Vaginal Dryness Specialist

What causes vaginal dryness?

When it comes to vaginal dryness, the primary culprit is a drop in your estrogen levels, which occurs naturally as you age. During your reproductive years, estrogen works to keep your vaginal walls well hydrated and lubricated, and provides them with healthy elasticity. This is to keep your body primed for sexual activity as well as childbirth.

Once you’re beyond your childbearing years, however, your body winds down its estrogen levels, which leads to:

• Dryness
• Loss of elasticity
• Thinning of your vaginal tissue
• Itching or burning

Combined, these symptoms of low estrogen often result in painful sex.

Another, less common, cause of vaginal dryness is douching. While douching used to be customary for women, the doctors at Martin, Lee & Page OBGYN caution against the practice for many health reasons, one of which is its negative effect on your vaginal viscosity.

What causes estrogen levels to drop?

While all women experience a drop in estrogen levels as they approach, and go through, menopause, there are other factors that can affect your hormone levels, including:

• Childbirth
• Breastfeeding
• Certain cancer treatments
• Removal of your reproductive organs, mainly your ovaries

How is vaginal dryness treated?

Since most cases of vaginal dryness are caused by a drop in estrogen, the gynecologists at Martin, Lee & Page OBGYN often turn to hormone replacement therapies to bring your levels back up. These therapies are delivered in several ways, including:

• Oral pills
• Vaginal ring
• Vaginal creams
• Vaginal suppositories

Hormone replacement therapy is not for everyone, especially if you:

• Have breast cancer
• Have a history of endometrial cancer
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding

Another treatment for vaginal dryness that’s showing great promise is laser therapy. This noninvasive technique delivers energy beneath your vaginal walls to spur collagen production. The increase in collagen helps your vaginal walls to thicken again and regain their elasticity, as well as promotes lubrication.

If vaginal dryness is causing you pain and reducing your enjoyment during sex, call Martin, Lee & Page OBGYN to learn more about the available treatments. You can also schedule an appointment using the online booking tool.