Dementia and Your Loved One

Can Certain Foods Improve Vaginal Dryness?

12 June 2015

Vickie Armstrong

If you experience pain, burning, or itching during sex, vaginal dryness may be to blame. This is a condition where the vagina doesn't produce enough natural lubrication, leading to an increased amount of uncomfortable friction during penetrative sex. While there are a number of medications and lotions that can fix this issue, tweaking your diet may also help. Here are a few foods that may help combat vaginal dryness.

The Cause of Vaginal Dryness

To grasp how a dietary change can improve vaginal dryness, it's important to understand the underlying cause of the condition. Vaginal dryness primarily occurs because of a reduction in estrogen levels. This hormone induces the production of a clear fluid that moisturizes the inner and outer tissues of the vagina. This fluid is also responsible for ensuring the skin remains thick and elastic.

Unfortunately, when estrogen levels drop, the production of this necessary fluid also decreases. In addition to causing dryness, the lack of this fluid causes vaginal atrophy where the walls of the vagina become thinner and less elastic.

There are a number of things that can cause someone to produce less estrogen including:

• Menopause
• Hysterectomy
• Childbirth
• Breastfeeding
• Medication used to treat endometriosis and uterine fibroids
• Certain cancer treatments like radiation and chemotherapy

In some women, vaginal dryness may not be caused by lack of estrogen but by other factors issues as douching and having an autoimmune disorder called Sjogren's syndrome. In this situation, you would need to use other methods to increase vaginal moisture.

Foods that May Help

Certain foods contain small amounts of estrogen (or estrogen-like hormones) and nutrients that promote good vaginal health. Adding a few of these to your diet may increase the amount of moisture your body naturally produces, which can help alleviate the dryness you're experiencing.

Flaxseed

Flaxseed is mostly well known for the omega-3 fatty acids it contains, substances that help balance hormone levels, among other benefits. However, this seed also contains phytoestrogens (plant estrogens). While it's believed the plant uses this substance as a defense mechanism, phytoestrogens mimic the effects of estrogen in the human body. Therefore, eating a small amount of this food each day may increase your estrogen levels and help combat vaginal dryness.

It's available at most retail stores and can be eaten as is or added to other foods such as cereals, yogurt, and salads.

Soy Products

Soy products are made using a legume called a soybean. This bean contains substances called isoflavones, which have the same effect as phytoestrogens on the body. The bean also contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, both of which can help stabilize hormone production, as noted previously.

You can eat soybeans as is or consume any of their derivative products such as milk and cheese to get the benefit. Be aware, though, there is an ongoing controversy centered on whether or not consuming soy increases a person's risk of getting breast cancer.

Foods Rich in Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a natural skin moisturizer that works internally and externally. It's an antioxidant that improves skin hydration and helps with cellular regeneration. You can get vitamin E from a number of foods including tofu, spinach, almonds, sunflower seeds, avocados, and shellfish. However, moisturizing the vaginal area using oil from vitamin E capsules may also help.

If changing your diet doesn't alleviate vaginal dryness enough, consult with a gynecologist for other treatment options. Contact a clinic like Central Iowa OB/Gyn Specialists, PLC for more information.

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