It’s no surprise that as you get older, your hormones fluctuate and change over time. As a woman, this means you have to deal with menopause, which often leads to vaginal dryness. This condition can make your everyday life very uncomfortable, especially when it comes to sexual intercourse.
But don’t worry, Dr. John Paul Roberts and our team are ready to help you tackle all of the concerns you have related to menopause. We’ll listen as you tell us your symptoms, and help you find a treatment for vaginal dryness that eases your discomfort.
Your vagina is a complex part of your body, especially when it comes to reproduction. When you’re younger, there’s a layer of moisture that coats your vaginal walls. This not only helps sperm survive during your reproductive years, but also provides lubrication to make sex comfortable.
Your hormones are responsible for the environment in your vagina. However, with aging and certain conditions come alterations in your hormones that lead to vaginal changes. A drop in your estrogen level at menopause is the most common cause of vaginal dryness. However, there are several other causes of this condition as well:
Certain medications and immune system disorders may also lead to decreased moisture in your vaginal canal.
Although it may seem obvious that the main symptom of this condition is dryness in your vagina, there are a few other signs that can point to this condition as well.
You could also experience:
You may also experience frequent urinary tract infections if your estrogen is low, because adequate estrogen also helps keep the tissues surrounding your vagina healthy.
So is there anything you can do to ease the symptoms of vaginal dryness? The answer is yes. There are many treatments that may help to increase the natural lubrication.
Because this condition is often caused by decreased estrogen production, Dr. Roberts sometimes suggests hormone replacement therapy to help increase moisture in your vagina. He may give you topical forms of estrogen, such as a cream or a gel, to use in your vagina.
Another treatment option is to use water-based lubricants during sexual intercourse to help with the dryness. These lubricants may last for a few hours, making them ideal for short-term relief from decreased moisture.
Dr. Roberts may also suggest the use of vaginal moisturizers to relieve some of your symptoms. These moisturizers sometimes last for several days with just one use.
There are also certain medications that you can take that help your body replenish the moisture, such as OsphenaⓇ, as well as laser treatments that can revitalize vaginal tissues so they produce their own moisture again.
Don’t continue to suffer from vaginal dryness. If you want treatment options, contact our office in Plano, Texas, to make an appointment. Just give us a call or use our online booking tool.
