Treatment for vaginal dryness, painful sex, frequent UTIs, and urgency.
Treatment for vaginal dryness, painful sex, frequent UTIs, and urgency.
The hormone estrogen helps provide moisture and elasticity to the skin in the vaginal area. But this abruptly changes when estrogen declines after menopause. You may initially notice irritation or discomfort, but with time vaginal dryness can worsen and impact your sexual wellness, quality of life, and overall health.
The decrease in vaginal lubrication is primarily caused by declining estrogen levels. Estrogen plays a vital role in maintaining vaginal lubrication, and as estrogen levels decrease during perimenopause and menopause, a decrease in vaginal lubrication becomes noticeable. The medical term for this is vaginal atrophy or the genitourinary syndrome of menopause.
Vaginal lubrication may also be affected by various other factors, including stress, the anticipation of discomfort during sexual activity, fatigue, certain medications, and insufficient stimulation.
Many women will find that over-the-counter vaginal moisturizers and lubricants do not adequately resolve the problem. The exciting part? You can restore natural vaginal lubrication and moisture with localized vaginal estrogen. It's a targeted prescription treatment that restores moisture and healthy blood flow to the vaginal tissues. In fact, you may find that you don't need additional lubricants or moisturizers anymore.
Yes. Vaginal estrogen can help restore your body’s ability to produce lubrication again. You can notice improvements in vaginal moisture in two weeks. By the time you reach the four to six-week mark, you can expect improved comfort during sexual activity. After three months, you should experience the full benefits.
No. It will probably get worse the further you are from menopause. However, taking proactive steps to address it sooner rather than later can lead to improved comfort and well-being.
If you find yourself facing disruption to your health or quality of life, reaching out to a healthcare professional to get help with vaginal dryness is a positive step you can take.
Sharing both your physical symptoms and how they may be affecting your daily comfort, relationships, health, or sexual anjoyment can empower your medical provider to offer tailored guidance. This may include suggestions for over-the-counter remedies or appropriate prescription treatments, all aimed at addressing your personal concerns.
