Vaginal dryness is a common problem for women as they get older. That’s because with age comes a drop in estrogen levels, and estrogen is necessary for maintaining the natural lubricants that keep the vagina healthy. When estrogen levels decline, our bodies don’t produce as much of these natural lubricants, leading to vaginal dryness and related symptoms.
Vaginal dryness can happen to woman of all ages, due to the side-effects of medication or treatment, beauty products, during and after menopause and hormone disrupting exposures.
You may not be able to turn back time to your more youthful years, but the good news is, there are plenty of things you can do to combat vaginal dryness. Here are options to consider.
Vaginal lubricants
If dryness symptoms really only bother you during sex, adding a lubricant to foreplay could be just the solution you’re looking for. Unlike topical hormone creams that are applied on a regular basis, lubricants are used to moisturize the vagina during or prior to sex. Today, there are lots of lubricant options available — even vegan products.