If you’re dealing with vaginal dryness and discomfort, you have a lot of company. Data show roughly 20% of women in their 40s have vaginal dryness, a number that increases to well over 30% by ages 57-69.
Vaginal dryness tends to go hand in hand with getting older, and as a result, many women try to ignore it and accept it as a natural part of aging. The problem: Vaginal dryness needs treatment, and when that treatment is delayed, you can wind up with some serious complications.
There is some good news, though.
At the Center for Urogynecology and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery, Rafael J. Perez, MD, FACOG, helps women overcome vaginal dryness, relieve discomfort, and prevent complications with an array of treatment options, including the state-of-the-art FemiLift® system.
If you’re experiencing vaginal dryness, here’s why it happens and why you shouldn’t ignore it.
Vaginal dryness happens when estrogen levels decline. While most people associate estrogen with menstruation and sexual health, it also plays a major role in maintaining vaginal health — specifically, helping maintain natural vaginal lubrication, elasticity, and thickness.
When estrogen levels decline, the vagina becomes thin, irritated, dry, and uncomfortable, a condition sometimes referred to as vaginal atrophy.
These changes are most often associated with menopause, a time when estrogen levels drop sharply and menstruation ends. But vaginal dryness can also happen at other times, like after pregnancy or during breastfeeding.
Other medical issues, like autoimmune diseases or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), can cause dryness as a side effect, too, and so can certain medications and some medical treatments, like cancer treatments.
Vaginal dryness is often accompanied by other symptoms, like:
Early and proactive treatment is the best way to reduce these symptoms and restore vaginal health and function.
Treating vaginal dryness is important for feeling better and enjoying a better quality of life. More comfortable sex leads to better relationships and less stress, along with greater confidence during sexual intimacy. But there are other benefits, too.
Vaginal lubrication helps your vagina stay healthy. When that lubrication decreases, the pH balance inside your vagina changes, too, and that means you can be more prone to vaginal infections, like bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections.
Unmanaged vaginal dryness can increase the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs), too, and even increase your chances of developing urinary incontinence.
Sometimes, vaginal dryness is associated with underlying conditions, like autoimmune diseases. Medical evaluation also can help diagnose and manage these issues.
Women with mild vaginal dryness may find relief from topical moisturizers and lubricants designed specifically for dryness and irritation symptoms. These products can provide temporary relief during sex, but they don’t address the underlying changes in the vaginal tissues.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is another option that works for many women with vaginal dryness, especially during menopause. HRT supplements natural estrogen to help relieve vaginal dryness and other symptoms linked with the decline in estrogen.
While HRT can be effective, it’s not a good choice for everyone. FemiLift offers an alternative, rejuvenating vaginal tissues using laser energy. When absorbed into the vaginal walls, focused beams of energy stimulate collagen production and improve blood flow in the vagina, restoring lubrication and elasticity.
FemiLift is a quick, comfortable treatment performed in-office and requires no downtime afterward. By addressing the root cause of vaginal dryness, FemiLift offers long-term results with treatments that can be repeated as needed.
Vaginal dryness can take a toll on your comfort, your quality of life, and even your long-term health and wellness. To learn more about treatments for relief, request an appointment with Dr. Perez and our team at the Center for Urogynecology and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery in South Miami, Florida, today.
