Dry Down There? We Asked A Gynecologist Exactly What To Do About It

Vaginal dryness is not a fun or particularly comfortable topic to discuss, but as a gynecologist I hear this complaint from so many women—even from those in their 20s and 30s but especially from women in their mid-40s on up. So let's start having an open conversation about vaginal health! Your body, mind, emotions, and relationship will all thank you.

Research also shows that the "sexual distress" many of us are feeling has been associated with a higher incidence of relationship conflicts and depression. And even if sex isn't in the picture, vaginal dryness still may affect how you feel. You may suffer from anxiety relating to worsening symptoms of dryness or discomfort. You may be feeling older than your years (because our spirit is always youthful!), your self-esteem may be dwindling, and you may not be able to do the things you once enjoyed (horseback riding, cycling, jogging, etc.) due to irritation.

Yes! First, focus on all the simple stuff. Vulvar and vaginal dryness and overall vaginal health can be tackled with various easy (and natural) approaches.

To get the blood flowing to those vaginal tissues (important to keep things from drying and losing elasticity), make sure you are doing your pelvic floor exercises!

Many soaps and bubble baths contain irritants, and some even expose you to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Reading labels and reducing the worst offenders can help.

Don't be embarrassed and do proactively bring up all of your symptoms. Research shows women routinely do not discuss vaginal dryness with their doctor. In one study 42 percent of women experiencing vaginal discomfort didn't realize it had anything to do with their hormones and menopause. And 75 percent of these women had experienced their symptoms—without trying to do anything about them—for at least a year.

Do you know where your vulva is? Hint, your vulva is where all that dryness is causing you irritation while you're trying to do everyday things. Need a little guidance? Check out my video.

These do not contain additional chemicals that are found in many commercial lubricants. They can help with discomfort during intercourse, but they do not provide long-term relief. Some of my favorites are ghee and organic coconut oil.

Choosing healthy foods including fermented foods—rich in probiotics such as kimchi, kombucha, and pickled veggies—or supplementing with a good probiotic is richly beneficial. Adding in healthy fatty food choices like oysters, salmon, free-range eggs, avocado, olive oil, and butter from free-range cows are also fantastic choices.

Next, educate yourself about hormone treatment options. Awareness of locally applied hormone therapies (which are generally healthier) is lower than knowledge about oral tablets (systemic hormone replacement therapy). And the whole topic is confusing. Some 67 percent of women in one study1 didn't feel they had enough information to make an informed choice about starting ANY kind of hormone-based therapy. But it can really help. So get educated on these options:

While oral estrogen therapy can be helpful for hot flashes, it really hasn't been found to significantly resolve vaginal dryness issues. So if you are considering this, know that some 40 percent of women receiving oral estrogen therapy continue to have their persistent vaginal symptoms. It also isn't recommended for women who've had breast cancer.

Locally applied, estrogen therapy may improve vaginal moisture and irritation but only really addresses the mucosal layer of the vagina—not the muscle.

Why is this an important topic? Well, it's estimated2 that many women can expect to live almost 40 percent of their lives in this discomfort. Forty percent? That is just not acceptable for something that so greatly affects our quality of life.