Leave the dryness to the desert, honey
BY DR. LAURA BERMAN drberman@bermancenter.com
BY DR. LAURA BERMAN drberman@bermancenter.com
August 15, 2011 7:24PM
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I f you had a painful, uncomfortable medical issue that interfered with your happiness and well-being, would you seek assistance from your doctor?
Apparently not, if that medical issue is vaginal dryness. An overwhelming number of women believe that vaginal dryness is a sad fact of postmenopausal life and that there is nothing their doctor can do to alleviate their distress. And, in some cases, they simply don’t feel comfortable bringing up their sex lives with their doctors.
In a recent HealthyWomen survey I worked on with funding from Pfizer, we found that 40 percent of women suffering from vaginal dryness believe that their sex lives are private and not a topic that is up for discussion with their doctors. And, sadly, while almost every survey respondent reported that they were very well aware of male sexual issues such as erectile dysfunction, one in 10 women surveyed were not acquainted with female sexual issues.
However, vaginal dryness is more than just an issue of comfort. It can negatively interfere with a woman’s sexual enjoyment and her relationship, and one in four women reported that it made sexual activity painful. Often this pain can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. If the pain and dryness continues untreated for a long period of time, the woman can begin to cringe at the very idea of sex as she considers her painful experiences. This might lead her to resist sexual advances from her partner altogether, and even if the vaginal dryness does eventually abate, her memories of painful intercourse might still trouble her.
Of course, it doesn’t help that vaginal dryness and other menopausal symptoms are seen as embarrassing. Almost half of the survey respondents confessed that they considered vaginal dryness taboo, while 62 percent of women didn’t even feel comfortable talking about their vaginal dryness with their partner.
The good news is that the medical community finally is considering female sexual issues along with male sexual issues, and these advances come none too soon. In fact, more than half of postmenopausal women experience vaginal dryness. Fortunately, there are a number of treatments such as prescription estrogen creams that can reverse vaginal dryness and restore vaginal tissue. Lubrication also is crucial, but even better are lubricants that actually can increase your enjoyment. There are many lubricants on the market that can help intensify sensations and increase sexual enjoyment for the woman and her partner.
It’s also important to ensure that your lifestyle is as healthy as possible. Alcohol can decrease your sensations and lead to vaginal dryness, so limit yourself to only one or two glasses of wine, especially if you plan on having sex later. As if you needed another reason to quit smoking, cigarettes can decrease circulation, which could mean less enjoyable sex.
Additionally, when it comes to sexuality, it’s important to remember that if you don’t use it, you lose it! Regular sexual activity will not only lead to more orgasms for you and your partner, but it also will improve circulation to your genitals and help increase natural lubrication. Sex aids can be a wonderful way to increase your pleasure and heighten your sexual arousal, whether you want to use them alone or with your partner. And, if you are shy about heading to an adult novelty store, you can discreetly order from a site like drugstore.com and your neighbors will be none the wiser!
Last but not least, it’s important to bring this issue up with your doctor. There is no expiration date on your sexuality, and it is up to you to safeguard your sexual health throughout your life. To find out more about the survey as well as information about menopausal symptoms, visit
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I f you had a painful, uncomfortable medical issue that interfered with your happiness and well-being, would you seek assistance from your doctor?
Apparently not, if that medical issue is vaginal dryness. An overwhelming number of women believe that vaginal dryness is a sad fact of postmenopausal life and that there is nothing their doctor can do to alleviate their distress. And, in some cases, they simply don’t feel comfortable bringing up their sex lives with their doctors.
In a recent HealthyWomen survey I worked on with funding from Pfizer, we found that 40 percent of women suffering from vaginal dryness believe that their sex lives are private and not a topic that is up for discussion with their doctors. And, sadly, while almost every survey respondent reported that they were very well aware of male sexual issues such as erectile dysfunction, one in 10 women surveyed were not acquainted with female sexual issues.
However, vaginal dryness is more than just an issue of comfort. It can negatively interfere with a woman’s sexual enjoyment and her relationship, and one in four women reported that it made sexual activity painful. Often this pain can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. If the pain and dryness continues untreated for a long period of time, the woman can begin to cringe at the very idea of sex as she considers her painful experiences. This might lead her to resist sexual advances from her partner altogether, and even if the vaginal dryness does eventually abate, her memories of painful intercourse might still trouble her.
Of course, it doesn’t help that vaginal dryness and other menopausal symptoms are seen as embarrassing. Almost half of the survey respondents confessed that they considered vaginal dryness taboo, while 62 percent of women didn’t even feel comfortable talking about their vaginal dryness with their partner.
The good news is that the medical community finally is considering female sexual issues along with male sexual issues, and these advances come none too soon. In fact, more than half of postmenopausal women experience vaginal dryness. Fortunately, there are a number of treatments such as prescription estrogen creams that can reverse vaginal dryness and restore vaginal tissue. Lubrication also is crucial, but even better are lubricants that actually can increase your enjoyment. There are many lubricants on the market that can help intensify sensations and increase sexual enjoyment for the woman and her partner.
It’s also important to ensure that your lifestyle is as healthy as possible. Alcohol can decrease your sensations and lead to vaginal dryness, so limit yourself to only one or two glasses of wine, especially if you plan on having sex later. As if you needed another reason to quit smoking, cigarettes can decrease circulation, which could mean less enjoyable sex.
Additionally, when it comes to sexuality, it’s important to remember that if you don’t use it, you lose it! Regular sexual activity will not only lead to more orgasms for you and your partner, but it also will improve circulation to your genitals and help increase natural lubrication. Sex aids can be a wonderful way to increase your pleasure and heighten your sexual arousal, whether you want to use them alone or with your partner. And, if you are shy about heading to an adult novelty store, you can discreetly order from a site like drugstore.com and your neighbors will be none the wiser!
Last but not least, it’s important to bring this issue up with your doctor. There is no expiration date on your sexuality, and it is up to you to safeguard your sexual health throughout your life. To find out more about the survey as well as information about menopausal symptoms, visit
PersonalMenopause
Answers.com.
Dr. Berman hosts “In The Bedroom with Dr. Laura Berman” at 9 p.m. Mondays on OWN and “The Dr. Laura Berman Show” from 4 to 6 p.m. weekdays on Oprah Radio (on XM 156/Sirius 195). She is the author of It’s Not Him, It’s You.
Answers.com.
Dr. Berman hosts “In The Bedroom with Dr. Laura Berman” at 9 p.m. Mondays on OWN and “The Dr. Laura Berman Show” from 4 to 6 p.m. weekdays on Oprah Radio (on XM 156/Sirius 195). She is the author of It’s Not Him, It’s You.
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