Vaginal dryness may be a problem for women at any age, although it occurs more frequently in older women, particularly after menopause. It is thought that most women experience some degree of vaginal dryness beginning in their perimenopausal years. Symptoms of vaginal dryness include vaginal burning, itching, pain and irritation and also incontinence.

As estrogen levels fall in this area of your body after menopause, the vaginal wall starts to atrophy, or become thinner, and shrink. As this happens the pH of the vagina begins to change. This leads to decreased levels of natural “probiotics” or good bacteria called lactobacillus acidophilus which protect against bacterial and yeast infections.

SELF CARE

First of you should know that you don’t need to suffer with the symptoms of vaginal dryness. Self care includes making sure you drink enough water every day. Also, avoid bubble baths, douches and feminine sprays as well as soaps and laundry detergent that have dyes or fragrances in them. In additional there are other things you can do every day to alleviate the symptoms of vaginal dryness.

Kegel exercises help increase circulation to the pelvic area, and not only help with vaginal atrophy, but also with incontinence. If you’re having problems with urinary leakage, it is recommended that you avoid caffeine and carbonated sodas as these can worsen this condition.

Regular sexual activity also helps to increase your body’s production of vaginal moisture, even after menopause. If dryness is a problem during sexual intercourse it is important that you use a water-based lubricant.

Estrogen Therapy

While vaginal estrogen creams and tablets are available from the giant pharmaceutical companies, they only offer horse estrogen based versions of estrogen. These are stronger estrogens and many women complain of burning and irritation with the use of these products.

If a prescription-strength vaginal estrogen is called for, we only recommend Estriol Vaginal Cream. It is unique in that it is the only estrogen that has not been shown to increase the risk of cancer and it has not been associated with increasing the risk of blood clotting.

If you’re ready to relieve your vaginal dryness, the fastest and easiest way to get your Estriol Vaginal Cream prescription is to fill out the Women's Wellness Questionnaire below.