some women aren’t bothered by vaginal dryness, but for others, it causes pain, discomfort, and reduced arousal during sex. Severe cases may lead to avoiding sex, affecting relationships.
Lubrication in the vaginal canal makes sex comfortable. When tissues are dry, friction and pain can result.
Dryness causes chafing, itching, and burning, making arousal difficult. Thinner tissues from dryness increase the risk of tears and infections, further lowering desire.
Decreased lubrication affects your libido and takes a toll on your mental health and feelings about yourself. This also affects your ability to become aroused and have intercourse that feels good, not painful.
You don’t have to live with vaginal dryness and its impact on your sex life. There are many options to increase lubrication for a more pleasurable experience.
We offer several recommendations to increase vaginal lubrication on your own. For example, staying hydrated and eating a healthy diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids naturally increases tissue lubrication.
Use water-based lubricants or over-the-counter moisturizers, preferably with hyaluronic acid, to improve comfort.
Other tips we offer include quitting smoking, exercising regularly, and avoiding harsh soaps. Manage stress and try meditation to increase your libido. Avoid douching, which decreases natural lubrication within your vagina.
If lifestyle tips aren’t enough to satisfy your needs, we also offer hormone replacement therapy to restore your body’s estrogen levels naturally. As estrogen levels rise, the vaginal tissues become thicker and regain the lubrication they lost during menopause.
Nonhormonal medications can also increase lubrication. Laser procedures or prescription creams may help make sex more comfortable. We discuss your goals and medical history to determine the best treatment for your needs.
For menopause and vaginal dryness treatments, call your nearest New England Women's Healthcare office or schedule an appointment online.
