Natural Remedies for Vaginal Dryness

Vaginal dryness is common after menopause, but you can experience vaginal dryness at any age. Dryness can lead to other symptoms like itching and burning, all of which can make sex painful. The situation can also result in you having to urinate more often.

The dryness is often associated with vaginal atrophy, also known as vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA). Numbers vary, but if you're between the ages of 40 and 45, you have a 20% chance of experiencing vaginal dryness. If you're post-menopausal, you have about a 66% chance of developing this condition—also known as genitourinary syndrome (GSM).

This article discusses these symptoms and their causes and treatment. It also includes some natural remedies for vaginal dryness and tips on lifestyle changes you can try to relieve your symptoms.

Vaginal Dryness Causes

In most cases, vaginal dryness comes from lower estrogen levels. As you age, less estrogen also means less moisture in your vaginal walls. Hormonal changes in pregnancy or breastfeeding can also change your vagina's moisture.

Sometimes dryness isn't related to aging. Estrogen levels may also drop due to:

• Chemotherapy or hormone therapy in cancer treatment
• Radiation therapy to the pelvic area
• Immune disorders
• Surgical removal of the ovaries
• Hysterectomy or removal of the womb

It can also be caused by medications that reduce moisture in the whole body. Allergy and cold medicines are two examples.

Douching, laundry detergents, and soaps can irritate the vagina. Cigarette smoking, tampons, and condoms can also cause problems.

Wild Yam Cream

Creams made with wild yam are often marketed as a natural source of estrogen. Estrogen is a sex hormone that affects the health of your vagina.

So far, there's no evidence that applying wild yam cream on your skin boosts estrogen. There's also no proof it can ease dryness.

Black Cohosh

The herb black cohosh is often used for menopause symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats.

In a 2016 research review, researchers found no evidence that black cohosh eased menopause symptoms. To date, there's no science to support using black cohosh to help with vaginal dryness, either.

Kudzu

At least one older study showed that kudzu might help with vaginal dryness, but more recent research conflicts with those results.

For example, a 2016 review of the research found no evidence that kudzu relieved vaginal dryness or helped with other menopause symptoms.

Soy

Soy contains isoflavones, which act like weak estrogens in the body. They are thought to help improve vaginal dryness.

Although researchers are looking into the benefits of a diet rich in soy foods (such as tofu) for vaginal health, they don't yet know how much or what kind of soy might help.

What Else to Try

Vaginal dryness may be a sign of another health problem, such as an infection. For that reason, it's a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider if you have other symptoms.

Treatments usually include estrogen-based creams, moisturizers, and water-based lubricants. Your vagina is sensitive. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider before you self-treat with any alternative medicine.

Summary

Vaginal dryness is usually caused by estrogen loss, medication, or other health conditions. Some advocates say natural remedies such as wild yam cream and black cohosh can relieve the dryness. To date, there's no research to support their use.

There's some evidence that kudzu and soy may help, but more research is needed to know for sure.

Vaginal dryness can cause pain during sex and other problems. For now, you may find more relief using an estrogen cream, lubricant, or a moisturizer made especially for the vagina.