Vaginal dryness can affect any woman, but after menopause the problem is very common. More than half of women between the ages of 51 and 60 are affected. During menopause, dryness in the genital area is due to decreased production of female sex hormones. Less vaginal fluid is produced in the vagina and the skin becomes thinner and more susceptible to injury. These are normal age-related changes, but can be associated with significant discomfort. The secretion produced by the glands of the cervix keeps the vagina supple and moist. The moisture slowly moves down through the vagina, keeping it clean and removing dead cells. Vaginal moisture is slightly acidic and this helps maintain a healthy area, preventing infections from occurring. During sexual arousal, Bartholin’s glands (two glands at the entrance to the vagina) produce extra moisture to aid intercourse. However, a quarter of women aged 50-59 experience problems with vaginal dryness during sex, and 16% experience pain. About 17% of women aged 18-50 experience problems with vaginal dryness during sex, even before menopause occurs. Many women may experience vaginal dryness during sex because they are not sexually aroused. Other causes of vaginal dryness before menopause can be related to hygiene products such as feminine sprays and harsh soaps, pool and hot tub chemicals, and some laundry detergents. Certain treatment medications, such as allergy and cold medications and some antidepressants, can also dry out mucous membranes, including vaginal tissues. There are several simple ways to deal with the problem: Lubricants – they are similar to the natural secretion produced by the vagina and should be applied to the area around the vulva and vagina just before intercourse. Vaginal moisturizers – these are used two to three times a week and last up to three days, so they do not need to be applied directly before intercourse. Vaginal dryness can be a common problem for premenopausal women with low estrogen levels, such as nursing mothers, women who have had a hysterectomy. Premenopausal women who for one reason or another had an oophorectomy (surgical removal of the ovaries) during a hysterectomy are likely to experience menopausal symptoms, including vaginal dryness, as a result of hormone loss. These changes are more dramatic because it causes menopause to come on more abruptly. The hormonal changes that women experience due to chemotherapy also have the potential to be dramatic and sudden, leading to more intense symptoms. Chemotherapy can damage the ovaries so that they no longer produce estrogen, and this reduces the amount of vaginal secretions produced. Decreased amounts of estrogen also result in a thinner, less elastic and more fragile vaginal lining. Despite the large number of women,who experience problems related to vaginal dryness, it is still a silent problem that many people feel uncomfortable talking about with their partners and even doctors. Only a quarter of women with these problems actually seek therapy. Women spend a third of their lives in a postmenopausal state, and they need to make sure they maintain the quality of life they had before it. Vaginal dryness should not be treated as an inevitable part of aging. References: Vaginal dryness – Women’s Health Concern (womens-health-concern.org)