Last Updated on May 14, 2019 by
If you’re anything like me, you have likely taken your vagina for granted. I mean, with the exception of an occasional infection, which most of us have experienced at one time or another, things tend to operate just fine “down there” without any intervention from us at all.
But that hasn’t always been the case for me. Back in the 1970s, feminine products were all the rage. I guess advertisers were still riding the wave of the 1960s with the advent of the birth control pill, the sexual revolution, and all that “I am woman, hear me roar” stuff, and they were intent on selling us a bill of a goods.
We were deluged with images and messages telling us that our vaginas needed perfumes, soaps, cleansers, and all kinds of sprays, spritzers, and wipes to keep us “fresh.” I don’t know if any of you bought into the idea that your vagina wasn’t perfect just the way it was, but unfortunately, I did.
I foolishly used all sorts of harsh chemical laden products trying to fix something that wasn’t even broken! In fact, I so upset the natural pH in my vagina, that I ended up with all sorts of nasty infections which sent me running to my gynecologist; who in turn, gave me all kinds of prescriptions to fix my poor, abused, unloved vagina.
Once “healed” I would return to the harsh chemical products to “keep myself clean” and thus, the vicious, self-perpetuating cycle of “vaginal abuse” continued.
It was my Victorian raised mother (who, by the way, I was convinced knew nothing about vaginas) who finally helped me realize the error of my ways. She told me that my lovely lady parts were a beautiful, self-contained, self-cleaning, self-sustaining system, which, if left alone, produced it’s own natural moisture and healing properties. And that smell? It was my lady smell. And when it was healthy, it was beautiful!
Hormone Imbalance Abuses Our Vaginas Again
Having gone through perimenopause, and now being fully menopausal, my lovely vagina has faced a whole new host of other challenges. Like yours too, maybe? Vaginal dryness? Vaginal atrophy? Itching? Sandpapery? Chaffed? Chapped? Irritated? You name it. I’ve been there, sisters. And so much of it is associated with the changing hormone balance in our bodies when we begin going through perimenopause.
But, thankfully, I’m not the young fool I once was, and I have become quite selective and discerning when it comes to what I put in and around my lovely, self-sustaining flower of womanliness. No sprays. No spritzers. No soaps and body washes. And no feminine products with harsh chemicals are going anywhere near my fabulously perfect vagina.
But here is where I’m about to out myself. I have used shower gels and bath soaps all over that woman flower when I shower. Some of them, like Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Castile soap, which I happen to love, is an absolute no-no when it comes to washing in and around vaginal tissue. If you’ve ever used castile soap, you know exactly what I mean. It is stripping, to say the very least.
For the most part, the shower gel products that I use haven’t caused any issues for me. But, given what I know about vaginal health and how easy it is to tip the pH scales in the wrong direction; it does seem more prudent to use products which are designed to protect the delicate pH balance of vaginal tissue rather than stripping it; and which can also address pesky vaginal dryness as well. No?
Lubrigyn Cleansing Lotion®: Gynecologist Tested & Women Approved
I’m going to tell you right off the bat that I’m a fan of all of Lubrigyn’s products. Lubrigyn puts their money where their mouth is when it comes to the quality of their products, which, by the way, are made in Italy and are very popular among European women! So, when this opportunity came up to discuss their cleansing lotion, it was a no-brainer for me.
Lubrigyn Cleansing Lotion® (pronounced: loob-rah-shin) is an oil-based formula that is specially formulated to alleviate vaginal dryness, and to deeply hydrate vaginal tissue.
Lubrigyn can be used daily by adult women of all ages, and especially those at menopause and post-menopause. The formula is silky smooth, and is rich in natural botanicals, free of harmful ingredients and doctor recommended.
A crucial ingredient in the lotion is sodium hyaluronate, a fluid found in our bodies which acts as a natural lubricant by attracting and retaining water.
The lotion also contains sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, chamomile, and aloe vera. All excellent ingredients to naturally moisturize and gently clean delicate vaginal tissue and skin. And you can use it with or without water.
If you wish to use it with water, then you can use it as a regular soap substitute. Which is really an excellent idea in my opinion, given that body soaps can further irritate and aggravate dry vaginal tissue. If you use it without water, you can simply apply it with a tissue and do not rinse.
It should also be noted that Lubrigyn Cleansing Lotion® is pH balanced, and for all of you green earth lovers out there, it doesn’t contain any hydrocarbons (petroleum or mineral oil), is free of parabens (wax), drugs, and is hypoallergenic.
Lubrigyn® Cream Moisturizer
Lubrigyn® moisturizing cream is a more concentrated version of the lotion, and is designed to relieve dryness, provide long-lasting lubrication, and supplement your natural, vaginal moisture. It comes in an airless pump, is non-sticky, non-greasy, odorless, and tasteless.
Like the lotion, the cream is also pH balanced (as one might expect!), and also contains no hydrocarbons, drugs, parabens, and is hypoallergenic as well.
Ingredients in the cream include calendula (an herbaceous plant in the daisy family, in case you’re wondering), elastin, sweet almond oil, and Vitamin A, which among many other things, is good for the skin.
The recommended use is 2 to 3 times a day (if needed, of course) as a personal lubricant, and as a lubricating aid for sexual activity. It can also be applied directly to your partner’s genital area as needed. It is not compatible, however, with latex, polyisoprene, or polyurethane condoms. (Need an explanation of those terms? Go here.) And finally, Lubrigyn® cream does not contain any hormones!
Provestra – Treating vaginal dryness by balancing female hormones
Provestra may also help solve vaginal dryness problems and make sex more desirable for women. Provestra is produced by a popular company that is also known for producing a variety of other products for human health. It consists of a natural formula of herbs, vitamins, and supplements that when combined can be a great aphrodisiac for females.
This product is also recommended by doctors and contains unique, proprietary blend of diverse herbals, nutrients, and aphrodisiacs that act to gently and naturally correct imbalances that can interfere with your enjoyment and interest in sexual intimacy.
Ingredients include L-Arginine, Ginseng, Vitamin C, Ginger root, B Complex Vitamins, Iron, Valerian Root, Ginkgo biloba, Kuzu, Black cohosh, Folic acid, Theobromine and other vitamins, minerals, and aphrodisiacs.
Pjur® Med Premium Glide Lubricant for Vaginal Dryness
Pjur® Med Premium Glide Lubricant is definitely a quality product! Pjur®med Premium Glide is specially formulated for dry or highly sensitive mucous membrane in the genital area, and the unique formula is made of high quality silicones without preservatives. It is compatible with all skin and mucosa types. It is also non pore blocking, which leaves skin feeling silky and smooth.
Now before you get all freaked out about silicones and think they are not good for the skin, you need to know this:
Pjur® Med silicone-based products are particularly suitable for the most extreme requirements of highly sensitive skin and mucosa. And listen, what skin and mucosa is more sensitive than vaginal tissue?
It’s also important to note that silicone molecules do not penetrate skin. Rather they remain on the surface of the skin where they promote longer glideability, which also leaves a silky smooth feeling on the skin until you decide to wash it off.
They are also allergy-friendly, have been dermatologist tested and contain no preservatives. Which, by the way, is exactly why gynecologists recommend them for relief of vaginal dryness!
So if you’re one of those ladies who doesn’t want to use estrogen therapy to treat vaginal dryness issues in perimenopause, or if you can’t because certain health issues preclude you from doing so, then Pjur® Med Premium Glide Lubricant might be an excellent option for you.
Estroven® Intimacy Kit for Vaginal Dryness & Loss of Libido in Perimenopause
You may have noticed a few television commercials lately for Estroven’s® latest product, The Estroven® Intimacy Kit.
What’s In It?
The Estroven® Intimacy Kit contains two (2) solutions packaged together:
The one-per-day caplet which contains a naturally sourced blend of Magnolia Bark (gotta love that name!) to help manage mood swings and changes in your libido.* In addition, it contains Black Cohosh and soy isoflavones, to reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes and night sweats.*
A drug and estrogen-free vaginal moisturizer/lubricant, which is water-based, to alleviate vaginal dryness and replenish vaginal moisture. It is non-irritating and fragrance and alcohol free (definitely important for the delicate vaginal moisture balance!)
How Do You Use It?
The caplets are directed to take one (1) per day with food and to use a minimum of 60 days for best results. The moisturizer/lubricant is pretty self-explanatory as I’m sure we all know where that is supposed to be applied!
It can be used as a personal lubricant for day-to-day comfort and moisturize by squeezing a strip onto your finger and applying every three (3) days. It can also be used inside or outside of a condom, and is compatible with latex condoms.
You can hop over to Estroven.com to find out more about the Intimacy Kit and the other products from the Estroven® line.
More tips on treating vaginal dryness
One cause of vaginal dryness that surprises women is dehydration caused by antidepressants or allergy medication. Many allergy medicines stop nasal congestion by reducing the fluid flow in your nasal tissues. Well if these medicines stop your runny nose by drying up mucous membranes, guess what else goes dry in the process?
Again, your doctor can diagnose the cause and prescribe a solution, which may include some sort of hormone treatment. However, usually, some simpler over the counter measures can be taken. Water-based lubricants, used during sex, can relieve any discomfort and make sex more enjoyable for you and your partner.
Not only that, good water based lubricants, designed especially for sexual intercourse, can also reduce the chances of condom breaks, thereby making sex safer. A good water based lubricant is water soluble and will absorb into your vaginal tissues and work together with your body’s own natural secretions as they emerge.
For extreme cases of vaginal dryness a lubricant may not be enough. Try using a vaginal moisturizer. like NeuEve Vulva Balm cream.
Vaginal moisturizers can be applied two to three times a week right before you go to bed. If you wake up and notice a slight discharge than use a little less the next time.
Most women would find sex much more enjoyable with the help of a little lubricant like HerSolution gel. Applying lubricant before sex also helps you become aroused faster because your brain associates being wet with being aroused.
As great as mother nature is, she can take her own sweet time sometimes so it doesn’t hurt taking some matters into our own hands.
More Natural Remedies
One vaginal dryness natural remedy is to simply drink more water. If you know that you drink very little water, something as simple as this may bring about more moisture in the vaginal area.
Make sure that you drink around 8 glasses of water each day and you will bring about a better overall health to yourself. By bringing a water bottle with you all day, you ensure that it’s always available and so this can be a great tip if you are to increase the water intake.
Other vaginal dryness natural remedies are to have a look at your diet. Make sure that you get great amounts of oils that are good for you. As a matter of fact is estrogen, which is the main hormone to affect the vaginal moistness, a hormone that is produced with cholesterol.
So make sure you get a decent amount of oil every day and instead of cutting fat from your diet, choose kinds that increase the good cholesterol and decrease the bad. Oils that are good for you are for example found in most oils made from vegetables, like olive oil and coconut oil.
You will also find fats that are good for you in fish like salmon. Oily fish also contains omega-3 fatty acids which are great for your body in a lot of different ways.