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Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 (HealthDay Information) — Postmenopausal or peri-menopausal ladies are sometimes hampered by vaginal dryness, which might put the brakes on a wholesome intercourse life.
It doesn’t have to remain that method, specialists suggested. Quite a few merchandise can be found to assist keep vaginal lubrication.
“After and across the time of menopause, your physique makes much less estrogen,” Dr. Cynthia Abraham defined in a column from the American Faculty of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
“Estrogen is a hormone that helps keep the vagina’s lubrication, elasticity and thickness,” mentioned Abraham, an ob/gyn at Mount Sinai in New York Metropolis. “Low ranges of estrogen may cause thinning, drying and irritation of vaginal partitions. That is known as vaginal atrophy.”
Dryness also can have an effect on the exterior tissues of the vulva, Abraham famous.
“Girls with vulvar dryness usually discover irritation after they’re placing on their underwear,” she mentioned.
In response to Abraham, it’s additionally frequent for girls to develop the situation within the years that precede menopause.
“Usually, my sufferers discover signs after they haven’t been sexually energetic for a very long time,” Abraham mentioned. “Then they’re intimate with a associate and discover that intercourse is painful.”
What to do
Fortunately, there are quite a few merchandise to select from to assist lubricate the vagina. In response to Abraham and the Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Shannon Laughlin-Tommaso, these embody:
Vaginal mosturizers. These embody (amongst others) manufacturers resembling Ok-Y Liquibeads and Replens, Laughlin-Tommaso mentioned in a column posted on-line by the clinic.
Vaginal lubricants. Widespread manufacturers embody Astroglide, Jo, Sliquid and others. They’re utilized on the time of intercourse to ease ache and irritation.
“Sexually energetic ladies ought to use lubricants along with a vaginal moisturizer,” Abraham suggested. “I favor water-based lubricants, although they don’t final so long as silicone-based merchandise. Skip oil-based lubricants. They’ll trigger irritation and make condoms much less efficient.”
If you happen to’re nonetheless experiencing ache throughout intercourse after utilizing moisturizers/lubricants for 2 months, attain out to your physician.
Low-dose estrogen lotions. These drugs will also be allotted by way of a vaginal ring or pill, Laughlin-Tommaso defined. They can be utilized even in the event you’re already on hormone alternative remedy, she added, though ladies who’ve had breast most cancers might wish to discuss over utilizing such merchandise with their physician.
“Lotions should be measured and might get messy,” Abraham famous, so “tablets are various.”
Ospemifene (Osphena). It is a capsule containing what’s often known as a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) medicine. It’s used “to deal with painful intercourse related to vaginal atrophy,” Laughlin-Tommaso mentioned.
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Taken as a nightly vaginal suppository, DHEA “might ease painful intercourse in menopausal ladies,” the Mayo skilled mentioned.
Laughlin-Tommaso additionally famous that merely participating in common intercourse or masturbation may also help keep wholesome vaginal tissue post-menopause.
As at all times, “discuss along with your ob-gyn in regards to the professionals and cons of various hormonal choices,” Abraham mentioned.
SOURCES: Cynthia Abraham, MD, obstetrician-gynecologist, Mount Sinai, New York Metropolis, and spokesperson, American Faculty of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Shannon Laughlin-Tommaso, MD, obstetrician-gynecologist, Mayo Clinic
What This Means for You
Vaginal dryness is a typical and debilitating situation earlier than, throughout and after menopause, however quite a few merchandise may also help
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