Vaginal dryness: definition, symptoms, causes and treatments
Edited By Léa François
If your vagina feels more like a dried apricot than a juicy fruit, you may be suffering from vaginal dryness. We tell you more about this malfunction.
Play the videoPlay the content of the articleContrary to popular belief, vaginal dryness is a phenomenon that affects many women, and not only those who have reached menopause. We decipher this syndrome that can affect us all one day.
Vaginal dryness: definition and symptoms
The inside of the vagina is lined with a mucous membrane in which is located the vestibular gland, formerly called "Bartholin's gland". This secretes substances that have the role of hydrating, lubricating during sexual intercourse and cleaning, carrying away germs or dead cells.
But sometimes the machine works poorly and some women suffer from vaginal dryness: the vagina does not hydrate properly. How does this manifest itself in practice? The usual symptoms are itching, irritation and local inflammation. The skin being fragile, the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections is higher.
While vaginal dryness mainly affects postmenopausal women - 1 in 2 women see the balance of their vaginal flora altered following the drop in hormones caused by menopause - other profiles of women can be affected for various reasons .
Factors of vaginal dryness
Vaginal dryness is most often due to a hormonal change that results in a drop in the level of estrogen, hormones responsible for maintaining the humidity necessary for the proper functioning of the vagina.
This hormonal change can be triggered by:
But this dryness can also be due to a disturbance of the vaginal flora. The vaginal flora is made up of a set of good bacteria, the “lactobacilli” which protect the vagina from infections. Certain behaviors can disturb this vaginal flora, which will then develop bad bacteria.
These behaviors may include:
Finally, vaginal dryness can be triggered by diseases or syndromes such as endometriosis, fibroids, infertility, but also by aggressive medical treatments such as those to fight cancer.
Psychological disorders such as depression or severe stress can also play a role.
To discover all the solutions to treat vaginal dryness, meet Natacha in the video at the top of the article, or in the podcast below!
In the Question Q program, we also talk about sexual orientation (sapiosexual, intersex...) But also about sexual pleasure (masturbation, how to reach orgasm?, how to know if I'm ready for the first time ? ) intimate hygiene (Should you wax your pubis? How to clean your vagina?) and even neo-tantrism!
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