Most Common Causes of Vaginal Dryness

Vaginal dryness is a topic that many find uncomfortable to talk about, but it’s something that affects all women at some point. It’s time to open up the dialog because feeling like the Sahara Desert is more than a little uncomfortable, it can also significantly impact your quality of life. 

The effects of vaginal dryness extend beyond the physical and have an emotional effect as well. Frustration, embarrassment, stigma, and embarrassment often accompany vaginal dryness. It’s time to kick these negative emotions out and take back control of our emotional, physical, and sexual health. 

For now, it all begins with understanding what vaginal dryness is, why it happens, and to remedy it through a natural, holistic approach to wellness. 

Vaginal dryness is something that often exists on its own due to a number of different causes. However, sometimes vaginal dryness is a symptom of a different problem, such as vaginal atrophy. 

Vaginal atrophy? Yes, unfortunately, it’s a real thing. While a small number of women will experience it in their reproductive years, it’s most often associated with the hormone changes that come with menopause. 

With vaginal atrophy, there is not only dryness, but also thinning, inflammation, and shrinking of vaginal tissues. Vaginal atrophy is often the cause behind uncomfortable or painful intimacy in menopause. 

The dryness associated with vaginal atrophy can be relieved with natural, gentle approaches, like our Smooth as Silk+. However, treating the underlying cause of vaginal atrophy is something that should be discussed with your healthcare provider. 

A lack or decrease in vaginal lubrication is the most obvious sign of dryness, but there are other signs that frequently get ignored or dismissed as something else. For example, itching and irritation might be attributed to personal care products, when it’s really dryness that’s the culprit. 

If you’re noticing a lack of moisture combined with any of the following symptoms, adding supplements like sea berry with omega 7, vitamin D3, and sea buckthorn oil can provide relief and help restore moisture and balance. 

If you are experiencing any signs of infection associated with vaginal dryness, it’s important to see your healthcare provider for treatment. 

Hormone changes, particularly shifts in estrogen levels, are the most common cause of vaginal dryness. Estrogen plays a key role in maintaining the health and moisture of vaginal tissues, so anytime levels fluctuate and drop, dryness can become a problem. 

Hormone changes are most common during menopause, perimenopause, postpartum, and while breastfeeding. 

Menopause falls under the category of hormone fluctuations, but the occurrence of dryness is much higher in menopause. During perimenopause, hormone levels go on a roller coaster ride of wild peaks and valleys. When estrogen takes a nosedive, so does vaginal lubrication. 

Statistics tell us that about half of post-menopausal women experience vaginal dryness, but anecdotal evidence from conversations with our friends would say the number is higher. 

Certain medications come with a potential side effect of vaginal dryness. A few examples include antihistamines and decongestants, as well as some medications used to treat depression and anxiety. 

Have you ever noticed that you’re more likely to have a headache, stiff neck, or just general achiness when you’re stressed? This is because stress has a profound effect on the entire body including the vagina. 

Chronic stress causes the release of excess cortisol, which has an effect on reproductive hormones, including estrogen and testosterone (yes, those of us with vaginas produce testosterone too). The fluctuations in these hormones can lead to intermittent vaginal dryness, and it’s all related to the body’s stress response. 

The vagina has its own little microbiome that exists in a delicate state of balance. When this balance is disrupted, problems ensue. Personal care products, especially ones that are scented or contain irritating chemicals, are known for their ability to disrupt a microbiome’s harmony, leading to irritation, itching, and dryness. 

Scented soaps, body washes, douches, sprays, and powders are best avoided to prevent vaginal dryness, 

Diabetes is a lesser-known cause of vaginal dryness, but an important one to be aware of. Diabetes can affect circulation and nerve function, which can lead to vaginal dryness. People with diabetes are also more prone to certain types of infections, including yeast infections, that can disrupt the vagina’s natural pH, leading to issues with dryness. 

Treatments used for cancer can also cause vaginal dryness. This is especially true for hormone-sensitive cancers that may be treated with estrogen blockers or radiation to the pelvic area. 

Unhealthy lifestyle habits can affect vaginal health. Smoking, excess alcohol consumption, and a diet high in inflammatory foods can all contribute to dryness. Each of these lifestyle factors can decrease blood flow, cause inflammation, and interfere with hormonal health. 

In short, a healthy lifestyle is strongly associated with a healthier vagina. 

You don’t have to live with the discomfort and disruption that vaginal dryness brings to your life. There are hormonal treatment options, including vaginal estrogen, but not everyone wants to go that route. Fortunately, there are natural options to provide some relief and restore moisture, along with some sanity, including sea buckthorn with omega-7. 

Short-term relief can be found with OTC lubricants and coconut oil. These work well for intimacy or when vaginal dryness is causing irritation at other times. But for lasting relief, the best natural approach is to start from the inside out with nutrition and supplemental support. 

One of the best natural supports for vaginal moisture is the omega-7 found in the amazing little sea berry, that nourishes your body from within for optimal vaginal health.