Vaginal dryness

Introduction

Vaginal dryness is a widespread symptom that many women have to deal with. The vagina naturally produces secretions that keep the mucous membranes moist and make it difficult for pathogens to colonize them. Dry mucous membranes, on the other hand, are more susceptible to infections of all kinds, since germs can attach themselves better to dry, rough mucous membranes.

Vaginal dryness is often a subjective sensation of the affected woman. There are no objective measurements of when vaginal dryness actually starts. Vaginal dryness is most often experienced during sexual intercourse, as the production of vaginal secretions is also significantly reduced.

However, moisture is particularly important during sexual intercourse so that the friction does not cause injuries and pain in the genital area. Accordingly, women with pronounced vaginal dryness often experience significant restrictions in their sexual life, which can be very stressful for those affected. Women who suffer from vaginal dryness should therefore not hesitate to ask their gynecologist for advice. Which could also interest you: Insufficient vaginal lubrication (lubrication) – therapy and prognosis

Causes

The causes of vaginal dryness can be very different. Depending on the age at which the symptoms occur, the causes can be different. Hormonal conditions are particularly common as the reason for vaginal dryness.

According to this, women are most frequently affected by vaginal dryness after the menopause. This is because the level of female sex hormones (estrogens) decreases significantly with the onset of the menopause. However, estrogens play a major role in vaginal lubrication, blood circulation in the genital tract and the functioning of the female sexual organs.

As a result of the falling sex hormone levels, these functions decrease accordingly. Blood circulation in the vagina is reduced, the tissue is degraded over time, which results in thinner labia and more sensitive skin in the genital area, and the moisture of the vagina can also be significantly reduced. It is estimated that every third woman suffers from vaginal dryness at the onset of menopause.

Hormone fluctuations can also occur in other life situations, which can cause vaginal dryness. Examples are pregnancy or breastfeeding. Even if hormonal contraceptives are taken or a woman’s ovaries are removed, changes in hormone levels can occur which can result in vaginal dryness.

In the case of vaginal dryness during pregnancy or the use of hormonal contraceptives, the symptoms usually disappear when these circumstances end. The same applies to various other medications that can cause vaginal dryness as a side effect. Vaginal dryness is particularly common in women treated with anti-hormonal drugs for breast cancer.

The hormone blockers cause a menopausal-like condition and the woman may develop vaginal dryness. The moistening of the vagina also depends largely on psychological factors. Women who have a lot of stress and are generally very busy in their thoughts often have problems with vaginal dryness, especially during sexual intercourse.

Last but not least, vaginal dryness can occur as a concomitant symptom of various diseases. Some nervous diseases can impair sexual functions in later stages and thus also cause vaginal dryness. One example is multiple sclerosis (MS).

Vaginal dryness can also occur with diabetes mellitus. Last but not least, lifestyle habits also influence vaginal lubrication. Alcohol consumption and smoking as well as excessive intimate hygiene can have negative effects.

A deficiency of the hormone estrogen is in many cases the cause of vaginal dryness. This is independent of whether it is a naturally occurring deficiency, such as during menopause, before entering puberty and during breastfeeding, or whether it is caused by medication. These include the contraceptive pill and estrogen blockers as part of breast cancer treatment.Estrogen deficiency causes reduced blood circulation in the vagina, negatively affects the elasticity and thickness of the mucous membrane and also impairs the activity of the glands in the intimate area.

These factors, individually or often in combination, can lead to a dry vagina. Thyroid gland diseases are common in the population. These are usually either over- or under-functioning of the thyroid gland, resulting in the production of too much or too little thyroid hormone.

Both clinical pictures are associated with a variety of possible symptoms. An underfunction of the thyroid gland, so-called hypothyroidism, can lead to increased dryness of the skin in addition to a number of other complaints. This can also affect the mucous membrane of the intimate area.

It is important to mention that some thyroid diseases as well as the beginning of the menopause have a common peak of disease, i.e. both diseases are often diagnosed most frequently in a similar age span. As a consequence, in the case of vaginal dryness in middle age, both the possible onset of menopause, which is often associated with vaginal dryness, and thyroid diagnostics in the presence of other symptoms must be considered. A differentiation is usually possible on the basis of characteristic blood values.