Dear Maureen,
I have been seeing a psychologist to no avail for an inability to become aroused in my relationship with my long-term girlfriend. I am told this is all in my head. After watching your TEDx Stanley Park talk, you mentioned vaginal dryness which I experience and I am wondering if that might have anything to do with my problem.
Thanks so much,
Amy
Hi Amy,
The mere fact that you experience vaginal dryness tells me you may have altered levels of estrogen in your urogenital tract which may impact your body’s ability to lubricate and become aroused. Estrogen is the hormone regulator of the vagina. Estrogen helps it to maintain pH, prevent infection and ensure your vaginal tissues are well-moisturized. It is also key to arousal and experiencing orgasm for many women. Vaginal dryness can affect any women whether she is sexually active or not and regardless of her sexual orientation.
It is totally worth a try for you to use a personal moisturizer that you buy over the counter (like RepaGyn, which is hormone-free and has hyaluronic acid to help you increase your natural moisture). RepaGyn is inserted into your vagina daily, preferably at bedtime, for at least two or three weeks, then switch to every other day. It takes about 2-3 months to optimize, but you may begin to feel better in a few weeks.
For the estrogen, you will need a prescription. Estrogen therapies can be a topical application or inserted into the vagina).
A woman needs moisture to ensure a healthy female sexual response from desire to arousal/excitement, plateau right through to orgasm! Some younger women experience vaginal dryness, but it is definitely more common in women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or in the menopausal years. That is why doctors can miss it, and why many may then assume some medical conditions must be just made up in women’s heads (when they simply are not!).
There is no harm in trying a personal moisturizer, and one can be purchased on-line or over the counter at a pharmacy. Using a personal moisturizer just may do the trick to get everyone out from renting space in your head leading you to believe you have a psychological problem when it may just be medical.
