Lack of enough foreplay before intercourse
Why is my/my girlfriend’s vagina dry before sex – isn’t it the most common question on many websites. The answer to it is simple – make sex pleasure-positive for the girl. Excite her, indulge in foreplay and your girl will have a wet time down there.
Stress
Anxiety, stress and extreme emotional circumstances can lead to vaginal dryness and vaginal infections too sometimes. Hormonal changes also occur due to stress, which can lead to insufficient blood flow to the vagina, exacerbating vaginal dryness. Often, psychological and physiological stress caused by this silent discomfort can lead to further stress creating a vicious circle.
Allergy to chemicals in your soap
A lot of the daily hygiene products like soaps, vaginal douches, detergents (when not rinsed out of clothes properly) contain harsh chemicals in them which can react with your skin. Many people can be allergic to these chemicals, especially in the more sensitive parts of your body.
In addition to vaginal dryness, these chemicals can also cause yeast infections and other bacterial problems. You may also experience vaginal itching and vaginal infections. Try avoiding using these products for a while, to see if they are the culprit causing a Sahara situation down there.
Douching
Many women feel that their vagina emits some odours and is ‘too wet’ so they indulge in douching. To douche means to cleanse the vagina using water and some other fluid like vinegar, baking soda or even perfume. Medical experts believe that your vagina is naturally equipped to keep itself clean so douching does more harm than goodness and it one of the leading causes of vaginal dryness and vaginal itching and vaginal infections too!
Medication
Certain medication, especially birth control pills and antihistamines (medicines for cold) also lowers the production of estrogen. Birth control pills have another hormone called progesterone, which not only lowers estrogen production but is also the culprit behind a lower libido.
Chemotherapy to cure cancer too can cause vaginal dryness. Apart from that, anti-depressants and anti-asthma medication also have the drying out effect on the vaginal walls causing a parched yoni. So next time you have a cold, tell your partner in advance that it is not your wettest time!
Alcohol and smoking
Some people say there is no such thing as ‘partying too hard’ but your vagina may think otherwise. Consuming copious amounts of alcohol and/or excessive smoking can be one of the causes of vaginal dryness. Smoking affects blood circulation, which can lead to reduced blood flow to your nether regions making your vagina dry (all the more reason to kick the butt).
Childbirth and Breastfeeding
When a woman gives birth, her body undergoes a plethora of changes – some pleasant and some uncomfortable. During childbirth and breastfeeding phase, there is a sudden drop in the estrogen hormone, which can, in turn lead to vaginal dryness. Estrogen helps keep the tissues of your vagina lubricated and healthy.
Menopause
During menopause, there is a sudden drop in the level of the hormone estrogen, which reduces the amount of moisture, thus also making the vagina thinner and less elastic.
Sjögren's syndrome
It is an autoimmune disorder that attacks cells in the body that produce moisture. The condition is mainly characterised by dry mouth and eyes because the body's immune system attacks its own healthy cells that produce saliva and tears. However, many women suffering from Sjögren's syndrome also suffer from vaginal dryness.
Surgical removal of ovaries
As many as 20 percent of women undergo hysterectomy – surgical removal woman's uterus and ovaries. This may happen as a result of medical necessity or through choice but one of the major side effects of this surgery is vaginal dryness.
As outlined above, there can be many reasons for vaginal dryness. Research suggests that 75 percent of women have suffered from vaginal dryness. If you are able to identify a reason for your vaginal dryness, such as stress or lack of foreplay, work toward its resolution. If the discomfort persists for more than a week or if it seems to get worse, it may be indicative of a larger reproductive health issue.
Consult a trusted gynecologist and discuss treatment options for vaginal dryness of vaginal itching or vaginal infections. Remember, help is just a check-up away. There is no reason to be embarrassed or suffer chafing in silence. After all, if your vagina is happy, you are happy, so go on, help her get her groove back.
This article was first published on October 16, 2017. Person in the picture is a model.
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