Your vagina, and its problems… We know, it’s not exactly something you want to talk about — even to your closest gal pals. But it happens. So, we asked a sexual health expert to take us through the reasons you might be suffering from vaginal dryness, and (the fun part — yup, there’s a fun part!) the DIY ways you can change that when you’re in the bedroom…
Why is my vagina dry?
Well, first off, the most common reason for vaginal dryness would be the natural reproductive ageing process aka menopause. This is totally normal and you can chat to your gynae or doc about how to go about managing the process. Our expert weighed in on why non-menopausal women, specifically, would experience this problem.
READ MORE: How Your Vagina Changes In Your 20s, 30s, 40s And 50s
The expert weighs in…
Vaginal dryness amongst younger women is not a very common issue, but it doesn’t mean that it’s abnormal — some women’s bodies just produce less lubrication than others. I would, however, recommend that you have a general check-up with your GP or gynae to ensure your hormones are balanced. There are several medical conditions which may lower the libido and decrease lubrication.
For example, an under-active thyroid causes a lack of energy, depression and weight gain. Remember too, that a woman’s libido is influenced by many things – psychological, physical and emotional. If a woman is unhappy in her relationship or struggling with stress, her libido will also be lowered.
READ MORE: 2 Gynae-Approved Ways To Tell If Your Vagina Is Too Weak Or Too Tight
The (fun) fix
If your hormones are balanced, then you and your husband should incorporate some lubricants as part of your foreplay. There are a wide range of products on the market from herbal remedies to pharmaceutical pills and creams which profess to increase libido and lubrication.
Certain products work better on certain people, so experiment with different products to find one that works best for you. The “experimental” process can also be quite exciting and libido-enhancing – like going on a treasure hunt! Use the products as part of the foreplay – so they don’t become an inconvenience and destroy “the moment”.
You could also vary your foreplay — don’t allow it to become predictable. Explore each others erogenous zones besides the genitals — enjoy every inch of your partner’s body and incorporate all of your senses – smell, touch, taste etc. This will help teach your body to respond more physically and mentally to the moment and will increase arousal.
These are the 10 sexual health tests every woman should tick off her to-do list. Plus: What your period blood consistency says about your health.
