The walls of women vagina almost stay lubricated with a thin layer of clear fluid. The hormone estrogen plays a major role in maintaining that fluid and keeps the lining of your vagina healthy, thick, and elastic. By statistics, almost 50 percent of women of all ages (i.e. premenopausal or postmenopausal ladies), suffer from a lack of a vaginal lubrication. A lack of proper lubrication can not only make sexual intercourse uncomfortable but is also quite dangerous. Not just because lubrication makes sex feel more pleasurable. Vaginal wetness important for keeps tissues healthy and provide as a line of defense against many infections.
Causes of vaginal dryness:
Low estrogen levels: Women of all ages who experience hormonal imbalances are prone to vaginal dryness. Five to 10 percent of teens and young women suffer from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a condition that lowers estrogen levels. Estrogen is the hormone responsible for making all the fun fluids flow through the vaginal canal. Many people suffer from hormone imbalances today due to the prevalence of antibiotics in our food, plastics that leach out estrogen-mimicking chemicals.
Irritants: Some women are allergic to the things they put in or around their vaginas. There can be lots of harsh chemicals in douches, soaps, and lubricants that can interfere with your lady parts. If you’re really sensitive, even perfumes or dyes on things that touch your vaginae like panties or towels can mess you up.
After giving birth and breastfeeding: By giving birth and breastfeeding can be changes of vaginal dryness due to lower levels of estrogen. A few months post-birth, when your regular cycle returns and you stop lactating, the slippery stuff will be back.
Insufficient arousal: In some cases, vaginal dryness may be caused by a low libido or sexual problems with a partner. If a partner has poor performance and early ejaculation, it can contribute to vaginal dryness.
Smoking and Drinking habit: Cigarette smoking contributes to vaginal dryness specifically because it can lower estrogen levels in the body. Alcohol also contributes to vaginal dryness, as one of its effects is dehydration. so indirectly it affects the water levels in the body’s cells vaginal mucosal cells as well as leading to dryness with sustained use.
Article By: Dr. Himani