How do you treat vaginal dryness during menopause?
To remedy vaginal dryness and painful intercourse (dyspareunia) associated with the genitourinary syndrome of menopause, your doctor might recommend: Vaginal moisturizers (K-Y Liquibeads, Replens, others), applied every few days to moisturize and keep vaginal tissues healthy.
What are the options for treating vaginal dryness?
Some, such as vaginal moisturizers or lubricants, are available without a prescription. Others require a prescription, including a vaginal estrogen cream, tablet, capsule, or ring; an oral medication called ospemifene; and a vaginal tablet called prasterone.
How to treat dryness in the vagina?
Three Approaches to Treating Vaginal Dryness. Women looking to treat vaginal dryness have three levels of approaches at their disposal: (1) Lifestyle Changes, (2) Alternative Medicine, and (3) Medications. Because the first two constitute more natural methods, women are generally encouraged to begin with them and only move to ...
What is the best way to treat dryness in the vagina?
Type: Pelvic floor exercises, or Kegels, are one of the best workouts for vaginal dryness treatment as they relax tight vaginal muscles, strengthen pelvic floor muscles, increase blood flow to the area, and improve lubrication. 4. Useful Tips: Choosing loose, breathable workout clothes can help prevent irritation in the vaginal area.
What is HRT for menopause?
HRT was once the most popular treatment for vaginal dryness and other menopause symptoms . As the name suggests, HRT contains hormones - mainly estrogen, progesterone, or their combination - that replace those missing in the body, thus quickly and effectively relieving hormonal imbalance symptoms.
What causes dryness in the vagina?
Causes of Vaginal Dryness. Estrogenic Causes. Hormonal Causes. Other Causes. Vaginal Dryness Treatments. While vaginal dryness affects up to 60% of menopausal women, only one in four receives the care she needs. 1 The rest suffer from dryness, painful sex, and other symptoms of vaginal atrophy, while effective treatments are within reach.
What supplements help with vaginal dryness?
Phytoestrogenic supplements. Phytoestrogenic supplements, such as ginseng and black cohosh, contain compounds, called phytoestrogens, which mimic the function of estrogen when introduced into the body. As a result, they help resolve hormonal imbalance, thus relieving vaginal dryness.
Why do women need to drink water?
While proper hydration is key for all women, those with vaginal dryness should pay special attention to adequate water intake to keep their body well-nourished and help relieve symptoms.
How to prevent vaginal irritation?
Useful Tips: Choosing loose, breathable workout clothes can help prevent irritation in the vaginal area. Precautions: To prevent contusions or further discomforts, women should avoid strenuous workouts, like endurance training, especially those in postmenopause who are at a higher risk of osteoporosis.
How to treat dryness in the vagina?
Vaginal estrogen therapy . If low estrogen causes vaginal dryness, then it's probably not surprising that the most effective treatment for dryness is adding estrogen back to the vagina. Vaginal estrogen works by thickening the vaginal walls, improving blood flow to the vaginal area and by increasing natural vaginal secretions.
What happens to the vaginal walls during menopause?
When estrogen level plummet during menopause vaginal walls that were once elastic, expandable, supple, and sturdy can, over time, become tightened and fragile. The skin can become as thin as tissue paper, unable to withstand the manipulation that occurs with sexual activity, and can tear and even bleed with intercourse.
What is intrarosa dhea?
Vaginal DHEA therapy. Intrarosa is a prescription DHEA vaginal suppository. DHEA is hormone secreted by your adrenal gland that, once absorbed by the vaginal tissue, gets turned into estrogen inside the calls. This is great option for women wanting to avoid estrogen products completely.
What is the treatment for uterine lining?
Oral Treatment. Ospemifine (Osphena) is an oral SERM (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator) that acts like estrogen, restoring vaginal moisture and the integrity of the vaginal mucosa. Ospemiphene can stimulate growth of the uterine lining, although in postmenopausal women, this effect is minimal.
How long does it take for a vagina to dry out?
It usually takes 6-8 weeks for the vaginal tissue to return to the premenopausal state. There are many symptoms of menopause that can be challenging to treat, but luckily vaginal dryness is not usually one of them. Currently we have many safe and effective treatment for this common problem.
How long does it take for a woman to get back to normal after sex?
It usually takes 6-8 weeks for the vaginal tissue to return to the premenopausal state.
Does menopausal vagina need to be every day?
Well, the menopausal vagina needs the same thing. It doesn’t have to be every day, but it has to be regular and consistent. I don’t promote products, but I do tell my patients about Replens - it’s been studied and shown to be as effective as vaginal estrogen in restoring the premenopausal vaginal mucosa.
How to reduce dryness in the vagina?
You also may be able to decrease vaginal dryness by avoiding the use of products on sensitive vulvar and vaginal tissues that could cause irritation, such as antibacterial or perfumed soaps, bubble baths, bath oils and hand lotion. Also avoid perfumed or scented toilet paper and laundry detergent. Do not use douches, or flavored or warming lubricants.
Does menopause get better with time?
In contrast to hot flashes, which typically improve over time, symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause generally do not get better with time and may worsen. Over-the-counter products can help. But when they do not, prescription medications are often a useful alternative.
Is vaginal dryness a condition?
Although vaginal dryness is a common problem for women your age, it is not a condition that you have to learn to live with. Safe and effective treatments are available that can help women reduce vulvar and vaginal dryness, and remain sexually active long past menopause. — Dr. Stephanie Faubion, director of the Center for Women's Health, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida
Is vaginal dryness a sign of menopause?
ANSWER: Vaginal dryness is common in women who are approaching menopause and those who have gone through menopause. Other related symptoms include vaginal and vulvar irritation; burning or itching; discomfort or pain with sexual activity; and urinary symptoms, such as more frequent or urgent urination, urge leak, and urinary tract infections. Together, these symptoms are referred to as "genitourinary syndrome of menopause," or GSM. These symptoms occur in roughly half of menopausal women and are even more common in women with breast cancer.