What to Do About Vaginal Dryness

Physical intimacy should bring pleasure and contentment. For some women, though, sex can be painful.

Women over age 50 have less vaginal lubrication. After menopause, the walls of the vagina start to thin. The loss of estrogen makes your vagina smaller and less stretchy. It may become irritated and itchy, too.

You may also need more time to become aroused. Before age 40, it may take 10 to 30 seconds for the vagina to swell and become wet when excited. After that, it is more likely to take one to three minutes.

Other causes of vaginal dryness:

• Cold or allergy drugs
• Antidepressants
• Douching
• Radiation therapy or cancer drugs
• Sjogren's syndrome
• Some immune disorders

Sometimes, the problem becomes a cycle. A woman may start to expect pain during sex and not get aroused. This can lead to even less lubrication.

Causes of vaginal dryness
Vaginal dryness is not the only cause of painful intercourse. Treating an underlying condition may make sex enjoyable again. Other causes can be:

• Vaginal infections
• Bladder infections
• Vulvar cysts
• Pelvic tumors
• The penis entering the body at a bad angle
• Not having had intercourse in a long time
• Forceful penile thrusting

Vaginal dryness doesn't have to spoil the pleasure of sex. In most cases, treatment works.

What you can do yourself
Try these measures for treating vaginal dryness.

• Longer foreplay. This gives your body more time to lubricate itself. Talk to your partner about this need and what excites you.
• Water-based lubricants. There are many good over-the-counter products, such as K-Y Jelly. Apply it around the opening of your vagina or on your partner's penis or condom.
• Regular sexual relations or masturbation. This will keep you more lubricated. If you haven't had intercourse in some time, talk to your partner about going slowly. This can minimize any pain if your vagina is tight.

Medicines that can help
If you are still having problems after trying the above measures, talk to your doctor. Replacing lost estrogen is one way to improve the condition of the genital tissue. Your doctor can explain the pros an cons of estrogen treatment.

Your doctor may prescribe a cream, ring (replaced every three months) or tablet containing estrogen. This is inserted into the vagina. This way, your body absorbs only a small amount of estrogen at a time. When inserted in the vagina, estrogen doesn't increase the risk of stroke, cancer and blood clots like oral hormone replacement therapy can.

If your pain does not go away after treatment, there are other ways to be intimate besides intercourse. Oral sex, sensual touching, cuddling and kissing can all be satisfying.

Related Articles Women and Menopause: Livening up libido What Is Postmenopause? HRT Drug and Recommended Dosage Chart

External Sources American Geriatrics Society. Sexual problems. Accessed June 8, 2007. University of Michigan Health System. Changes in sexual arousal from aging. Accessed June 8, 2007.

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