What is vaginal dryness?

Vaginal dryness is very common - up to 55% of menopausal women are affected by it.

It is also common in women immediately after childbirth or during breastfeeding - up to 46% of women may have post-partum itching or other symptoms of vaginal dryness.

In postmenopausal women, vaginal dryness is usually the first symptom of Atrophic Vaginitis - thinning, dryness and inflammation of a woman’s vaginal tissues.

These tissues normally make a clear lubricating fluid to keep them healthy and supple but if this doesn’t happen vaginal dryness occurs.

The main cause of vaginal dryness is a decrease in oestrogen hormone levels - e.g. at the menopause or transient low levels after childbirth. It can also occur in women taking contraceptives, at times of stress or as a result of radiotherapy or chemotherapy.