What Causes Vaginal Dryness and How Revaree May Help

It's important to consult your doctor with any medical concerns, and before making any changes or adding supplements to your health plan.

If you're asking yourself, "Why am I dry and uncomfortable down there all of a sudden?" you may be dealing with vaginal dryness. Vaginal dryness is common yet treatable and can happen at any age, but it is often the result of menopause, according to WebMD. Symptoms may include a burning sensation, vaginal discomfort, itchiness, abnormal vaginal discharge, unwanted odors or pain during sex or masturbation.

Normally, a thin layer of moisture coats the walls of the vagina. However, as a woman ages, changes in hormone production and estrogen can cause dryness and/or vaginal walls to thin. Plus, there are many other potential reasons dryness may occur.

Here's what you need to know. And if you're dealing with pain or discomfort in your nether regions, one possible solution is a hormone-free moisturizer like Revaree.

What Causes Vaginal Dryness?

It's important to know that vaginal dryness is estimated to occur in about half of postmenopausal women, according to Harvard Health Publishing. But it can happen to women of all ages, so don't feel embarrassed. The report noted that upward of 90 percent of women don't seek treatment, though it is an option. What are some of the leading causes?

Menopause

When a woman's body goes through "the change," estrogen levels and production decline, which can cause dryness. This is even more prevalent in postmenopausal women. These may trigger significant changes in women's bodies, including their sexual health and vaginal lubrication.

Vaginal dryness is a common symptom related to genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), which typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. Due to your body's decline in estrogen, vaginal tissues may often become thinner and more fragile, resulting in atrophic vaginitis or vaginal atrophy—or age-related vaginal thinning, dryness and inflammation. Thinner walls mean fewer cells that secrete moisture.

Stress and Anxiety

While vaginal dryness is often due to physical changes, it can also be mental. Women overwhelmed by stress and anxiety may start to experience discomfort down there and to experience a lack of sex drive, which can also cause dryness. In addition, stress
may affect your estrogen levels and impede arousal, leading to a decrease in vaginal lubrication.

Menstruation

Another cause of dryness can be menstruation or your period. Harvard Health explained that during your menstrual cycle, estrogen levels can vary significantly from ovulation up until the final day of your period. As those estrogen levels increase to thicken the uterus lining, but fertilization doesn't happen, estrogen levels quickly decrease. This causes your lining to shed. All those estrogen increases and decreases may cause vaginal dryness, which can be made worse with tampon use.

Pregnancy or Breastfeeding

The same fluctuations in estrogen levels happen when you're pregnant and may lead to vaginal changes, discomfort, dryness and itchiness. Then, after childbirth, estrogen levels can drop again until ovulation resumes. And, as you breastfeed, those levels may continue to drop, leading to more occurrences of vaginal dryness.

Once breastfeeding stops, becomes less frequent and ovulation starts up again, estrogen levels often go back to normal and dryness may resolve itself.

Other Causes

Potential causes for vaginal dryness also include smoking, alcohol consumption, radiation or chemotherapy treatment for cancer, surgical removal of the ovaries and even douching. Medications such as estrogen prescription drugs, allergy and cold relief, and some antidepressants could also impact vaginal moisture.

Treating Vaginal Dryness

While there are several potential causes for this extreme discomfort, you'll find comfort in knowing that there are many possible treatments.

According to Prevention, vaginal moisturizers, including Revaree from Bonafide, may help thanks to the use of hyaluronic acid. Its hormone-free product could replenish moisture and keep your vagina healthier. This is same hyaluronic acid that many women use on their faces during skin care routines.

Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in the body and is known for retaining up to 1,000 times its weight in moisture. As a result, Bonafide's Revaree uses hyaluronic acid as the main ingredient to help hydrate vaginal dryness and potentially restore vaginal tissue.

Try Revaree for as low as $45 a month.

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