Nearly every woman will experience vaginal dryness sometime in her life. It is most often associated with the normal decline or fluctuation of the female hormone estrogen. This fluctuation can be triggered by childbirth, breastfeeding or menopause. Dryness can also be caused by taking certain medications, exercising intensively or being under stress. It is also common to experience vaginal dryness when douching, using tampons or at the end of the menstrual cycle.