Vaginal dryness is a symptom that is particularly prevalent during perimenopause due to drastic alterations in a woman's hormone levels. In order to recover a sense of femininity and sexual pleasure without the help of pharmaceuticals, women often seek out natural solutions, vitamins to increase female lubrication being one of them.
Read on to learn more about vitamins for vaginal dryness and how incorporating them into your diet and lifestyle habits can bring the long awaited relief for which you were searching.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is arguably the most effective vitamin for countering the effects of vaginal dryness due to hormone imbalances during menopause. While it is available as supplements, found in foods, or added to vaginal moisturizers for immediate relief, women are encouraged to apply vitamin E for vaginal dryness straight from a gel capsule into the vaginal cavity.1 Scientific studies have also found vitamin E suppositories to be successful in treatment efforts.2
Vitamin D
Vitamin D has been scientifically studied to improve vaginal atrophy and pH levels in women suffering from vaginal dryness due to menopause.3 Find the D vitamin to increase female lubrication in foods such as fatty fish, liver, cheese, eggs, and fortified cereals, juices, dairy products, and more.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A, found in sweet potatoes, leafy greens, butternut squash, and apricots, is an antioxidant, which aids in keeping up good health, including cardiovascular health.4 It can potentially help maintain vaginal tissues and boost the mucous membranes in the vagina to stimulate the secretion of moisture and promote their healthy functioning. This vitamin for female dryness can also be incorporated into your lifestyle on a supplementary basis.
Conclusions
Besides the aforementioned vitamins, women can also find relief in various natural oils for vaginal dryness, such as coconut oil. However, the best approach to address the symptom for permanent relief while also minimizing the impact of other menopause symptoms you may be experiencing is by pursuing treatment for the hormonal imbalance at fault. Click on the following link to learn more about natural and effective vaginal dryness treatments for long-term alleviation and ultimate vaginal comfort.
Sources
- Climacteric. (2016). Treating vulvovaginal atrophy/genitourinary syndrome of menopause: how important is vaginal lubricant and moisturizer composition? Retrieved February 24, 2020 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4819835/
- Maturitas. (2004). The effects of postmenopausal Vitamin D treatment on vaginal atrophy. Retrieved February 24, 2020 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15531130
- Molecules and Cells. (2017). Vitamin D Proliferates Vaginal Epithelium through RhoA Expression in Postmenopausal Atrophic Vagina tissue. Retrieved February 24, 2020 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5638775/
Footnotes:
- Siteman Cancer Center. (n.d.). Vaginal dryness. Retrieved February 24, 2020 from https://siteman.wustl.edu/treatment/survivorship/vaginal-dryness/
- Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research. (2016). A survey of the therapeutic effects of Vitamin E suppositories on vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women. Retrieved February 24, 2020 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5114791/
- Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research. (2015). The effect of vitamin D on vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women. Retrieved February 24, 2020 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4387645/
- Free Radical Biology & Medicine. (1999). Antioxidant potentials of vitamin A and carotenoids and their relevance to heart disease. Retrieved February 24, 2020 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10218665