What Causes Vaginal Dryness? (Don’t Ignore These 8 Reasons)

Tender care for the reproductive system is crucial as it leads to long-term or chronic conditions. Do you often see irritation in your vaginal area? Symptoms like burning, discomfort, or pain in your vaginal tract may require a gynecologist for further examination. Issues like vaginal dryness may happen for women at any age. You can read more about the issue at https://www.refineclinic.com/vaginal-dryness-symptoms/ and learn how to prevent vaginal dryness. What causes vaginal dryness to become one of the severe health diseases for women can be alarming. So, examine these reasons and consult your OB-GYN doctor to prevent or treat this dangerous disease. 

What Causes Vaginal Dryness?

Research studies show that changes in hormone levels often cause dryness. Estrogen plays a significant part in maintaining the lubrication and production of tissue elasticity and acidity of the vagina. Several symptoms of vaginal dryness may cause itching, bleeding, or even swelling. Discharges and unusual liquid may also be a sign of vaginal dryness. 

On the other hand, hygiene practices, medical conditions, and other physical concerns can increase the causes of vaginal dryness.

If you want to know more about what causes vaginal dryness, here are reasons not to ignore. 

Going Through Menopause

As soon as a person reaches the age of 60, many health conditions may arise from the body’s weakness. Frequently, females experience heart disease and osteoporosis during this golden age. However, menopause reduces and eventually stops estrogen levels that affect fertility. 

Menopause also causes vaginal atrophy or thinness of vagina walls and reduced elasticity. The National Institute of Aging in the US reports that women around their 40s may also start experiencing vaginal dryness. 

Loss Of Interest In Sexual Intercourse

There are various reasons why men and women have sexual problems outside of relationship concerns. Physical limitations and underlying diseases can decrease the libido or desire for sex. lubrication is also necessary to keep your vagina healthy. In cases of women undergoing menopause or due to disinterest in sex, vagina dryness also occurs. 

Women may also experience infertility that also affects their interest in having sex. Infertility affects women ages 15 and above. It can also mean that you can get pregnant but can’t stay pregnant for nine months. 

Due To Oophorectomy

Removal of ovaries for oophorectomy is done to prevent a bacterial infection from spreading. Issues like benign or malignant tumors and cysts also require a doctor to remove your ovaries.

Vaginal dryness occurs in oophorectomy due to the lack of estrogen and progesterone production. Since ovaries are the only organ in the body that produces these hormones, you may need alternative medications to maintain hormone levels. 

Depression And Mental Health

Can mental health affect sexual health? According to psychologists, stress, anxiety, and depression causes insufficient blood flow in the ovaries. Once females transition to the premenopausal stage, conjugated estrogen can fluctuate mood. It also sends signals via the neurotransmitter, which also stimulates the hippocampus and amygdala. 

Exercising Too Much

Friction in the vaginal area due to extended workouts can cause vaginal pH to shift dramatically. Delicate tissues such as the labia, majora, and minora can have tearing or bruising from being saddle sore. Additionally, exercise equipment like stationary bikes, treadmills, or other moderate to high-intensity training affect vaginal dryness.

Change your sweaty clothes and underwear right after exercising. You may also opt for gyms and fitness studios with showers. Lubricants and moisturizers fit for your vagina’s health may help decrease what causes vaginal dryness. 

Immune Disorder

What causes vaginal dryness, particularly in immune disorders, is Sjögren’s syndrome. The condition attacks the healthy cells which produce moisture for the body. Side effects also show dryness in the skin, vagina, eyes, and mouth. Bacteria or viral infection can trigger mechanisms of the syndrome. However, it only affects people of specific genes and has a previous family medical history with Sjögren’s syndrome.

Breastfeeding

Apart from menopause, childbirth and breastfeeding can reduce estrogen levels. As soon as you gave birth, your estrogen Postpartum symptoms of hot flushes, night sweatiness, and dryness interfere in milk production as well. You may ask your OB-GYN doctor for treatments to increase your hormone production.

Treatment During Cancer

Medication for estrogen levels regulators may affect how dry your vagina is. If you have cancer, more likely will your body need medicines that can affect your hormone groups. Steroids, anti-estrogen drugs, and hormone medicines cause blocking in production since hormone groups cause some cancer. Another cancer therapy treatment aside from taking medication is chemotherapy. 

You may contact your healthcare provider if you see any pain or dryness symptoms in your vaginal area. Don’t hesitate to speak about the signs so that your doctor will know how to treat your issue directly.