Dry vagina

The thought of having vaginal dryness is enough to make anyone cringe, and especially more so if you think about the pain it can cause the sufferer if sex is involved. Discomfort can be mild to severe…of course depending on how serious the dryness has become. 

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The natural moistness of the vagina stops the sides from rubbing against each other. If this vaginal function is interfered with, and moisture decreases, then rubbing will likely happen causing a this problem. Vaginal moisture is slightly acidic, which helps protect against infections such as thrush. This acidity is brought about by the friendly bacteria that live in the vagina which helps keep it healthy.Vaginal moisture is chiefly created by the cervix at the top of the vagina and eventually oozes out of the vagina. This means there is a gradual release of moisture through the vagina. This action keeps it clean, as it takes dead cells and leftover blood from the menstrual period to the outside of the vagina. As a rule, a woman discharges 2 grams of dead cells and 3 grams of mucus through the vagina daily.

Although discomfort in some cases of this vaginal matter can be tolerated, when it includes having sex this changes … and pain can be unbearable for some women.

Sexual intercourse: When a woman is sexually aroused, two particular glands at the entrance of the vagina, called Bartholin’s glands, create extra secretions. The moisture from these glands is gooier than the moisture from the cervix, because its reason is to provide better lubrication during sexual intercourse.

Dry vagina symptoms are common at the time of the change of life, and after the menopause, because of a lack of oestrogen (the female hormone). Oestrogen is accountable for the plumpness of the lining of the vagina, for the stretchiness of the tissues round the vagina and for the production of the moisture from the cervix.

Oestrogen levels tend to drop at the time of menopause, resulting in the vagina losing some of its elasticity, its lining becomes thinner and it feels dryer. Because there is less moisture, there are less of the ‘friendly’ bacteria too. If this happens, infections are something of a regular result causing further vagina irritation and discomfort.

How to treat a dry vagina: Using lubricants can help with vaginal dryness. For additional lubrication for sexual intercourse, use a water-soluble lubricant (for instance, KY jelly) or a vaginal moisturizer (i.e., Yes, Sylk, Replens or Senselle) instead of a petroleum-based product like Vaseline, which can likely cause further issues…like messing with the vaginas natural secretions? Ask your doctor or the pharmacist for advice about products you tend on using to treat you’re dry vagina at home. Sylk, Yes and KY jelly are used just before having sex. Gently rub the product generously over the vulval area, particularly round the vaginal opening. Replens and Senselle are moisturizers that are usually, depending on the state of the condition, used two or three times weekly. Both work by coating the inside of the vagina with a non-hormonal moisturizer, which lasts for a day or two.

It is a good idea for older women not to rush things before sex. This allows the Bartholin’s glands to create the maximum amount of lubrication before the penis enters the vagina. Because women differ in their ailing will mean certain treatments for vaginal dryness will work for some, and not for others, this is why it is important to speak with a medic, so he/she can make sure you do yourself no further harm.

Some women have turned to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to help cure the problem.  While it does increase vaginal lubrication and thicken the vaginal lining, it, like a lot of things, has risks to consider. Therefore, HRT is not appropriate if vaginal dryness is the lone problem. Speak to you’re GP if you’re a dry vagina is giving you reason for concern. You must never go treating something you’re not sure about. It’s wise to do the best thing and speak with an expert if you suffer from any sort of vaginal problem like that of a dry vagina.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a mysterious but increasingly common condition. The tissue that forms the lining of the uterus, the endometrial lining, would normally grow inside the uterus and be expelled during your period each month. With endometriosis though this tissue will grow in other areas of the  pelvis, such as in the pelvic organs, on the pelvic side walls and even on the bowel.

Women are particularly prone to conditions as such and fibroids when they are at a particular stressful time in their lives. It is a well known fact that stress and emotional distress are a major factor in the lives of women who suffer from this condition.

In the past endometriosis was known as ‘the career women’s disease’ as many thought it related to women leaving it late to have their children but studies have shown there is no difference between the number of cases between women who have had children and those who haven’t.

Classic symptoms are pelvic pain, abnormal menstrual cycles and infertility although these symptoms vary greatly from one woman to another. Some women with advanced endometriosis never have any symptoms while others with minimal endometriosis have debilitating pain and cramps continuously.

Rarer symptoms include painful intercourse, spotting between periods, rectal pressure and pain with bowel movements, especially before a period.

The only way to definitively diagnose endometriosis is through a laparoscopy although it can occasionally be caught via pelvic examination. A Laparoscopy is a outpatient procedure that allow doctors to look into the pelvis without major surgery.

The most common treatment once diagnosed is hormonal therapy, in the form of birth control pills or synthetic progestogens. These therapies change the amount of oestrogen and other hormones in your system, decreasing hormone levels and usually bringing the condition to a stand still. In some cases surgery will be required or deemed easier in the long term.

There are some dietary methods that can be used to reduce oestrogen production that can lead to the management of endometriosis in some people. A good supply of essential fatty acids daily – eliminating meat and dairy foods and avoiding where possible hydrogenated oils including margarine.

Other foods that modulate oestrogen levels include, broccoli, cabbage and turnips. Soya foods and a diet high in fibre will also help with endometriosis.

Menopause

The frustrating thing about the menopause is that a lot of women are not sure they are going through it although experiencing the symptoms of the menopause. Is this a good thing or bad thing? This would depend on the woman. Some get on and put up with them, while others get real panicky because they don’t know what’s happening. 

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The menopause is defined as the end of menstruation and usually occurs in Western women around the age of 51 years of age, although can come earlier. The change is when the ovaries no longer respond to the controlling hormones released by the pituitary gland of the brain. Therefore resulting in the ovaries failing to release an egg each month and produce the female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone. 

When the drop in levels of hormones in the bloodstream happens it causes menopause symptoms.

Symptoms of the menopause can start with a woman seeing her periods become erratic, leaving her not knowing whether she is coming or going with them for some time before the actual menopause has been confirmed. This part of the change is clinically known as climacteric, or ‘perimenopause’, when explained means the gradual decline in the normal function of the ovaries. The common sign of climacteric is when is when noticeable changes are seen in your monthly cycle (erratic) as well as time change in between and the amount of menstrual blood lost.

There is no way the symptoms can be ignored because they can be seriously upsetting. Because this is a first time experience for all women when coming into the change of life and don’t know what is happening, it can be scary. However menopause symptoms can be reduced and controlled.

Unlike a headache or period pains of which women become accustomed and familiar with, menopause symptoms are new, so therefore women get easily confused as to what is going on with their body. 

If you are suffering from differences and seeing changes within your body but not sure if it’s the menopause then go along to your GP where you will be more than likely given a blood test to check out your hormones levels. Usually oestrogen levels begin to drop about ten years before the menopause (last period.) Eating a healthy well balanced diet combined with exercise can help with particular menopause symptoms. 

Most women will tell you that are going through the change are that they don’t find the hot flushes (hot sweats) and mood changes as disturbing and upsetting as the depression that seems to set in duly caused by the symptoms of the menopause. Women that feel down should contact a support group for menopausal women to help them get through this time in their life. 

The menopause is a stressful time for both woman and the people around her. 

Some women find it a struggle to cope with their mood swings or understand why they lose control of their temper for no reason. The menopause is a time in a woman’s life when major changes occur and she feels helpless in doing something about them.

Menopause in a nutshell

No more children 

No more periods 

And irritating and discomforting symptoms 

There are treatments and therapies used to help control the symptoms of the menopause and ease any pains if you feel they are proving too much for you to handle. Your doctor depending on you as an individual and the state of your health in general may suggest HRT (hormone replacement therapy.) I myself did opt for this to help me get through the change that was seriously affecting my life. Did it help? Damned right it did, had it not been for HRT I often think how I would have got through this traumatic time. Remember what works and helps one woman may not be the same for the next woman.

No matter how severe your menopause symptoms never take advice or another’s medication prescribed for solely for them