Vaginal dryness is a common symptom suffered by almost one in three menopausal women. Vaginal dryness causes irritation, bleeding, and pain during sexual intercourse. It can cause embarrassment and avoidance of sexual intercourse during a period when menopause makes you feel jarring and off course.
The hormone estrogen decreases during menopause and the physical changes your body goes through can cause a lack of moisture in the vagina and a decrease in natural lubrication during foreplay. As the vaginal walls thin and become less elastic, intercourse can cause burning and pain. You can try water-based lubricants and they can help eliminate the discomfort you are feeling. There are also over-the-counter vaginal moisturizers.
You may want to avoid making love altogether. If your spouse is also experiencing their own problems with erectile function, it may seem like sex is off limits and this can put a strain on your marriage.
The course of action you should take is to consult with your gynecologist first. He or she will examine it for other possible causes first, just to rule out something more serious. He or she might then suggest alternative treatments, such as HRT, oral hormone replacement therapy, or MHT, menopausal hormone therapy, such as an estrogen patch. These have proven to be very effective in getting your sex life back on track, but they are not without their side effects. Be sure to review treatment options with your doctor before you start taking them.
If hormone treatment is too strong for you, or it is not right for you, you can take a vaginal estrogen cream, which has a lower dose of estrogen and will help your body produce natural lubrication again. Another form is a vaginal estrogen ring that is inserted into the vagina where it can release a constant dose of estrogen. The ring itself is very flexible and soft and is replaced every three months. You can also take the vaginal estrogen tablet, it is a pessary that is inserted every day for about three weeks and then skips a week. Again, check with your gynecologist to see if these treatments may be right for you.
You can try some of these at home to ease your symptoms.:
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Avoid douching or bubble baths, as both can lead to irritating vaginal dryness. Don’t use any of the new vaginal lubricants that are supposed to increase your sensations. Most use peppermint oil, which is very irritating on sensitive areas, that’s how they work and will only make things worse.
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Try extending foreplay into your encounters and try to find a way to fix your problem, so that you are both satisfied. Sometimes taking on an adventurous role when making love and keeping an open mind will help you get through this moment.
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Ask your gynecologist about other solutions that she may recommend. She has seen this often in her practice and she may have something she can use. Ask about alternative therapies and possible herbal supplements.