Health Tips: Vaginal Dryness Causes and Treatment

What Causes Vaginal Dryness

Other possible reasons:

Vaginal Dryness is a common symptom usually associated with genitourinary syndrome of menopause as a result of low levels of estrogen .

Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) is a chronic, progressive vulvovaginal, sexual, and lower urinary tract condition, characterized by related estrogen deficiency, involving changes to the vulva, vagina, urethra, and bladder.

Vaginal dryness may also occur in pre-menopausal women because of prolonged periods of low estrogens , such as low dose combined oral contraceptive (COC) and or progestogen only methods[1]

It was demonstrated that pre-menopausal women between 35-49 years of age reporting vaginal dryness could be also described as reduced vaginal lubrication during sexual arousal occurring, sometimes or often, in around a third of the sample[4

Poor arousal is strongly related to sexual pain and other female sexual dysfunction, but vaginal dryness may even interfere with simple activities such as walking or exercising, causing genital discomfort. [5]

How is vaginal dryness treated?

Treatment options

Many treatment options ( hormonal & non hormonal) are available with the aim of restoring vaginal physiology and alleviating symptoms.[6]

It is strongly recommended that women see their Health Professional( Gynaecologist / General Practitioner ) regularly and that the causes of vaginal dryness & related conditions are correctly diagnosed. Also discuss Your preferred treatment option with Your Health Professional. Diagnosing the exact causes is of vital importance.

Any burning, itching or discomfort in the vaginal area is worth a call to your doctor or gynaecologist.

They'll ask about your past health and find out how long you've had symptoms and what seems to make them worse or better.

Your doctor will do a pelvic exam, checking your vagina for any thinning or redness. The exam will help rule out other possible causes for your discomfort, including a vaginal or urinary tract infection. The doctor may also remove cells from your vaginal wall or cervix for a pap test.

Treatment options continued:

Women usually use commercial vaginal moisturizers on a regular basis to nourish tissues, whereas lubricants on demand may help to relieve vaginal dryness during coital activity. These are mainly a combination of protectants and thickening agents in a water soluble base and are primarily used to relieve vaginal dryness during intercourse.

Hormonal replacement therapy ( HRT), via systemic or topical routes, is widely used for the treatment of menopausal effects on the urogenital tract. All local vaginal estrogen products have been recognised as being effective and well tolerated for treating vaginal atrophy. [6]

In recent years, phytoestrogen based products have become attractive as safer alternatives, and their efficacy has been investigated in experimental and clinical trials. [7]

The efficacy of a isoflavone vaginal gel for the treatment and management of symptoms of vaginal dryness & vaginal atrophy, with the aim of assisting in restoring the vaginal physiology and alleviating symptoms have been proven in two recent clinical trials and have been proven very effective 18&19.

The first study[18] was done with women in menopause and the 2nd study was done with women 26-39 yrs of age taking Combined Oral Contraceptives.

SEE CLINIAL TRIALS for COMPLETE DETAIL.

References:

[1] Portman D.J. and Gass M.L.S. (2014). Genitourinary syndrome of menopause: New terminology for vulvovaginal atrophy from the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health and The North American Menopause Society.

Maturitas, 79, 349-354

[4] Sturdee D.W., Panay N. (2010). On behalf of the International Menopause Society Writing Group. Recommendations for the management of postmenopausal vaginal atrophy. Climacteric, 13, 509-522.

[5] [No authors listed] (2013). Management of symptomatic vulvovaginal atrophy: 2013 position statement of The North American Menopause Society Menopause. Menopause, 20, 888-902

[6] Archer D.F. (2010). Efficacy and tolerability of local estrogen therapy for urogenital atrophy. Menopause, 17, 194-203.

[7] Moraes A.R.B. (2009). The effects of topical isoflavones on postmenopausal skin: doubleblind and randomized clinical trial of efficacy. European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, 146, 188-192

[18] Filippo Murina, Franco Vicariotto, Stephania DI Francesco, Silvia Oreda Effective Treatment of vulvar-vaginal atrophy with a new medical device in gel – Women Health care,2017, Volume1,Issue1

[19] Filippo Murina, Franco Vicariotto.

Effective treatment of Vulvar-Vaginal Complaints in Women Taking a Combined oral Contraceptive with a New Medical Device in Gel – Open Journal of Obstertrics & Gynaecology, 2019,9,326-333

Further Tips to prevent complaints in the genital area such as vaginal infections or vaginal dryness:

Intimate shave

Always shave in the direction of the hair. Shaving the private parts can cause redness, itching, and burning sensation. Proper skin care and regular replacement of the blade used can help prevent irritation.

Hygiene and the Use of Soap

The right hygiene measures help prevent vaginal discomfort. Less is often more.
Instead of using soap, which can damage the skin's protective layer and cause irritation, it is better to use only lukewarm water. This also means that the sensitive vaginal flora is not destroyed.

Tampons and Sanitary Towels

Sanitary towels and tampons should be changed every 3 to 4 hours to avoid irritation from prolonged contact with menstrual blood. The same goes for panty liners.

Dress Choice

Avoid wearing tight clothing such as skinny jeans, leggings or tight-fitting shorts for long periods of time. Especially when these garments are made of synthetic fibers, they create friction, heat and air congestion in the genital area. And the following applies to your underwear: Use natural materials such as cotton. Always change your wet swimsuit after swimming.

Toilet Paper

Use toilet paper front to back to avoid transferring bacteria from the intestines.

How does a Vaginal Infection Develop?

Almost every woman is faced with a vaginal infection at least once in her life. There are different diseases, which are mainly caused by different bacteria and fungi. Viruses and other organisms can also trigger a vaginal infection, but this is much less common. The most common infections include bacterial vaginosis and yeast infection of the vagina. In some cases, mixed forms of these infections can also occur.

It is important to know

A healthy vaginal flora is predominantly colonized by healthy lactic acid bacteria, so-called lactobacilli. These are important for the defense against pathogens. They are responsible for the acidic vaginal environment, which creates unfavorable conditions for various pathogenic germs. If an infection occurs, the number of lactic acid bacteria is often reduced and other germs spread. There are some general risk factors that can favor the reduction of lactic acid bacteria:

Antibiotic treatment,
frequent unprotected sex,
excessive intimate hygiene,
hormonal fluctuations during the monthly cycle,
hormonal changes in menopause.

What are the most common vaginal infections?

Bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis is one of the most common vaginal infections. It is caused by an imbalance in the vaginal flora, with the otherwise dominant, health-promoting lactic acid bacteria being replaced by various other bacteria. The exact reasons for the development of this infection have not been conclusively clarified. A reduction in the protective lactic acid bacteria (risk factors see above) can favor the development of bacterial vaginosis

Yeast infection / vaginal thrush

After bacterial vaginosis, vaginal infection with yeast is the second most common vaginal infection. In most cases (85 - 95%) it is triggered by the Candida albicans pathogen. This yeast is often present in the vaginal flora, but without causing an infection. Similar to bacterial vaginosis, the weakening of one's own lactic acid bacteria and the local immune system can lead to an uncontrolled multiplication of C. albicans.

The vaginal milieu is dependent on hormonal fluctuations, which is why yeast infections occur with different frequency in the course of the different phases of life and the monthly cycle. Women are usually only affected from sexual maturity and until the end of menopause. Pregnant women are also at greater risk of getting a vaginal thrush. In non-pregnant women, infections most often occur around the middle of the monthly cycle (around ovulation) and immediately after menstruation.

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