Health

Vaginal Dryness and Menopause – What You Need to Know

Fit 4 100 Health, Menopause , ,

When did you last discuss Vaginal Dryness and Menopause over a cup of tea?

Let’s start the discussion today – it’s important!

As a natural part of the ageing process, many women do not look forward to the many different symptoms that menopause can bring. While it is true that no woman experiences menopause in the same way, there are some common menopausal symptoms that are worth knowing about as your body begins to make the transition into the next chapter.

In this article, we will be exploring one of the most common menopausal symptoms, vaginal dryness, to better understand its causes, learn about its identifying signs, and explore which supplements and natural remedies are worth using as helpful treatment options when you need relief.

We want to share this important information about this taboo topic to let women know that while vaginal dryness may be a natural part of menopause, it does not mean that they need to suffer through the symptoms on their own. Increasing access to educational resources and promoting awareness about common struggles are some of the best ways to ensure that people know when they should reach out for help — and our team at Fit4100 is committed to helping achieve this goal.

With this in mind, here is everything we want you to know about menopausal vaginal dryness:

Why We Don’t Talk About Vaginal Dryness

Caused by the reduced amount of estrogen present in the body after menopause, tissue thinning and vaginal dryness are a normal part of ageing that many women live with on a daily basis. So why don’t we talk about it?

With an estimated 17% of women aged 18-50 experiencing vaginal dryness before they even enter menopause, it is genuinely shocking to learn how little this topic is discussed. As possibly one of the most significant barriers to getting accurate information about vaginal dryness, the stigma against talking about women’s sexual health prevents many women from getting the care they need to reduce their menopausal symptoms.

From doctors historically not believing the severity of women’s health concerns to the taboo nature of discussing sexual health changes with age, it is no wonder that so many women worldwide often feel isolated and alone as they experience symptoms of vaginal dryness and pain.

Thankfully, as access to high-quality medical resources improves and more women feel empowered to tell their stories, the societal stigma is beginning to be challenged. Acting as your own self-advocate, becoming educated and talking about menopause symptoms and available treatment options can help not only your experience, but for the future experiences of women following in our footsteps.

Common Symptoms of Vaginal Dryness 

It is common for most women to develop vaginal dryness during or after their transition into menopause. As a hormonal-based health condition, the severity of the vaginal dryness symptoms that a woman experiences are dependent on her specific body and estrogen levels, meaning that some may have it much worse than others.

While not every woman with vaginal dryness will experience all of the following symptoms, examples of the most common signs of dryness that you may come across during menopause include:

  • Soreness or itchiness near the vagina
  • Pain and discomfort during sexual intercourse
  • Feeling like you need to urinate more frequently
  • An increased risk of developing urinary tract infections (UTIs)
  • Decreased overall sex drive

Depending on a variety of factors, including genetic predisposition, age, and pre-existing medical conditions, symptoms of vaginal dryness may change or shift throughout your transition into menopause. If you develop any of the above symptoms, we highly recommend consulting with your primary care provider for additional support and to begin exploring treatment options that will be best suited to your needs.

Vaginal Dryness Supplements and Natural Remedies to Try (or Avoid)

As we mentioned before, just because vaginal dryness is a common experience for many women during menopause doesn’t mean you have to suffer through the symptoms without treatment. With various at-home remedies available for women to try, we wanted to share some insight into which supplements are worth exploring vs which might do more harm than good.

Vaginal dryness supplements that are worth trying include:

  • Vaginal lubricants — Primarily used before sexual activity, vagina-safe lubricants can help offset feelings of irritation or pain caused by vaginal dryness. While these products should not be used on a day-to-day basis, they can be beneficial during periods of profound dryness or for reducing the risk of pain during intercourse.
  • Hyaluronic acid — As a natural substance designed to provide additional support and cushioning to our joints, hyaluronic acid has also been proven effective in treating vaginal dryness. One study found that hyaluronic acid offered comparable results to low-dose estrogen therapy for reducing the symptoms of vaginal dryness in menopausal women, indicating that this product may provide health benefits worth exploring.
  • Vitamin E — This fat-soluble vitamin and antioxidant is often recommended as a supplement for anyone looking to support overall health. And while many of these health claims still require additional research to verify, a recent study found that applying vitamin E gel directly to the vaginal tissue was effective in reducing dryness and overall irritation.
  • Replens — For anyone looking for a more long-term solution to their dryness, vaginal moisturisers can be incredibly helpful. Applied to the affected area as a gel, vaginal moisturisers like Replens offer up to three days of dryness relief. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, vaginal moisturisers can be an excellent option for preventing periods of painful dryness.

So while there are many great vaginal dryness options available on the market, there are also some common at-home remedies that should be avoided due to the ability to cause more irritation or discomfort. Here are some examples of vaginal dryness treatments that we don’t advise you use:

  • Coconut oil — As more people are being introduced to coconut oil in their cosmetics, skincare, and even in the kitchen, it is tempting to see if this thick and pleasant smelling oil can help with vaginal dryness. Unfortunately, not much research has been done to understand the full extent of the benefits or risks of using this product to treat menopausal dryness. Additionally, because coconut oil is a foreign substance to the body, it is capable for people to have an allergic reaction, making it not a great choice for treating this issue.
  • Olive oil — Like coconut oil, olive oil is also a foreign substance to the body that can cause additional issues when used to treat vaginal dryness. Messy to clean up and easy to permanently stain your clothing or linens, it is not advised that anyone use olive oil for managing their vaginal dryness symptoms.
  • Vaseline — Known for being incredibly moisturising and slick, petroleum jelly products like Vaseline products may come to mind when thinking of something to assist with menopausal dryness. But, because this product is not water-soluble, using Vaseline on vaginal tissue can actually increase your risk of experiencing friction, discomfort, and developing infections, making it a poor choice for helping with vaginal dryness.
  • Women’s health vitamins — From daily tablets to gummy sexual health supporting vitamins, there is no shortage of supplements claiming to help women transition into menopause. But, with little research available to support the claims of these products, it is best to avoid relying on these products as a way to treat your vaginal dryness. Instead, speak to your primary care provider about what specific vitamins or nutrients you can add to your diet to improve your overall sexual health.

You Don’t Have To Go Through This Alone

If you have been experiencing vaginal dryness as you transition into menopause, the most important thing to know is that you are not alone.

At Fit4100, our team is committed to providing women around the world with access to high-quality medical research and articles designed to empower and inspire women to get the treatment they need. Menopause is a natural part of life — but suffering from symptoms doesn’t have to be.

Vasomotor Symptoms and Menopause

Fit 4 100 Health, Menopause
Vasomotor Symptoms

Vasomotor Symptoms or Hot Flushes?

Vasomotor symptoms (VMS) affect 80% of women undergoing menopause, which usually occurs in the late forties or early fifties. Vasomotor symptoms are also called hot flashes or flushes, and night sweats and are due to dilation of blood vessels that cause heat to rise to the surface of the skin. 

Menopause is defined as the absence of menses for one year due to low levels of estrogen, progesterone, and elevated levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). FSH is secreted from the pituitary gland in the brain in response to lower production of estrogen from the ovaries.

Ovaries, like any organ, are subject to a decline in function as they age. Ovaries’ main functions are ovulation, estrogen and progesterone production, and maintenance of early pregnancy. As these hormones decrease, the pituitary tries to trigger the ovaries to work harder by releasing higher and higher levels of FSH. However, the aged ovaries are exhausted and do not respond.

What are Vasomotor Symptoms?

VMS can occur for months or years prior to the cessation of menses. Most VMS are moderate or severe and can have significant harmful effects on quality of life. At their core, VMS are thermoregulatory heat dispersion events that appears to have a narrower trigger zone in the menopausal years, meaning that small fluctuations in core body temperatures can trigger heat loss events such as sweating from peripheral vasodilation (hot flash).[1]

As such, vasomotor stands for ‘vaso’ or blood vessels and ‘motor’ means movement and is associated with dilation of the smooth muscle in the walls of the blood vessels. When blood vessels dilate, they release heat into the surrounding tissue and are responsible for people feeling hot and sweating. Thus, VMS include hot flashes or flushes, night sweats, and flushed skin.

Why do VSM Symptoms Occur?

The presumed reason for VMS is thought to be estrogen deficiency because supplementation of estrogen appears to stop or prevent hot flashes. However, other systems are implicated in the process such as central (brain) serotonergic, noradrenergic, opioid, adrenal, and autonomic systems, as well as vascular processes.[2-6]

How Long do VSM last?

The length and severity of menopausal symptoms are highly individualized and depend on a variety of factors such as whether your menopause occurred naturally or surgically, your ethnicity, your mother’s history, obesity, smoking, and alcohol intake. For instance, surgical removal of the ovaries, often done at the time of a hysterectomy, can result in the abrupt onset of hot flashes that are severe and debilitating.

This contrasts with natural menopause whereby the ovaries still produce a tiny amount of estrogen. Other co-morbidities like thyroid disorder and diabetes may influence the duration of symptoms. Most women experience the most severe symptoms in the early years and then they taper off rather gradually. However, certain triggers such as ambient temperature, certain foods, and anxiety may exacerbate or prolong the duration of symptoms.   

In a study by Avis and colleagues [7], they used data from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) and showed that Black women experienced the longest total VMS duration (median, 10.1 years). Japanese and Chinese women reported the shortest VMS duration (median, 4.8 years and 5.4 years, respectively). For non-Hispanic women, the median total VMS durations were 6.5 years and 8.9 years for Hispanic women.

Risk Factors of Vasomotor Symptoms

VMS are associated with a higher risk for cardiovascular disease and greater bone density loss. Other risk factors for the severity of VMS are obesity, smoking, low levels of exercise, and alcohol intake as well as psychologic parameters such as: [8-12]

  1. attitudes toward menopause
  2. symptom sensitivity 
  3. anxiety, irritability, or grouchiness,
  4. tenseness or nervousness,
  5. pounding or racing heart,
  6. fearfulness for no reason
  7. perceived stress 
  8. depressive symptoms
  9. level emotional and social support

The best way to reduce your risk factors is to exercise regularly, lose weight, stop smoking, and reduce or stop alcohol intake.

It is also important to make sure the temperature in the room is comfortable and there is good air movement. It is best to add layers to your clothing rather than wear one heavy garment. That way, you can add a sweater to a blouse, but not have to change clothes all together. Wear lightweight, moisture-wicking fabrics and avoid spicy foods. Keep well-hydrated and if your symptoms are severe, see your healthcare practitioner for advice and management.

Menopause Symptoms

References

  1. Freedman RR, Krell W. Reduced thermoregulatory null zone in postmenopausal women with hot flashes. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1999;181(1):66–70. 
  2. Thurston R, Christie I, Matthews K. Hot flashes and cardiac vagal control: A link to cardiovascular risk? Menopause. 2010;17(3):456–461. 
  3. Woods NF, Mitchell ES, Smith-Dijulio K. Cortisol levels during the menopausal transition and early postmenopause: observations from the Seattle Midlife Women’s Health Study. Menopause. 2009;16(4):708–718. 
  4. Freedman RR, Woodward S. Elevated a2-adrenergic responsiveness in menopausal hot flushes: pharmacologic and biochemical studies. In: Lomax P, Schonbaum E, editors. Thermoregulation: the pathophysiological basis of clinical disorders. Krager; Basel: 1992. pp. 6–9. 
  5. Casper RF, Yen SS. Neuroendocrinology of menopausal flushes: an hypothesis of flush mechanism. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 1985;22(3):293–312. 
  6. Sturdee DW. The menopausal hot flush–anything new? Maturitas. 2008;60(1):42–49.
  7. Avis NE, Crawford SL, Greendale G, Bromberger JT, Everson-Rose SA, Gold EB, Hess R, Joffe H, Kravitz HM, Tepper PG, Thurston RC; Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation. Duration of menopausal vasomotor symptoms over the menopause transition. JAMA Intern Med. 2015 Apr;175(4):531-9. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.8063. PMID: 25686030; PMCID: PMC4433164.
  8. Sommer  B, Avis  N, Meyer  P,  et al.  Attitudes toward menopause and aging across ethnic/racial groups.  Psychosom Med. 1999;61(6):868-875.
  9. Barsky  AJ, Goodson  JD, Lane  RS, Cleary  PD.  The amplification of somatic symptoms.  Psychosom Med. 1988;50(5):510-519.
  10. Cohen  S, Kamarck  T, Mermelstein  R.  A global measure of perceived stress.  J Health Soc Behav. 1983;24(4):385-396.
  11. Radloff  LS.  The CES-D Scale: a self-report depression scale for research in the general population.  Appl Psychol Meas. 1997;1:385-401.
  12. Sherbourne  CD, Stewart  AL.  The MOS social support survey.  Soc Sci Med. 1991;32(6):705-714.

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