Vaginal Dryness Treatment

What is Vaginal Dryness?

Vaginal dryness; It refers to the clinical picture that develops due to insufficient physiological moisturizing function of the vagina. The moisture of the vagina keeps the area clean and protects the genital area during sexual intercourse. In healthy people, there are many glands throughout the vaginal tissue that provide moisture to the area. Under physiological conditions, wetness is expected to develop in the vagina and surrounding tissues, and lubricating wetness is expected to be achieved, especially under the influence of sexual stimuli. If there is a disruption in these functions, vaginal dryness is mentioned. Vaginal dryness is a common problem that many people encounter at some point in their lives. While the dryness problem may seem temporary; It can also occur for a long time, especially after menopause, negatively affecting the quality of life. Vaginal dryness after menopause occurs in one in every three women. It is important to treat vaginal dryness as it negatively affects both sexual health and quality of life.

What Causes Vaginal Dryness?

Although the most common cause of vaginal dryness is menopause, all disorders in the parameters that are effective in maintaining the wetness of the vagina can cause dryness. In this regard, vaginal dryness can be detected in all disorders that can affect the natural physiology of the vagina. Wetness in the vagina is provided by the functions of the glands in the region. The regulation of these secretions is related to hormone levels, especially estrogen and progesterone. Vaginal dryness may develop during periods when the levels of hormones in the blood change or decrease significantly, if the glands are damaged, or if there is a disruption in secretion production. Vaginal dryness can be observed in the course of the following health problems:

• Menopause: In menopause, which is the most common cause of vaginal dryness, the levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones in the blood decrease significantly, and the stimulation of the genital area by the hormone also decreases significantly. As a result, dryness occurs because the secretory tissues are not stimulated to produce enough secretion. After menopause, there is a functional decline in the reproductive system (atrophy), resulting in a decrease in the number and density of secretory tissues, which contributes to dryness.
• Birth and breastfeeding periods: During birth and breastfeeding, temporary vaginal dryness may occur due to changes in the blood levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones.
• Birth control pills: Oral contraceptives can cause vaginal dryness at various levels because the active ingredients they contain affect hormone levels.
• Removal of the uterus and ovaries: After surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries for various reasons, vaginal dryness may occur as estrogen and progesterone production is disrupted.
• Cancer treatment: After radiotherapy or chemotherapy used in cancer treatment, vaginal dryness may occur due to the disruption of hormone production in the ovaries and the negative effects on the glands.
• Chronic diseases: Vaginal dryness may occur in conditions that cause disruptions in the functions of the glands, such as diabetes and Sjögren's disease.
• Insufficient sexual stimulation: In cases where there is not enough sexual stimulation that triggers the stimulation of vaginal secretions, sufficient slipperiness and wetness (lubrication) cannot occur before sexual intercourse. One of the important factors here is the insufficient foreplay phase before sexual intercourse.
• Drug treatment: Anti-depressants and drugs with anti-estrogen effects may cause loss of function and dryness in vaginal tissues as side effects.
• Allergy: In people who are allergic to various factors, a decrease in secretion production and dryness may occur due to the development of an allergic reaction in the vaginal tissues.
• Vaginal care: Dryness may occur due to disruption of the vaginal flora in cases such as frequent vaginal douching or the use of creams or care products that negatively affect the secretion production in the vagina.

What are the symptoms of vaginal dryness?

Clinical symptoms of vaginal dryness are often associated with secondary health problems that develop due to dryness. Although dryness alone does not often cause clinical complaints; Itching, discomfort or sensitivity may occur due to irritation of the vaginal tissues. In case of vaginal dryness, in addition to disruption in sexual functions, patients may develop vaginal infections or urinary tract infections as the genital area becomes prone to infection. In secondary infections that develop due to vaginal dryness, the infection must be treated in addition to the dryness treatment. In case of vaginal dryness, the following clinical symptoms can be observed in patients:

• Itching sensation, discomfort, tenderness in the vagina
• Pain in the vagina, severe pain during sexual intercourse
• Difficulty in sexual intercourse
• frequent urination
• Burning or discomfort when urinating
• Redness and swelling in the genital area
• vagina

What to Do in the Treatment of Anal Dryness?

In the treatment of vaginal dryness, planning the appropriate treatment according to the underlying cause is important for the success of the treatment. Since the most common cause of vaginal dryness is the decrease in hormone levels, estrogen-containing local treatments are generally preferred to ensure that the genital area reaches adequate hormone stimulation. For this purpose, vaginal rings, creams or oral medications can be used. Initiating oral hormone replacement therapy for vaginal dryness observed after menopause is useful in eliminating dryness as well as other complaints related to menopause. In addition to drug treatment, artificial lubricants can be used to eliminate dryness for sexual health. It is important that the product to be used is water-based and does not cause irritation in the vagina. When choosing a product, it is recommended to use specially produced products to prevent vaginal dryness. Staying away from care products that can cause dryness in the vagina and not douching will help increase the success of the treatment. In order to ensure vaginal moisture, it is very important for the partners to establish correct and appropriate communication with each other in order to allow relaxation and relaxation during intercourse, to provide a sexually relaxing and stimulating environment, to perform foreplay appropriately and correctly for a sufficient period of time, and to keep sexual stimulation at a high level. When necessary, it may be beneficial for couples to receive professional help and receive sexual therapy treatment to improve sexual health.