A woman’s body is designed to produce a slippery lubrication fluid during arousal to enhance penetration.
However, this does not always happen and can lead to painful sex. Here are some of the reasons as to why you may experience vaginal dryness:
1. Stress
Stress is linked to many health problems and vaginal dryness is not an exception either. When a woman is stressed, it’s difficult for her to get aroused. Also, there is less blood flowing to her vagina thus reducing the chances of lubrication.
2. Childbirth and breastfeeding
Estrogen is necessary for wetness down there. However, its levels may decrease after birth and during breastfeeding in order to allow milk production. The longer you breastfeed, the longer you may have to battle the challenges of a dry vagina. Therefore, it’s advisable to not rush to have intercourse after delivery until your body feels prepared.
3. Menopause
As you age, your hormones also deplete. Vaginal dryness is common among women who have reached menopause. Their vagina loses elasticity, gets drier and sex becomes more unbearable.
4. Birth control
Your hormonal birth control method may be to blame for your vaginal dryness. The birth control pills work by suppressing your testosterone and estrogen levels, both of which are necessary for a healthy vagina. If you suspect that your birth control method is the cause of your dryness, speak to your doctor so that they may give you an alternative.
5. Colds and medication
Colds and flu dehydrate our bodies and this can affect your vagina as well. More so, the cold and allergy medicines contain antihistamine which helps to dry the mucous membrane in your nose as well as your vagina. The good news is that this dryness goes away once you recover from the flu.
6. Hygiene products
While you should maintain high standards of cleanliness for your lady parts, you must also be keen on the products you use. Some soaps, shower gels, lubes and douching products are too harsh and may alter the vagina’s pH and kill the good bacteria that allows lubrication.