A woman’s life is never calm, at least when it comes to hormonal changes. From a young age, a woman has to deal with the start of fertility and a series of other changes, going through the true hormonal storm that is pregnancy. Menopause is one of these transition periods in a woman’s life and, although it is part of the climacteric (the last major hormonal transformation in a woman’s body), that doesn’t mean it’s any less confusing. There are some issues that should be taken more seriously than they usually are, such as vaginal hydration during menopause, for example, which is a very important health and well-being issue. And to know exactly how to deal with this issue, it is important that you better understand how menopause acts on a woman’s body.
The Main Effects of Menopause
Menopause is simply the term used to designate the last menstruation and one of the phases of the climacteric. It is a period of changes in a woman’s body that corresponds to the end of her reproductive period. As it marks the end of a cycle, there are many hormonal changes and, consequently, physical and psychological effects. Some of the main ones are:
- Dry skin;
- Night sweats;
- Hot flashes;
- Mood swings;
- Reduced libido; Headaches;
Weight gain, hair loss, brittle nails, and vaginal dryness are also among the symptoms. As you can see, there are various effects and signs that menopause is approaching for a woman, but there are ways to combat or ease them so that you can live a peaceful life and not let these effects interfere with your daily routine.
How to Treat Vaginal Dryness During Menopause
Vaginal dryness is not only one of the main effects of menopause, but also a consequence that ends up affecting a woman both physically and psychologically, as her sex life can also undergo several changes due to this effect. The good news is that there are already several ways to treat vaginal dryness during menopause and ensure it doesn’t affect you so much. Some of the main approaches are:
- Water-based lubricants;
- Estrogen application;
- Lifestyle changes;
- Laser treatment
Let’s discuss each of these effects in more detail to explain how they can help to combat these symptoms.
Water-Based Lubricants
This is generally the first treatment option when a woman seeks to combat vaginal dryness. This type of lubricant ends up being a very good option because they do not cause vaginal irritation like oil-based products, for example. In addition, oil-based products can interfere with sexual intercourse for women who use condoms, as oil helps corrode the latex of condoms, whereas water-based lubricants do not have this issue. Application of this type of cream should be done daily to prevent the problem from persisting.
Estrogen Application
Estrogen application can be done through pills, creams, or even injections. Of course, this type of application should be done at a low dose and only after consulting your doctor to know if it is really necessary or if there are other options to be considered first. Application of this hormone helps with the natural lubrication of the vagina, functioning as a form of hormone replacement. When a woman does all the tests and properly follows medical recommendations, these applications usually have a good outcome.
Lifestyle Changes
There are also natural ways to combat vaginal dryness. Changing certain habits in your life can increase estrogen production, helping with your natural lubrication. Following a diet based on vitamin E can help a lot. Other things that are also usually beneficial include exercising, using only water-based products for intimate hygiene, and wearing only cotton underwear. Of course, changing habits alone will not help you forever with this problem, but making certain changes may mean you only need to seek other alternatives after a few years.
Laser Treatment
Laser therapy is a relatively new technique, which can be quite beneficial, but which has caused apprehension, especially among women who are not familiar with this type of treatment and are unsure what is true or not. The technique really works and can help not only with dryness, but also with the control of urinary incontinence and vaginal laxity. The downside is that this type of procedure is still very expensive, in other words, not very accessible.
Be Careful with Home Treatments
You should be careful with the type of treatment a woman does on her own to improve vaginal hydration during menopause. Using any product without a medical prescription and acting independently can irritate the vagina, which not only ends up making the problem worse, but also causing other issues. For this reason, the best recommendation is for women to always talk to their gynecologist, as they will indicate the best treatment for your case, preventing you from developing other problems and, most importantly, resolving the issue of vaginal hydration during menopause. A woman going through menopause has already experienced many changes in her life and is probably used to certain situations. However, each new transformation also requires a new adjustment, meaning this can be a period full of doubts and confusion for many women. For this reason, it is always important for women to stay informed to understand what is happening to their bodies and how to deal with these kinds of situations. Also Read: Yam for Climacteric Photo: silviarita