Vaginal dryness is a problem that many women are embarrassed about experiencing, but it’s a problem that is very common. Women of all ages can end up suffering from vaginal dryness. However, it becomes a more prominent issue during menopause. A reduction in estrogen levels often causes this. Other factors contributing to vaginal dryness include dehydration, decreased blood flow, anxiety, and stress. The good news is that you can take various vitamins and supplements to help increase female lubrication, which you can read about in this article.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is known for being a fat-soluble vitamin that is also a highly effective antioxidant, which helps the body fight against diseases. There is also some research to show that this vitamin may also reduce vaginal dryness and increase lubrication. Using a vitamin E suppository for about 12 weeks can potentially improve any symptoms of vaginal atrophy, a condition where you experience thinning and dryness in the vaginal walls.
Other similar medication options combine vitamin E with other ingredients, including vitamin A, vitamin D, and hyaluronic acid.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a vitamin produced within the body’s cells due to sun exposure, which is why this vitamin is often known as the sunshine vitamin. This vitamin is most known for its role in bone health, but it can also help treat vaginal dryness by increasing female lubrication. Using vitamin D supplements and suppositories have shown to be effective in not only decreasing vaginal dryness but can also improve your overall vaginal health during menopause.
In some studies, a higher level of vitamin D in the blood is associated with improved moisture and consistency in the vagina. There is also evidence that vitamin D supplements can decrease vaginal dryness when used every day for 8 weeks.
Fish Oil (Omega-3 Fatty Acids)
Omega-3 fatty acids are fatty acids that are essential for a wide variety of different bodily functions, including those within the heart, immune system, endocrine system, and lungs. There is some evidence that when you take both vitamin D3 and fish oil supplements for 8 weeks, the estradiol levels in the body are increased. This is a form of estrogen, and when levels of estrogen drop, you are more likely to suffer from symptoms like vaginal dryness, particularly during menopause.
Omega-3 fatty acid fish oils can be even more effective when used along with DHEA and EPA. If you don’t want to take these supplements, you can add foods into your diet that will help you consume more omega-3 fatty acids. Such foods as walnuts and salmon can boost your omega-3 intake.
DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone)
Estrogen is an essential hormone in the system for ensuring that the female reproductive system stays regular. DHEA is a vital source of estrogen in the body. Your body can produce DHEA naturally, a production process that increases when you are around 10 years of age. Your body continually produces this until some time in your 20s, and production declines.
There is evidence that after 12 weeks of using DHEA supplements, it can improve symptoms of vaginal dryness. Vaginal dryness can also be caused by a low libido, which is why DHEA can be effective for female lubrication. DHEA can ensure that your libido remains consistent, which will reduce dryness.
Sea Buckthorn Oil
Sea buckthorn oil is a natural supplement created from seeds, berries, and leaves from a shrub called the sea buckthorn plant. It has a high fatty acid content, which is excellent for preventing your skin from losing water while you can strengthen the barrier on the skin. Vaginal dryness is a problem that can be caused by vaginal mucus thinning, so there was a look at whether or not this supplement could help with mucosal integrity.
Research showed that people who did take this supplement had a noticeable improvement in the vaginal mucus.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is a popular item in skincare products that you probably use regularly. This is because it can help improve the moisture levels in the skin, ensuring that your skin stays hydrated. The vagina can also benefit from hyaluronic acid. Using vaginal tablets of hyaluronic acid for 8 weeks can improve vaginal atrophy. This may even be more effective than taking estradiol tablets.
This can be a highly effective option for those who cannot take hormonal treatments to help with their vaginal dryness. But it can be even more effective when combined with estrogen treatments.
Boron
Boron is an overlooked mineral because it’s a nonessential mineral. Still, this mineral is often found in foods like coffee, leafy greens, raisins, prunes, and almonds. There’s still not a lot of information about how this can be helpful to the body, but there is some evidence that it is linked to sex hormones. Women who take boron supplements were noticed to have higher levels of estradiol, especially when it was used with a low-magnesium diet.
Women going through menopause will have lower estradiol levels, leading to issues like vaginal dryness and irritation. You may notice an improvement in female lubrication after taking between 1 and 13 milligrams of boron.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) For Vaginal Dryness
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can relieve symptoms of vaginal dryness, as well as other unpleasant menopausal symptoms. Studies have shown that systemic HRT eliminates the symptoms of vaginal atrophy in 75% of cases. There are different types of HRT (which involves taking estrogen or progestogen), so talk to a hormone specialist about the best treatment for you. EVOLVE patient care will personalize your hormone therapy plan based on your symptoms and medical history. While some risks are associated with taking HRT, these are extremely small, and the benefits outweigh them.
Conclusion
Vaginal dryness is a common problem that is uncomfortable and embarrassing for women. By adding supplements, you can relieve this problem and increase female lubrication. You can talk to your doctor about this problem to get advice on what they think will help you. You may have an underlying medical condition leading to your vaginal dryness issues. If there is, you will need to have that issue treated and take advantage of these supplements to get the increased lubrication required to live comfortably.
If you are looking for more ways to improve your health and sexual wellness, contact the hormone specialists at EVOLVE today!