Vaginal Dryness

Patient Education

Practice Hours

Monday through Thursday
8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Friday
8:00 am to 12:00 pm

Dahlonega Office
706-864-3400

Dawsonville Office
706-216-2345

Testimonials

Thank you for all your excellent support and prenatal care during my pregnancy and delivery of my baby. As a military family, we have experienced many different gynecological and OB treatments both at military and civilian services. Your practice is by far the best care we have ever experienced. It was a great surprise to find such excellent and compassionate staff for a high-risk pregnancy in such a small community. - Meriah P

Vaginal Dryness

OVERVIEW — Vaginal dryness, also known as atrophic vaginitis, is a common condition in women. Although it is most common in women who are postmenopausal, vaginal dryness can occur in women of any age.

Symptoms of vaginal dryness are pain with sex, burning vaginal discomfort or itching, or abnormal vaginal discharge, while others have no symptoms at all.

CAUSES — Estrogen helps to keep the vagina moist. Vaginal dryness occurs when the ovaries produce a decreased amount of estrogen. This can occur at certain times in a woman's life, and may be permanent or temporary. Times when less estrogen is made include:

As you near menopause or after menopause.

After surgical removal of the ovaries, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy of the pelvis for cancer.

After having a baby, particularly if you breastfeed.

While using certain medications, such as tamoxifen, danazol, medroxyprogesterone (Provera® or DepoProvera®), leuprolide (Lupron®), or nafarelin. When these medications are stopped, estrogen is produced normally again.

Cigarette smoking also affects the moisture in the vagina, and can make vaginal dryness worse.

TREATMENT — There are two treatment options for women with vaginal dryness: moisturizers/lubricants and vaginal estrogen. All vaginal dryness treatments work temporarily. The vaginal dryness will return when the treatment is stopped unless the ovaries make more estrogen.

Vaginal moisturizers and lubricants — Vaginal moisturizing agents and vaginal lubricants can be purchased without a prescription. These products do not contain any hormones and have virtually no side effects.

Lubricants are designed to reduce friction and discomfort from dryness during intercourse. Products designed as vaginal lubricants, such as Astroglide® or KY® Silk-E are more effective than lubricants that are not designed for this purpose, such as petroleum jelly (Vaseline®). As well, petroleum jelly can damage the latex used in condoms and diaphragms. Hand and body lotions should not be used to relieve vaginal dryness since they can be irritating to vaginal tissues.

Petroleum jelly (Vaseline®) is not recommended because it can damage the latex used in condoms and diaphragms.

Natural lubricants — Natural lubricants, such as vegetable oil or saliva, are easily available products that may be used as a lubricant with sex. Oil-based products are not recommended for use with condoms or diaphragms; the oil can damage the latex, potentially making it less effective in preventing pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections.

Vaginal estrogen — Vaginal estrogen is the most effective treatment option for women with vaginal dryness. Vaginal estrogen must be prescribed by a healthcare provider.

Very low doses of vaginal estrogen can be used when it is put into the vagina to treat vaginal dryness, and little to no estrogen is absorbed into the bloodstream. As a result, there is a much lower risk of side effects, such as blood clots, breast cancer, and heart attack, compared with other estrogen-containing products (birth control pills, menopausal hormone therapy).

Several types of vaginal estrogen products are available:

Estrogen cream (eg, Premarin®, Estrace® cream) is inserted into the vagina every day for two to three weeks, and then one or two times weekly.

The vaginal estrogen tablet (Vagifem®) is a small tablet that must be inserted inside the vagina.

The vaginal estrogen ring, called Estring®, is a flexible plastic ring that is worn inside the vagina all the time. How long can I use vaginal estrogen? — Vaginal estrogen is thought to be safe and can probably be used indefinitely, although there are no long-term studies confirming its safety.

Is vaginal estrogen safe for women with a history of breast cancer? — The safety of vaginal estrogen in women who have a past history of breast cancer is unclear. A small amount of estrogen can be absorbed from the vagina into the bloodstream. If you have a history of breast cancer, talk to your healthcare provider or your oncologist about the potential risks and benefits of vaginal estrogen.

Sexual activity — Vaginal estrogen improves vaginal dryness quickly, usually within a few weeks. You may continue to have sex as you treat vaginal dryness because sex itself can help to keep the vaginal tissues healthy. Sexual activity may help the vaginal tissues by keeping them soft and stretchable and preventing the tissues from shrinking.

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