Vaginal Dryness Causes and Treatment

Pinpointing Women's Personal Dryness

A woman's vagina is the most personal part of her feminine anatomy. Women's vaginas play the most significantly shared role in intimate interactions. From the points of both functionality and sexuality, the vagina of a woman is the core of sensitivity in its multi-faceted role. The body provides biological or natural moisture to the vagina. However, certain conditions or issues can have affects to the vagina, by either exceeding or interrupting the body's provisions for a level of moisture within the vaginal region. Upon an occurrence of such a condition, the environment within the vagina becomes dry-like, resulting in the realization of friction upon aspects that initiate sensitivity in the vaginal area, such as sexual arousal, sexual satisfaction or sexual intercourse, due to dryness. Hence, such condition is aptly and clinically referred to as vaginal dryness.

Vaginal dryness can, according to encyclopedia references, be defined as when vaginal lubrication, by way of its naturally produced lubrication, in the form of a biologically produced fluid is inadequate. Women, upon the vagina being stimulated, generally through sexual arousal or sexual intercourse, realize such inadequacy in their respective vaginal areas production of its natural lubrication.

The composition of women's naturally produced vaginal lubrication, as a biological fluid consistency, is composed of acetic acid, aldehydes, complex alcohols, glycols, ketones, lactic acid, pyridine, squalene, urea and water. Such fluid is found to be clear in nature. Its visual presence, based upon diet, an infection of the body, menstrual cycles, or sexual arousal, can range in color, consistency, odor and texture. This bodily produced natural lubricant within the vaginal area is biologically designed to aid in the prevention of vaginal dryness.

Upon a woman's contracting a sexually transmitted disease, the acid levels within the fluid that comprises the vaginal lubricant will elevate. As a result of the effects though such disease, the pH within this lubricating fluid is disrupted. Under normally healthy conditions, the pH level within vaginal fluid varies in a range from three point eight to four point five. Due to increased acidity within this bodily fluid, a drying-effect inhibits the vagina, creating vaginal dryness.

Other circumstances can impede a woman's biological production of vaginal fluid, in providing a natural lubricant to the vagina. A variety of medications, such as those used in the treatment of allergies, cardiovascular conditions and psychiatric ailments, along with prescriptions for other medical conditions, can impede the amount of lubricating fluid produced within the vaginal region. Over-the-counter antihistamines can also contribute to a woman's lack of vaginal lubrication. Major aspects in a woman's life, to include the natural progression of aging, development of diseases such as diabetes, menopause, lactation or pregnancy can either alter or inhibit the biological production and natural lubrication of the vagina. Therefore, any of the expressed conditions or matters can create vaginal dryness.

In either the absence of or an inadequate amount of vaginal lubrication bodily produced by a woman who is sexually active, an alternative will have to be sought. If the vagina's natural lubrication either lacks in an ample and adequate volume, or, is entirely void of such moisturizing benefit, what is referred to as a personal lubricant can be obtained through sources, such as retail establishments and certain stores, as well as online. This type of lubricant is topically applied to the opening of the vagina. As a result, by the application of a personal lubricant, vaginal dryness is temporarily alleviated, and intercourse-involving penetration can be experienced without discomfort of friction against the formerly dry tissues of the vagina's walls.

Personal lubricants are available in compositions that consists of oil, silicone or water based formulations. While all three formulas temporarily prevent vaginal dryness, the water-based and silicone formulas are the preferred amongst most women, as those lubricants that are comprised of an oil-base both reduce the protection and the strength of dental dams, latex condoms and gloves, in the forms of added protection from sexually transmitted diseases and birth control methods.

As certain diseases can alter the production of a woman's natural and biologically developed vagina lubrication, and create degrees of vaginal dryness, any amount, in any form, of the bodily fluid produced in the vagina, in the event that infections of any sexually transmitted disease, including HIV, are present, such diseases can be transmitted through direct sexual contact. Hence, under such circumstances, direct and unprotected contact, in particular sexual manners, is highly discouraged.