Q: What’s Best for Vaginal Dryness — Including Natural Options?
A. To address vaginal dryness, it is important to see your health care provider for a complete pelvic exam and to review risks and benefits of a variety of options. Most physicians recommend topical agents, including vaginal moisturizers alone or in combination with topical vaginal estrogen products.
There are several natural oils that you may consider, including grapeseed, olive, sweet almond, sunflower or coconut. If dryness is a problem, these oils are great lubricants that can be safely applied in and around your genitals for a more sensual love-making session.
You may try over-the-counter vaginal moisturizers such as Replens®, Lubrin®, Sylk®, vitamin E vaginal suppositories, Astroglide®, Luvena®, K-Y Jelly®. Read the product labels carefully to avoid parabens, glycerin-free, or propylene glycol if these additives are irritating to your skin.
Vaginal estrogens are also frequently recommended and therapy is individualized based on your history and risk factors for estrogen use. There are three types of estrogen products available by prescription, including a vaginal estrogen ring, vaginal estrogen tablet and vaginal estrogen cream.
There are also several emerging vaginal laser therapies that can be offered in your doctor’s office to treat vaginal dryness, vaginal tears and pain during intercourse.
From the book Us! Our life. Our Health. Our Legacy. by Linda Bradley, MD and Margaret McKenzie, MD