Hot flashes are the first symptom women usually complain about when beginning the process of menopause vaginal dryness is the second. The best advice is to talk to your doctor about what causes vaginal dryness so you understand and how best to treat it.

Vaginal dryness is caused by the decline in estrogen levels in a woman’s body making the walls of the vagina thin and dry. This condition can make having sex very painful and could lead to a condition called vaginal atrophy. Vaginal atrophy would make having sex virtually impossible. The friction caused by intercourse would cause trauma and bleeding to the vagina and, in turn, make the woman not want to participate. This would obviously cause a rift in the relationship and could lead to it’s destruction.

There are a few things you can do to treat vaginal dryness effectively. First and foremost, keep yourself hydrated, it stands to reason that if there is more fluid in your system then there will be more fluid available during sex. Always drink at least 8 glasses of water every day.

You can increase your consumption of soy and soy products, olives, olive oil, nuts and beans to help stabilize the production of estrogen in your body. Plants that contain phytoestrogens are useful in treating vaginal dryness. Phytoestrogens work in a similar way to natural estrogen and may be a better alternative to HRT. Soy is a great source of phytoestrogens.

Herbal supplements have become increasingly popular when treating symptoms of menopause vaginal dryness. Herbal supplements can help increase sensitivity to the female genitalia as well as help relieve symptoms of menopause and reduce stress.

The use of water soluble lubricants is another suggestion to decrease discomfort when having sex. Available over the counter, they come in different scents or even flavors for each others enjoyment. Never use vegetable oil or petroleum based lubricants, especially if using condoms. These products will cause the condom to fail.

Tell him if sex has become painful and find a solution together. It is not unreasonable to expect him to help with this situation. Suggest to him that you would like to try extended foreplay to help you “warm up” before actual intercourse. Tell him he should take his time and maybe even get a little creative with possible solutions to your vaginal dryness problem. Working together and communicating well can prevent the breakdown of the relationship.

If your sex drive is seriously inhibited your doctor may prescribe a low dose testosterone cream to increase it. The creams generally contain 1-2% testosterone and are not to be used as lubricants. Use them as directed by your doctor. As with estrogen therapy, testosterone therapy has it’s risks and side effects.

As you can see there are plenty of options out there for treating vaginal dryness. Talk with your partner about the problem and talk to your doctor about options then make an informed decision about how you want to treat your menopause vaginal dryness.