During the journey that is a pregnancy, your body went though some pretty hefty changes.
And coming out the other side of giving birth, many things will feel a little different – at least for a while.
One of the issues many women experience postpartum is vaginal dryness – which while being an entirely natural and very common condition can become both uncomfortable and also lead to problems when it comes to intercourse and intimacy with a partner.
In fact, according to a study published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 83 percent of female participants admitted to experiencing sexual problems due to vaginal dryness in the first three months after delivery. However – only 15 percent of the women said they had spoken to their healthcare professional about this.
Fluctating hormones to blame
Just like when a woman begins menopause, our oestrogen and progesterone levels decline dramatically just after birth too. In fact, while the levels of these hormones soar when you are pregnant (they are crucial to the health and progression of your pregnancy and baby), they plummet again once you give birth – often returning to their pre-pregnancy levels within 24 hours after baby (and your placenta) is born.
On top of this, to breastfeeding mamas, your body also further dials down the estrogen in your body while you are nursing, as estrogen can interfere with milk production.
Oestrogen – or, more correctly, the lack of it – is responsible for for many of the symptoms women have during both the postpartum weeks and months and menopause, including hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness, as this hormone is important to sexual arousal because it boosts the flow of blood to the genitals and increases vaginal lubrication.
The good news is that there is help available out there.
We spoke to GP Louise Newson, who has a specialist interest in women’s health, to chat about this issue at the launch of an Irish survey on vaginal dryness by vaginal moisturiser brand Regelle.
Here is what she had to say:
Why does vaginal dryness occur?
Vaginal dryness is most commonly due to atrophy of the vagina which is thinning of the vagina walls that occurs during the menopause, postpartum or when breastfeeding, all times when our hormones are known to play a little havoc with us.
Falling oestrogen levels is often associated with both vaginal dryness, itching, irritation, and often pain during intercourse. As well as this, low levels of this hormone can also lead to urinary symptoms occurring such as passing urine more frequently and not being able to hold onto urine as effectively.
What can be done to alleviate the problem/pain?
Luckily, there are some great products out there that can help if/when you are suffering from vaginal dryness. A hormone-free vaginal moisturiser will provide quick and long-lasting relief from the symptoms of vaginal dryness, and is available over-the-counter from pharmacies.
Consulting your doctor and depending on the circumstances, oestrogen in the form of vaginal tablets, creams and also a vaginal ring can be used in conjunction with vaginal moisturisers.
Why do we need to talk more openly about health/wellness concerns like these?
The Regelle survey showed that nearly three out of four women in Ireland, 70.2 percent, have experienced the painful debilitating effects of vaginal dryness, and yet 59 percent of sufferers do not seek help from their GP or a healthcare professional, with ’embarrassment’ and ‘lack of knowledge about treatments’ being the main reasons women do not ask for help.
Vaginal dryness can make sex both uncomfortable and painful, and can even make exercising and walking a problem. Psychologically, it can contribute to relationship problems, fear of intimacy, even leading to more serious issues such as depression and diminished confidence, so it really is important for women to open up about what is an incredibly common and treatable medical condition.
