One of the most common complaints gynecologists hear is that their patient is suffering from vaginal dryness. Vaginal dryness is a more common problem than yeast infections.

What causes vaginal dryness?

The #1 cause is decreased estrogen levels in a woman’s body. Estrogen levels can drop when a woman is pregnant, taking the ‘pill’, going through menopause, has a hormonal imbalance, is under stress or has Alzheimer’s.

Other things that cause dryness are antibiotic use, diaphragm/condom use, antidepressants, antihistamines, and believe it or not, tampons. Nylon panties have been known to cause dryness in some women. In other cases, Sjorgren’s Syndrome (bad teeth) can cause vaginal dryness.

Well… Now we know why. What to do about it??

The first thing you would think is: use a lubricant, right? Well maybe. If the lubricant is not FDA approved, it may not be the right one for you. See, a lot of the old lube was made for men, you know, for masturbation. These lubricants are not for use by couples or women. Therefore, be sure to check for FDA approval.

Okay, you’ve found yourself a good lube. Is it so?

No. You can also help yourself by following these rules:

1. Douching, sprays, or deodorants are not allowed in the vaginal area. (We’ll do an article on this later.)
2. Do not use baby oil or petroleum jelly as a lubricant.
3. Avoid strong soaps in the vaginal area. AND,
4. If you are going to have prolonged, marathon sex, ALWAYS use a lubricant because a woman’s body is programmed to produce enough lubricant for procreation.

Here are some good FDA-approved options when you need to use a lubricant:

•Normal lubricant –> WET! original gel
•Extra slippery–> Pjur Eros Bodyglide Gel Lubricant
•Flavored lubricant–> ID Juicy Lube
•Warm lubricant–>Warm hug
•pH Balanced –> O’My Natural Lubricant
•Sensitive Skin –> O’My Flavored Lubricant
• Upgrade –> FriXion Silicone Lubricant

By the way, a new study shows that women who use lube enjoy sex more! So put on your lube!

Missed class!