Vaginal dryness. Let’s shout it out. VAGINAL DRYNESS! If you are suffering from the effects of vaginal dryness, don’t let anyone keep you from talking about it.
Vaginal dryness is a very real condition that can impact your life in a variety of negative ways. Put the shame away, and let’s talk because you need to know that you are not alone, and there are solutions!
Let’s Put It out There Front and Center
Vaginal dryness isn’t just about feeling dry; it can also lead to:
- Itchiness
- Irritation
- Burning sensations
- Soreness
- Pain during sex
Who wants to put up with that? A lot of women do. But why? They are either afraid to talk about it, or they think that there is no solution. Or they may even think both! If you are one of these women, hiding out and gritting her teeth, read on.
First, You Are Not Alone!
If you are one of the many women suffering from vaginal dryness, the first thing you should know is that you’re not alone. Vaginal dryness occurs in women of all ages.
From young women who have recently given birth to about half of all postmenopausal women—most of
whom, possibly as many as 90%, don’t seek treatment for their symptoms.
Vaginal dryness is an extremely common condition most often caused by lower estrogen levels.
A healthy vagina requires estrogen, which promotes blood flow and ensures that cells are plump and oxygenated. If estrogen decreases then:
- Cells shrink
- The vagina can shrink
- Dryness occurs
Second, Your Provider Is Ready and Willing to Help
As we noted above, this is not an uncommon condition. Your provider will not be surprised if you bring up vaginal dryness.
If you aren’t used to talking about these type of issues, summon up your courage, your health and comfort are worth it. You could even practice talking about it with a trusted friend before you go in to make the process easier.
After the subject is out in the open, your provider will likely perform a pelvic examination. They will check for changes in the vaginal walls to rule out other causes of discomfort, such as an infection.
If necessary, they will collect samples of cells or vaginal discharge to test for infection. Your provider will also take a thorough health history, including vaginal symptoms and menstrual changes.
It might be embarrassing or uncomfortable to discuss these kinds of personal details, but providers are used to having these types of conversations.
If for some reason, your provider is not open to this discussion or tries to shut you down, you would do well to seek out another provider. It is important you seek help so that you can get your symptoms under control.
Third, There Are Solutions
Good news—there are lots of options for treating vaginal dryness! And they can range from home remedies to prescription medications to Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT).
The first thing to do is to visit with your provider so you can get to the root of the problem. Although menopause is the most common reason for vaginal dryness, there are quite a few other reasons that you may be experiencing these symptoms, including:
- Dermatological conditions like lichen sclerosus, which causes thin, patchy white skin on the genitals and lichen planus, which causes purplish, itchy bumps on mucous membranes and other areas of the body
- A precancerous condition called dysplasia
- Symptoms caused by a vaginal yeast infection or herpes virus
- Childbirth and breast-feeding
- Treatments for cancer, including chemotherapy and radiation
- When the ovaries are surgically removed for any reason
- Anti-estrogen drugs used for breast cancer or endometriosis, such as Lupron or Zoladex
- Sjögren’s syndrome which is a complex autoimmune disorder can lead to the tissues of the vagina becoming inflamed
- Antihistamines like diphenhydramine which dry up secretions
- Some antidepressants can have sexual side effects, such as vaginal dryness, decreased libido, and difficulty achieving orgasm.
- Also note that women who smoke go through menopause earlier than others who do not, and so vaginal dryness may occur at an earlier age in this group
If it turns out that your dryness isn’t caused by any of these conditions here are a few treatments your provider might recommend:
Hydration
Are you drinking enough water? Could it be that simple? Yes. Your body requires water to produce lubricating secretions like:
- Tears
- Sweat
- Saliva
- Vaginal fluid
Water intake is crucial for the proper functioning of any organ system in our bodies, including the organs in our reproductive system.
Lubrication
Don’t be afraid to lubricate. There is a large range of over-the-counter personal lubricants available.
If you’ve had trouble with these in the past, there are now a number of brands and product lines that experiment with different water- and silicone-based formulas.
With a little experimentation, you can find one that works for you. Of course, what works for one woman may not work for another.
Some women are sensitive to silicone-based products, while others are not. If you have a history of sensitivity, you may want to try products based on coconut, mineral, or olive oil first.
Estrogen
If your provider determines the underlying cause is a hormone imbalance, then they may recommend estrogen and testosterone.
Estrogen comes in all kinds of packages:
- Suppositories
- Creams
- Vagina rings
If persistent or acute dryness is an issue for you, your provider may suggest a course of prescription treatment. The great thing about estrogen therapy is it addresses the underlying problem, and not just the symptoms.
If you’re experiencing severe menopause symptoms that extend beyond vaginal dryness, oral or topical estrogen therapy may be right for you. If you have a history of or risk for cancer or blood clots, then estrogen therapy is not recommended.
Testosterone
Testosterone? Yes, testosterone can help treat patients with vaginal dryness. Your ovaries produce testosterone, which is needed for a healthy sex drive. You can apply testosterone cream to your skin or clitoris—your body will absorb the hormone, boost your sex drive, and convert some of the hormones into estrogen.
BHRT
Another option to balance out is BHRT. If you have a hormone imbalance, BHRT can replenish testosterone and estrogen.
You may feel hesitant if you’ve heard the negative reviews about HRT, but BHRT is different from mass-manufactured hormone replacement therapies.
BHRT is made up of biologically identical hormones that are plant-based compounds. Their molecular structure is similar to those found in the human body. Since they are derived from nature, plant-based hormones metabolize easily in the body, just the way nature intended.
If You’re Ready to Feel Better
We’re here to help! Our Evexipel providers are here to work from the bottom up, not just to put a band-aid on your problems. If you are suffering from vaginal dryness or are going through perimenopause, menopause, or adrenal fatigue, we can help.
Unlike other BHRT providers, EvexiPEL providers take a functional approach to treating patients with hormone imbalance.
After years of treating thousands of patients, digging deep to find the root cause of patient health concerns and intensive research, our founder Dr. DeNeui found some patients don’t respond to BHRT with subcutaneous pellets alone.
Over the years, DeNeui and her team of providers have discovered hormone imbalance is but one factor that may contribute to patients’ health struggles. The mind, body, and spirit all need to be addressed for the patient to heal fully.
Integrated Approach
This is why EvexiPEL providers take an integrated approach to treating hormone imbalance in women.
They perform a thorough exam to assess hormone levels and determine what caused the hormone imbalance (estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, thyroid, and others) and other health issues in the first place.
It’s Not Just One Thing
For many women, the natural decline in estrogen and testosterone production is to blame. Other patients may also have:
- Difficulty metabolizing hormones
- Low thyroid levels
- Poor gut health
- Other ailments
EvexiPEL providers also pay special attention to treating toxicity–physical, environmental, and mental–which may leave women more susceptible to illnesses and disease.
Contact Us Today
The first thing to do is to make an appointment with an EvexiPEL provider for a consultation. They will administer tests to get a better understanding of what is causing your vaginal dryness.
After our EvexiPEL providers uncover the root cause, they’ll prescribe a treatment plan to address your specific needs. For women with hormone imbalance, research consistently shows subcutaneous BHRT with pellets may be a superior method for delivering hormones because of the individualized dosing, steady-state of hormone release, and natural over synthetic options.
Depending on the patient, your EvexiPEL provider may also prescribe:
- A detoxification program
- Thyroid supplements
- Nutritional supplements
- Weight loss program
- Mental health support
Get back to feeling great! Contact us today!
Resources
- Image attribution.
- webmd.com
- mayoclinic.org
- medicalnewstoday.com
- health.harvard.edu
- womens-health-concern.org