Let’s debunk dryness with a few solid truths…
Introduction
Mention vaginal dryness and you might think it’s just something menopausal women have to deal with – but that’s not entirely true. They’re very wrong; we’re here to tell you that vaginal dryness can be completely normal! In fact, 73% of women have experienced discomfort during sex due to vaginal dryness. So why aren’t we talking about it? And why does it happen?
Vaginal dryness can happen to anyone with a vagina and the good news is that it is something that can be easily managed to help you have good sex at any time. If you’re looking for products to help with vaginal dryness, the Durex Naturals range is designed for her to help make sex more comfortable. Our Naturals range includes Naturals Mositure Lube which is 100% natural water-based lube, perfect to help ease vaginal dryness.
Want to know more about what causes vaginal dryness? Or how can products such as the Durex Naturals range help manage those natural dry spells? We discuss all in our vaginal dryness guide.
WHAT CAUSES VAGINAL DRYNESS?
Vaginal dryness can stem from several causes. It’s important to remember though that dryness downstairs can be perfectly normal. Here are some of the main causes of vaginal dryness:
- Hormones (e.g: Breastfeeding, surgical removal of the ovaries)
- Lifestyle (e.g: Cigarette smoking)
- Anxiety and stress (e.g: Depression, excessive stress)
- Medication (e.g: contraceptive pills, some cancer treatments)
It's important to remember that though vaginal dryness downstairs can be common, you should speak to a healthcare professional if you've had vaginal dryness for a few weeks and things you've tried yourself are not working, it is affecting your daily life or if you are experiencing symptoms such as unusual discharge or bleeding.
VAGINAL DRYNESS AND HORMONES
Your hormones are one of the most common reasons for vaginal dryness. As if taking you on a delightful emotional roller-coaster every month wasn’t bad enough, they can have a direct effect on your natural lubrication levels, leaving you feeling drier than usual.
Changes in hormones also explain why some women experience dryness around other major events in their life like pregnancy, post-childbirth, breastfeeding, and during menopause.
LIFESTYLE AND VAGINAL DRYNESS
If you’re feeling a bit dry down there, you might want to think about making a few tweaks to your daily routine.
Chemicals in soaps, hair dyes, perfumes, and laundry products can irritate your vagina’s delicate pH balance, which can affect lubrication. Warm water or plain, unperfumed soaps/washes should be used to wash the area around the vagina (the vulva) gently every day.
It’s also worth thinking about having a simple water-based lube to hand when things do get steamy. This can help soothe discomfort.
ANXIETY, STRESS, AND VAGINAL DRYNESS
It won’t come as a surprise, but stress and sex aren’t a great combo. Let’s face it, it’s hard to get turned on when you’re stressed out. If you’re feeling anxious, upset, or depressed it can also affect your body’s ability to self-lubricate.
Try to set time aside to properly unwind before you have sex. A relaxing massage with a warming gel can be a great way to de-stress and reconnect with your partner. So, take off those clothes, take your time and take off the pressure.
VAGINAL DRYNESS CAUSED BY MEDICATION
Quite a few common medications list vaginal dryness as a possible side effect, including some antidepressants and the contraceptive pill. This is because some medications can alter (you guessed it) your hormone levels, which in turn can affect your body’s ability to self-lubricate.
Lube can be a great option to help you and your partner glide through any dry spells you might encounter.
LUBRICATED PRODUCTS FOR VAGINAL DRYNESS
If you do tend to get a little dry during certain times of the month or at certain points during your period, we’re here to tell you it can be normal and often is nothing to be concerned about. The use of lube can be a quick and simple way to help alleviate dryness you may be experiencing, and can also improve sex in general.
The Naturals range by Durex includes an array of products to promote comfortable and enjoyable sex at any time of the month, regardless of whether you might be experiencing a bit of dryness downstairs. Maybe you’re looking for the perfect product to help support you during your drier spells? The Durex Naturals Lube might be your best friend in drier times!
