Sex isnt supposed to hurt, but vaginal dryness can turn love making into an uncomfortable and painful experience. Although vaginal dryness can occur at any age, its a common problem for women in perimenopause and menopause. Thats because theres a decline in estrogen, which helps the body maintain vaginal moisture. The vaginal lining becomes drier and very thin and tears more easily its almost like tissue paper, explains Bat Sheva Marcus, Ph.D., the clinical director of the Medical Center for Female Sexuality in Manhattan. Getting rid of the pain is absolutely critical to getting your sex life back on track, says Marcus.
The good news? There are some simple solutions that can make slipping between the sheets more pleasurable. While receiving adequate foreplay helps stimulate your natural lubrication, using a personal lubricant is a fast and easy way to make things more slippery in bed. Try either a water-based lubricant such as Liquid Silk and Astroglide or a silicone one such as Wet Platinum and Eros (silicone tends to last a bit longer, but shouldnt be used with silicone-based sex toys). Lubricants are like shampoos try different ones to find your favorite, suggests Marcus. Applying an over-the-counter vaginal moisturizer, such as Replens, also helps thwart daily dryness and irritation, and one application lasts for three days.
