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Vaginal dryness
Vaginal dryness is a common problem that many women have at some point in their lives. But there are things that can help.
Symptoms of vaginal dryness
You may have vaginal dryness if you:
- have unusual vaginal discharge, spotting or bleeding
- feel sore or itchy in and around your vagina
- feel pain or discomfort, including during sex
- need to pee more often than usual
- keep getting urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Causes of vaginal dryness
You can get vaginal dryness if you:
- experience menopause
- are pregnant or breastfeeding
- take certain medicines such as hormonal contraceptives or antidepressants
- have your womb removed (a hysterectomy), especially if your ovaries were also removed
- have cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy or surgery
These things can cause a change in your hormone levels. This change can affect how much vaginal discharge or fluid you have.
You can also have vaginal dryness if you:
- are not aroused during sex
- use perfumed soaps, washes or douches in and around your vagina
- have an underlying condition, such as diabetes or Sjögren’s syndrome
How to treat vaginal dryness yourself
You can try these things to treat vaginal dryness before you see a GP. You can get most of them without a prescription.
Do
-
use water-based lubricants before sex – put these in and around your vagina, on your partner’s penis, on your partner’s fingers, or on a sex toy if you’re using one
-
use vaginal moisturisers for vaginal dryness – you can put these inside your vagina to keep it moist
-
use unperfumed soaps and washes around your vagina
-
try different types of foreplay to find what makes you feel more aroused during sex
Don’t
-
do not use perfumed soaps, washes and any douches in and around your vagina
-
do not use creams, lotions or moisturisers that are not for your vagina as it can cause more irritation or an infection
Non-urgent advice:See a GP if:
- you’ve had vaginal dryness for a few weeks and things you’ve tried yourself are not working
- vaginal dryness is affecting your daily life
- you have unusual discharge from your vagina
- you have bleeding after sex, in between your periods or after experiencing menopause
Treatment for vaginal dryness from a GP
If you’re getting vaginal dryness because of changes in your hormone levels, you may be prescribed creams, gels, patches or medicines to increase a hormone called oestrogen. This is called hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
These are not recommended for everybody. Talk to your doctor about whether hormonal treatments are suitable for you.
