Overview

Vaginal dryness is a common problem that many women have at some point in their lives. But there are things that can help.

Symptoms of vaginal dryness

You may have vaginal dryness if you:

• have unusual vaginal discharge, spotting or bleeding
• feel sore or itchy in and around your vagina
• feel pain or discomfort during sex
• need to pee more often than usual
• keep getting urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Causes of vaginal dryness

You can get vaginal dryness if you:

• go through the menopause
• are pregnant or breastfeeding
• take certain medicines such as hormonal contraceptive pills or antidepressants
• have your womb removed (a hysterectomy), especially if your ovaries were also removed
• have cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy or surgery

These things can cause a change in your hormone levels. This change can affect how much vaginal discharge or fluid you have.

You can also have vaginal dryness if you:

• are not aroused during sex
• use perfumed soaps, washes or douches in and around your vagina
• have an underlying condition, such as diabetes or Sjögren's syndrome

How to treat vaginal dryness yourself

You can try these things before you see a GP. You can get most of them from a pharmacy without a prescription.

Do:

• use water-based lubricants before sex - put these in and around your vagina, on your partner's penis, on your partner's finders, or on a sex toy if you're using one
• use vaginal moisturisers for vaginal dryness - you can put these inside your vagina to keep it moist
• use unperfumed soaps and washes around your vagina
• try to enjoy more foreplay so you feel more aroused during sex

Don't:

• do not use perfumed soaps, washes and any douches in and around your vagina
• do not use creams, lotions or moisturisers that are not for your vagina as it can cause more irritation or an infection

See a GP if:

• you've had vaginal dryness for a few weeks and things you've tried yourself are not working
• vaginal dryness is affecting your daily life
• you have unusual discharge from your vagina
• you have bleeding after sex or in between your periods or after experiencing meopause

If you're getting vaginal dryness because of changes in your hormone levels, you may be prescribed creams, gels, patches or medicines to increase a hormone called oestrogen. This is called hormone replacement therapy HRT.

These are not recommended for everybody. Talk to your doctor about whether hormonal treatments are suitable for you.