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Vaginal
Dryness
Why
It Happens, What To Do
| Many
women also experience changes in their vagina. With arousal,
the vagina may tilt upwards and become longer. It may also
become wet with a "sweating" of the vaginal walls. This is
not female ejaculation
which comes from the Skenes Glans is similar to prostate fluid
in a male. This
lubrication of a woman's genitals is caused by the release
of a special fluid from the "vaginal epithelium" (the walls
of the vagina). This fluid is not like the sweat of your skin,
but is what scientists call a "modified plasma transudate."
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Lisa
S. Lawless, Ph.D., C.E.O.
HolisticWisdom.com
Founder
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In
general, the release of this fluid serves by making vaginal and
vulva play more comfortable during sexual play. It also aids in
the movement of sperm up the vaginal canal, increasing the likelihood
of impregnation.
Many people take this "sweating" of the vagina as a reliable sign
that a woman is sexually excited, or even that she is "ready"
for vaginal play or intercourse. Beware of such assumptions! Women
sometimes lubricate vaginally when they are not sexually aroused,
and women often feel erotically aroused without becoming vaginally
wet.
Excess
lubrication, even though some women feel almost embarrassed by
it, can easily be solved by use of an absorbent external panty-liner.
Dryness is another common problem, and is easily addressed.
Some women simply do not lubricate so plentifully, or at least
not plentifully enough to keep pace with their sexual wishes.
While some women become dry when anxious or under stress. Many
women become drier with the frequent use of tampons, other internal
sanitary devices, or douches. And most women will become drier
with the use of prescription medications that have anticholinergic
or sympathomimetic effects which dry out the "mucosal" or wet
tissues of the mouth and vagina. These include many common drugs
for allergic, cardiovascular, psychiatric, and other medical conditions.
You can always ask your physician before getting a prescription
or pharmacist after getting one as the what effects, if any, will
this medicine have on your sex life.
All women become drier as they approach and proceed through menopause.
This is because menopause causes a thinning of the vaginal walls
(from about nine epithelial layers to about three), with a consequent
loss of their elasticity and their capacity to produce fluid.
The solution to all these difficulties is to use artificial lubricants
for sexual play. Many brands are available in the "Feminine Hygiene"
or "Family Planning" sections of your local drug stores including
our own selection of lubricants.
Be careful of using K-Y Plus types of lubricants that contain
Nonoxynol and might irritate your vagina. Astroglide is
a favorite. This is an all water-soluble lubricant with glycerin
giving it slippery properties. Such lubricants are usually odorless,
tasteless, and sterile. They may also be hypoallergenic.
When finding a "lube" that suits your
erotic life, there are three rules:
One
Always use a water-soluble lube. Never put a petroleum-based lubricant,
such as Vaseline, into your vagina. Petroleum-based jellies
are likely to increase your vulnerability to infections, and they
will corrode the latex used for condoms and other safer sex practices.
Two
Beware of confusions between moisturizers, anti-irritants, and
drying powders. Vagisil, for example, markets all three
under the same brand name. Anti-irritant creams (usually containing
5% to 20% benzocaine) numb the skin and are sometimes useful externally
on the vulval tissue, but should never be applied inside the vagina.
"Feminine powders" and talcs are sometimes used to absorb unwanted
wetness of the vulval area, and should also never be applied inside
the vagina. Moisturizers are lubes applied either directly inside
the vagina, or delivered by a vaginal suppository (such as Lubrin
and other brands).
Three
Remember that, unless the label of your lube states otherwise,
it is not a spermicidal (contraceptive), anti-viral, anti-bacterial
or estrogen-supplementing agent. If you want an estrogen supplement
or cream, you should consult a clinical sexologist or a knowledgeable
physician. If you want your lubricant to do double duty and provide
protection against sexually transmitted infections, buy one that
contains Nonoxynol. However, Nonoxynol can be irritating to the
delicate tissue of the vagina, increasing the receptivity of the
vaginal walls to infection; so if a Nonoxynol lube is going to
come into direct contact with the vagina, a counter-irritant such
as Avena Sativa should be used as well.
In
addition to using artificial lubricants, keeping healthy the musculature
of your pelvic floor will increase the blood supply to your vaginal
canal and will help with dryness as well as giving you an increased
sense of comfortable control over your genitals. Start doing "Kegel"
exercises. Find the relevant group of muscles by stopping and
starting the flow of your urine (while seated on the toilet).
Then, with an empty bladder, squeeze these muscles tight and hold
them for a count of three. Repeat this until they feel tired (initially
you may only be able to squeeze these muscles a couple of times
before they feel tired, later you should be able to gradually
work up to twenty repetitions). Do "kegels" twice a day, every
day if possible. Within a few weeks you will feel that they have
improved your sexual life.
Sooner or later every sexually active woman who enjoys vaginal
or vulval play will have a problem with dryness. Combat dryness
by becoming accustomed to using your lube regularly and plentifully.
Start young, before menopause is an issue. And don't be embarrassed
with your partners because, when used properly, lubes will enhance
sexual pleasure for you and for them. Lubricants make for a more
relaxed erotic life whether your favorite form of vaginal play
is with a finger, a sex toy, or a penis.
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