Vaginal dryness

Treatments for vaginal dryness

The main treatments that can help if you have a dry vagina are:

Lubricants

Lubricants are liquids or gels that you apply to your vulva, vagina or your partner's penis just before having sex to keep your vagina moist. They offer immediate but short-term relief from vaginal dryness.

Several different brands of lubricant are available to buy from shops and pharmacies without a prescription. You may need to experiment with a few different types to find one that works best for you.

Vaginal moisturisers

Vaginal moisturisers are creams that you apply inside your vagina to keep it moist.

They may be better than lubricants if the dryness isn't just causing problems during sex, as they tend tohave alonger-lastingeffect. They usually need to be applied every few days.

As with lubricants, several different brands are available to buy. You may need to experiment with a few different types to find one that works best for you.

Water-based moisturisers aregenerally best, as oil or petroleum-based products can damage latex condoms and sometimes irritate the vagina.

Vaginal oestrogen

Your GP may prescribe vaginal oestrogen if your dryness is caused by the menopause. This works by increasing the level of oestrogen that declines during and after the menopause.

Vaginal oestrogen is available aspills you place in your vagina (pessaries), vaginal creams andvaginal rings. These all work equally well, but you may find one type more convenient to use.

Oestrogen treatment can be more effective than lubricants and moisturisers for menopausal women, and it generally causes few side effects.

However,it can take a few weeks to start working, so you may want to use a lubricant or moisturiser as well to begin with. Treatment usually needs to be continued indefinitely, as the drynesstends toreturnif treatment stops.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

HRT is a treatment that involves taking medication to replace the hormones that start to declineduring the menopause.

It's available on prescription from your GP either as tablets, a skin patch, an implant under the skin,or a gel that's appliedto the skin.

HRThas a wider effect on the body than vaginal oestrogen, so may be best if you have other menopause symptoms, such as hot flushes. However, it also has more side effects.

and the side effects of HRT .