Pregnancy, breastfeeding, contraception, drug treatments or mental overload: the causes of vaginal dryness are multiple. A doctor recalls the preventive actions and treatments available today to provide lasting relief to the women concerned.
A common intimate disorder, far from being limited to menopause
There are symptoms that are easy to talk about, and those that we often keep to ourselves. Vaginal dryness still belongs to this second category. Out of modesty, embarrassment or because they think it is “normal”, many women delay discussing these discomforts with a health professional.
However, this phenomenon is particularly widespread. Contrary to popular belief, it does not only concern menopausal women.
In a video published on her Instagram account (@la.gyneco), Dr. Laure Einaudi recalls that this disorder “is not reserved for menopause”.
This precision is important. Because vaginal dryness can appear at different times of life, especially when estrogen levels decrease. This is the case after childbirth, during breastfeeding or even in certain women using hormonal contraception that is poorly suited to their situation.
Concretely, the vaginal mucosa becomes less hydrated, more fragile and more sensitive to irritation. The consequences can be multiple: feelings of tightness, itching, burning or pain during sexual intercourse. A physical impact, but also psychological, which can alter self-confidence, life as a couple and daily well-being.
Understanding the root cause of the problem is often the first step toward effective treatment.
When hormones are not the only ones responsible
While hormonal variations play a major role, they are not the only ones to influence female intimate balance.
Lifestyle, emotional state and certain daily habits can also weaken the vaginal mucosa. “It can also be due to stress, certain medications or simply too aggressive personal hygiene.”explains Dr. Laure Einaudi.
Chronic stress, in particular, acts on the entire body. By disrupting certain hormonal and physiological mechanisms, it can contribute to accentuating symptoms. Certain drug treatments can also promote intimate dryness.
Intimate hygiene represents another sometimes overlooked factor. In a society where injunctions to cleanliness are omnipresent, some women increase the number of cleansing products or use shower gels that are unsuitable for this particularly sensitive area. However, these practices can alter the natural balance of the vaginal flora and further irritate the mucous membranes.
Specialists therefore recommend favoring very gentle treatments, specifically designed for intimate cleansing, or even simply water when sufficient.
These prevention measures may seem modest. However, they often constitute an effective first response to limit the appearance or worsening of symptoms.
But when the discomfort has already set in, other solutions now make it possible to act more directly on the cause of the problem.
Treatments adapted to each age and each situation
For a long time, many women considered vaginal dryness to be inevitable. However, medicine today has a range of solutions capable of significantly improving intimate comfort.
Among the first options are vaginal moisturizers, available in the form of gels or ovules, notably based on hyaluronic acid. Their objective is to gradually restore hydration to the mucous membrane.
Dr. Laure Einaudi compares them to everyday care: they act “like a day cream but for your privacy”.
During painful intercourse, using water-based or silicone lubricants can also help reduce friction and improve immediate comfort.
When symptoms persist despite these measures, a medical consultation becomes essential. Certain local hormonal treatments can be offered to restore the thickness and elasticity of the mucosa. In certain situations, more recent techniques, such as vaginal laser treatments, can also be considered to promote tissue regeneration.
One message remains central: we must not get used to pain or consider this discomfort as an inevitable consequence of age or hormonal changes. As Dr. Laure Einaudi reminds us, “solutions exist for every stage of your life”.
At a time when women’s health is gradually gaining the place it deserves in public debate, vaginal dryness is a reminder of how certain symptoms still remain insufficiently known. Talking about it more, without embarrassment or taboo, not only improves the daily lives of millions of women, but also reminds us of the obvious: intimate comfort is an integral part of health.