What Causes Vaginal Dryness?
When you’re experiencing vaginal dryness, you just don’t feel like yourself. The discomfort, pain, and embarrassment have you feeling down and like there is no one to talk to. This is understandable, but there are some things you should know about vaginal dryness, which may change the way you feel about it. First of all, there are options! Vaginal dryness can occur for a number of reasons, it affects many women just like you, and there are ways to replenish vaginal moisture and get back to feeling like yourself. The Replens™ brand wants you to know the “ins and outs” of vaginal dryness so that you can rediscover the healthier, happier you.
What is Vaginal Dryness?
Let’s start with the basics, like “what exactly is vaginal dryness?” According to Mayo Clinic, a thin layer of moisture typically coats your vaginal walls and when you’re sexually aroused, more blood flows to your vagina, creating more lubricating vaginal fluid. Vaginal dryness typically occurs when there is a decline in estrogen, affecting the amount or consistency of your vaginal moisture. There are, however, other causes of vaginal dryness that you may not know about.
Common Causes of Vaginal Dryness
- Menopause
Menopause is a natural transition that occurs as women leave their childbearing years. As early as our mid-30’s, estrogen levels can begin to decline. As mentioned above, this decline in estrogen can lead to vaginal dryness, as well as other common symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings. Unfortunately, lower estrogen levels remain post-menopause and vaginal dryness continues and tends to worsen over time.
- Cancer Treatment
Breast cancer treatment can bring quite a few unwanted side effects. While you may be familiar with the more common ones, like fatigue and hair loss, women tend not to talk about others like vaginal dryness. According to BreastCancer.org, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and ovarian shutdown or removal can all lead to vaginal dryness because they cause premature menopause-like symptoms.
- Diabetes
The most common form of diabetes is Type 2 Diabetes, which is defined by the American Diabetes Association as a “problem with your body that causes blood glucose (sugar) levels to rise higher than normal”. Women with diabetes actually have a 33% increased incidence of vaginal dryness (Replens). This may be due to functional vascular changes, neuropathy, or tissue glycosylation related to diabetes and side effects from diabetic medications.
While menopause, cancer treatment, and diabetes are the most common causes of vaginal dryness, they are not the only ones. Additional Causes of vaginal dryness include:
- Breast-feeding
- Childbirth
- Tampon Use
- Medications
- Excessive exercise
- Stress
How to Take Care of Vaginal Dryness
The good news is that you don’t have to live with vaginal dryness. No matter the cause behind your discomfort, lubricants and vaginal moisturizers can help. A lubricant, like Replens™ Silky Smooth, can be used prior to sex in order to help enhance intimacy in cases of vaginal dryness. For ongoing comfort and spontaneity, Replens™ Long-Lasting Vaginal Moisturizer can be used regularly and lasts up to 3 days.
A vaginal moisturizer, like Replens™, delivers moisture for days and provides immediate alleviation of dryness symptoms. Replens is different from most other lotions or lubricants because it contains a bio-adhesive that allows it to attach to dry, compacted cells and deliver continuous moisture until those cells are naturally regenerated. This allows vaginal tissues to absorb moisture leaving them hydrated.
Now that you’re familiar with what causes vaginal dryness and the options available, you can take action! Remember, you are not alone and you don’t have to live with the discomfort. With Replens™ products, you can get back to feeling like yourself!
The Vibrant Voice Ambassador’s mission is to collect interesting stories and useful articles that are relevant for mature women. Our goal is to help you maintain an active lifestyle - to Fifty and Beyond!
Chat with us on
Facebook,
Twitter and
Google+