Vaginal Dryness Treatments

Vaginal dryness is unfortunately a very common part of the transition into menopause. In fact, some studies report that 40 to 60 percent of women develop this symptom at some point during the menopausal transition.

Other studies have discovered that many women are not informed and/or are embarrassed to ask about vaginal dryness. However, learning more about this normal symptom of menopause is one of the best ways to seek a solution and increase one's physical and emotional wellbeing. Continue reading to learn more about the most effective approach to vaginal dryness treatment.

Vaginal Dryness	Approaches to vaginal dryness treatment will depend on a number of factors. For some women, vaginal dryness will be a mild symptom that lasts for a short period of time. For others, vaginal dryness may be more problematic; interfering with sexuality, daily comfort, and more. In these cases, treatment for vaginal dryness may be more resolute. Read on to learn about the three main approaches to vaginal dryness treatment. Three approaches for treating vaginal dryness: A woman wishing to treat vaginal dryness has three categories, or levels, of treatment available to her: (1) Lifestyle Changes, (2) Alternative Medicine and (3) Drugs and Surgery.
Vaginal Dryness Overview About Vaginal Dryness What is vaginal dryness? Symptoms Risk factors Causes of Vaginal Dryness Estrogenic causes Other hormonal causes Other causes Vaginal Dryness Treatments

Women are encouraged to begin with the least risky approach to vaginal dryness treatment-lifestyle adjustments. While these are often effective at reducing vaginal dryness, they alone do nothing to address the underlying cause of vaginal dryness-hormonal imbalance. Fortunately, natural supplements can be combined with lifestyle changes to safely and effectively treat vaginal dryness. While medical intervention is not usually necessary, some women may wish to consider drug options if they are unable to find relief from natural vaginal dryness treatment. For women considering this option, it is important to understand, and carefully weigh, the risks associated with such vaginal dryness treatment.

1: Lifestyle Changes for vaginal dryness:

Lifestyle changes are the first level of treatment available to women wishing to rid themselves of vaginal dryness. While these changes are usually cost-free and virtually risk-free, they do require the greatest amount of self-discipline and persistence. A number of self care techniques can help to ease vaginal dryness safely.

Lifestyle Adjustments: Try over-the-counter products: • Water-based vaginal lubricants decrease friction and ease discomfort during sex. • Vaginal moisturizers act directly on tissue to relieve dryness. Moisturizers may be preferred by women with irritation and burning not limited to sexual activity (can also help prevent vaginal infections. • Vitamin E oil. Sexual satisfaction: • If vaginal penetration is difficult, other techniques such as massage, extended caressing, and mutual masturbation ("outercourse") may be more comfortable and pleasurable. • Regular sexual stimulation, which promotes blood flow to the genital area, can also help maintain vaginal health. • Communication between partners can also help. Diet and Supplements: • Stay hydrated. • Eat a balanced diet: increase soy and flaxseed consumption.

What to Avoid: NOTE: Only products designed specifically for vaginal lubrication should be used to treat vaginal dryness. • Vinegar, yogurt or other douches. • Hand lotions. • Soaps. • Bubble baths. • Oil based products such as petroleum jelly and baby oil. • Antihistamine pills dry out the mucous membranes, including the vagina. • Caffeine and alcohol can dry out bodily tissues.

Making certain lifestyle changes can be easier said than done. Moreover, while these changes will help alleviate many symptoms, they do not address the cause of vaginal dryness: hormonal imbalance. Fortunately, alternative medicine treatments are available to treat the root hormonal imbalance that causes vaginal dryness. These natural treatments for vaginal dryness have a much lower risk of side effects, compared to medical hormonal treatments. Read on to learn more about natural vaginal dryness treatment.

2: Alternative Medicine:

Alternative approaches involve little to no risk and can be an extremely effective way to treat vaginal dryness. This level of approach can involve several different therapies.

Herbal supplements are the most prominent, though in addition women may turn to such techniques as acupuncture, biofeedback, massage, homeopathy, or hypnosis. All of these can be valid and effective options, though most women find that herbal supplements are the easiest alternative treatment to follow, as the others require a greater time and monetary commitment. In addition, herbal supplements are the only viable option to treat the hormonal imbalance directly at its source.

However, as a result of adding outside hormones, a woman´s body may become less capable of producing estrogen on its own. This causes a further decrease of the body´s own hormone levels.

By contrast, non-estrogenic herbs, as the name suggests, don't contain any estrogen. These herbs stimulate a woman´s hormone production by nourishing the pituitary and endocrine glands, causing them to more efficiently produce natural hormones. This ultimately results in balancing not only estrogen, but also progesterone and testosterone. Non-estrogenic herbs (e.g. Macafem) can be considered the safest and most effective way to treat vaginal dryness naturally as the body creates its own hormones and doesn´t require any outside assistance.

A combination of approaches is usually the most effective route to take. Lifestyle changes combined with alternative medicine will most likely be the best way to alleviate the symptoms of this hormonal imbalance. While this approach is optimal for many women, others will find that they want or need to go to the third level of treatment.

3: Drugs:

Interventions at the third level involve the highest risk and often the highest costs. In the West, the most common drug therapy for treating vaginal dryness is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This may be a quick and strong way to combat hormonal imbalance; but, unfortunately, it entails the risk of serious side effects, including certain types of cancer, as the following study has proven.

In 1991 the National Institute of Health (NIH) launched the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), the largest clinical trial ever undertaken in the United States. The WHI was designed to provide answers concerning possible benefits and risks associated with use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This study was canceled in July 2002, after it was proven that synthetic hormones increase risks of ovarian and breast cancer as well as heart disease, blood clots and strokes. The findings were published in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, and to this date have not been disputed.

Vaginal estrogen therapy may be an alternative to systemic estrogen treatment that may carry fewer side effect risks. This is because absorption into the bloodstream in minimal.

It is important to bear in mind that while all of these drugs have the potential to assist in vaginal dryness relief, they all carry side effect risks, some of which may outweigh any potential benefits. If symptoms are at a level of severity where a woman wishes to consider this option, it is wise to speak to a healthcare professional for guidance.

These three levels of approaches are not mutually exclusive. A woman may use different approaches at different times or any combination of them, depending on the duration and severity of symptoms. Today more and more women find that dealing with menopause symptoms is best accomplished via a combination of healthy lifestyle and alternative treatments.

Return to home page and learn more about the 34 Menopause Symptoms.