It’s ladies night. Mommy time. Trouble with hubby & houses, kids & keeping sane are on the table for sure.
But what about that which unites us all?
How’s your Vagina sister? Your Vulva? Not your typical dinner convo but critical & common.
70% of women experience vaginal/vulva dryness at some time in their lives & the reasons are plenty.
- The pill mimics a progesterone – dominant, low-estrogen state & that means “dry as the desert” for some women.
- Breastfeeding – increase in pituatary prolactin decreases estrogen. Dry down there!
- Arousal Issues- unable to “get wet” during sex? Foreplay may be lacking or unresolved relationship issues may be the culprit. Hello, marriage therapist.
- Tampons may wick away natural moisture.
- Lichen sclerosis (thin itchy white patches) or lichen planus (inflammation of mucous membranes), are types of dermatitis that lead to vaginal dryness. A biopsy confirms diagnosis.
- Medications
- Sjögren Syndrome – dryness everywhere even down there.
- Perimenopause- estrogen fluctuates, vagina becomes dry. I’m in the desert.
- Stress- never underestimate it’s effect on your vagina. Manage your stress. We all have it. Set good limits and boundaries. Mindfulness, mommy time.
Bottom line-Sex is painful.
There are treatments. Personal moisturizers may work for you but you must use both an internal and an external personal moisturizer because the vagina and the vulva have different blood supplies. These are hormone-free and can be purchased at a drugstore. Make sure you get one that has a plunger allowing you to insert the personal moisturizer in your vagina. You can use coconut oil or olive oil on your vulva.
The same goes for Low Dose Localized Estrogen which is why I prefer women use one of the creams (Premarin or Estragyn) because they can be inserted into the vagina and also on the vulva. Low dose localized estrogen requires a prescription.
Lasers are the latest and initial results show promise.
Better Lovin’. Deal with your issues. Resentment ruins relationships.
So speak to your doctor or nurse practitioner. You may need to be referred to a gynaecologist. Don’t give up. Because of the shame associated with sex for women, vaginal health issues often go unaddressed. Doctors expect you to bring it up, you expect them to do so. There’s no shame in good vaginal health.
Let’s take the shame out of sexuality for women, ladies. Share with a sister. She’s probably having the same issues.
