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Vaginal Dryness: Cause, Treatment, Menopause Vaginal Dryness, Vaginal Dryness Pregnancy

Vaginal dryness is a common condition suffered by women of all ages.  Most women, at some point in their lives experience it.  Vaginal dryness is a painful, irritating condition, but there are cures and remedies available to effectively treat this condition.

Causes of Vaginal Dryness

There are many causes of vaginal dryness, and being able to pinpoint the exact cause will enable sufferers to achieve greater results when treatment is started.  Some of the widely known reasons why vaginal dryness occurs are as follows:

• Decreased estrogen levels- this is the main cause of all vaginal dryness, and when estrogen levels fall below normal ranges, the result is less vaginal lubrication.  There are many reasons for decreased estrogen levels, and some of them are menopause, surgical removal of the ovaries, cigarette smoking, immune disorders, decreased sexual activity, breastfeeding, chemotherapy and radiation.
• Medications-medications such as those used to treat cancer, allergies, ulcers, high blood pressure and depression can dry out the vagina.
• Sjogren’s syndrome-this is an autoimmune disease that attacks healthy tissue and dries out the eyes, mouth, as well as the vagina.
•  Douching-overuse of douches disrupts the chemical balance inside the vagina and can result in excessive vaginal dryness.

Other conditions that can contribute to vaginal dryness can include chronic yeast infections, bacterial vaginal infections, sexually transmitted diseases, vaginal trauma, and benign and/or malignant tumors.

Treatment

There are a variety of different treatment options available for those suffering from vaginal dryness.  Once a proper diagnosis has been made, your physician will be able to prescribe an effective treatment plan.  Treatment for vaginal dryness is available in various forms, including oral medications, topical creams, as well as transdermal patches.  Some of the available treatments for vaginal dryness include the following:

• Oral hormone supplements-these are taken in pill form by mouth, and normally must be taken on a daily basis. Oral hormones used to treat vaginal dryness include Menest and Premarin, among others.
• Vaginal estrogen tablets-these tablets are inserted directly into the vagina by using a disposable applicator over a period of time until the vaginal dryness is no longer a problem.  One type of medication used in this form is called Vagifem.
• Transdermal patches-these are worn on the skin and release estrogen into the bloodstream through the skin, usually for about a week, and are quite effective at relieving vaginal dryness.  Some different types of patches are known as Climara and Estraderm.
• Vaginal estrogen cream-this cream is inserted into the vagina 2 or 3 times per week until normal vaginal lubrication returns.  Medicines such as these are known as Estrace and Premarin.
• Vaginal estrogen rings- this is a soft, plastic ring that is worn inside the vagina and slowly releases estrogen for a period of 90 days.  It can be inserted either by the physician or the patient.

Before consulting with a doctor, there are certain things that can be tried at home to see if the vaginal dryness can be relieved without prescription medications.  If vaginal dryness seems to make intercourse uncomfortable, there are many personal lubricants on the market made especially for this reason. One of the better-known lubricants is K-Y Liquid.  There are also vaginal moisturizers that can be purchased over the counter, and many of them have been known to be effective in the fight against vaginal dryness for many women.  Two of the most popular vaginal moisturizers are Replens and Lubrin.

While vaginal dryness can present many problems for women, especially those entering the menopausal years, there are many treatments available that are effective and can provide relief from symptoms. 

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