At some time, many women will experience vaginal dryness.  Beginning in the perimenopause phase, the vagina may weaken or shrink and produce fewer secretions.  Due to a relative lack of estrogen, the vaginal tissue can be more easily injured.  Also, decreased acidity of the vagina can lead to infections.  A thinning of the tissue lining the vagina may lead to pain during intercourse. Vaginal dryness can also occur, as may itching or irritation. Although few women experience serious problems with vaginal dryness and thinning right after menopause, both dryness and thinning continue to occur over time. Some doctors estimate that at least half of all women over 60 years of age have some degree of vaginal dryness.  

Other causes of vaginal dryness include medications, such as antihistamines, oral contraceptives, fertility medications, some chemotherapy and other prescription medications. 
Physical conditions such as stress, vigorous exercise, recent childbirth and/or breastfeeding, and hysterectomy can contribute to vaginal dryness, irritation and discomfort. 
A discussion with your health care provider will help determine the cause of vaginal dryness. 
Treatment options are numerous and include:

1. Avoiding the use of irritating soaps in the genital region.
2. Increasing water intake to help the body enhance secretions.
3. The use of water based vaginal lubricants and moisturizers like Vibrel for Women.
4. Topical estrogen therapy, under the direction of your physician, can overcome vaginal changes due to the lack of estrogen associated with menopause.

Many women experience female sexual dysfunction or FSD. In fact, more than 43% of American women (approximately 40 million) experience some form of sexual disorder.1 With an increased focus on women's health issues, FSD is finally being discussed more openly and many women are finding effective solutions for their sexual problems.

Female Sexual Dysfunction is a real medical condition and is recognized by the National Institute of Health. FSD is defined as the persistent or recurrent inability to attain or maintain adequate genital lubrication or swelling responses, which results in personal distress.2 The perimenopause and menopause transition is a time when changes inevitably occur, making FSD very common in this age group. For diagnostic purposes, your health care provider may categorize FSD into different conditions based upon your symptoms. Examples include pain disorders and disorders of sexual response. Pain disorders may be related to lack of lubrication, irritation and inflammation of the pelvic organs, or spasms of the pelvic musculature (vaginismus). The sexual response category includes diminished sexual arousal (patients note diminished sexual desire) and anorgasmia (patients become aroused, but cannot achieve an orgasm with masturbation or with their partner).

Common questions from women experiencing FSD include:

• Why do I have less sexual desire than before?
• Is it normal to experience vaginal burning during intercourse?
• It hurts during sexual relations, is this normal?
• How can I have sex when I have had irregular bleeding for months?
• My partner doesn't seem interested in sex, is it my fault?
• I can't achieve an orgasm like before, what is wrong with me?
• My partner has trouble with erections and I am frustrated. Is this normal?

You may have FSD if you have experienced any of the following:

• Physical problems that interfere with your sexual functioning
• Decreased sensation or feeling in your genitals, clitoris or vagina during sexual stimulation
• Decreased vaginal lubrication during sexual stimulation
• Painful sexual intercourse
• Difficulty achieving orgasm during sexual stimulation or intercourse
• Decreased sexual desire
• Decreased overall sexual satisfaction

Any woman can experience FSD at some point in her life. The majority of these women are perimenopausal and postmenopausal and the symptoms of FSD are due to hormonal changes associated with menopause. But, premenopausal women can also experience FSD. Diminished or rapidly changing hormone levels during the menopause transition can lead to changes in the genitourinary system (vagina, bladder, clitoris, etc). These changes result in decreased blood flow to the genitals and can cause genital thinning that can lead to pain and burning during intercourse. This thinning is called urogenital atrophy (UGA). Up to 40% of post-menopausal patients experience UGA. Also, these hormonal changes may lead to an altered sexual response, including diminished libido and difficulty achieving orgasm. Women with diabetes, spinal cord injuries, certain cardiovascular problems, hypertension, high cholesterol, and pre-existing heart disease are more likely to experience symptoms of FSD. Numerous medications can cause or contribute to FSD, including blood pressure medications and anti-depressant medications. Women are encouraged to consult their physician or pharmacist about their medications and potential sexual side effects.

If you are experiencing symptoms of FSD, there is help. A variety of treatments and solutions are available to you. A compassionate and skilled practitioner can help with the diagnosis and treatment of FSD. This physician can begin to explore the causes of FSD, discuss treatment options and initiate counseling, when appropriate. A careful review of medications (including over the counter medications) is important. Often, altering medication regimens can alleviate many FSD symptoms.

Certain exercises are helpful to relax the pelvic organs and allow sexual relations without discomfort. Kegel exercises are commonly used for bladder control and in the post-partum period. They allow a focussed approach on the pelvic organs, thereby strengthening the musculature and allowing patient-controlled contraction/relaxation during sexual relations. Patients have reported improvement in pain with intercourse and heightened orgasm after intensive Kegel exercises. Click here for more information about Kegel exercises.

Extremely popular treatment options that are available without a prescription include Vibrel for Women..