The Importance of Vaginal Moisturizers During Menopause

Menopause is when women stop having monthly periods permanently as they reach middle age. It signals the end of fertility because of the ovaries making less estrogen and progesterone hormones. The average age for menopause is 51. Common symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, painful sex, mood changes, trouble sleeping, and urinary issues. These start during the transition stage, called perimenopause, as hormones decline. Lifestyle measures and treatment can ease discomfort.

Why Does Vaginal Dryness Worsen?

Estrogen levels sharply dropping during the menopausal transition thin the vagina’s lining, compromise elasticity and deplete moisture and protective mucus. This “atrophic vaginitis” causes itching, burning and pain, especially during sex due to insufficient lubrication. The urinary tract also shares anatomy with the reproductive tract. Declining estrogen weakens pelvic floor support, causing urine leaks when laughing, sneezing, or moving suddenly. Recurrent urinary tract infections might also plague the menopausal period unless vaginal atrophy and incontinence are actively managed through daily self-care habits.

Relieving Dryness

Water-based lubricants used during intercourse help reduce painful friction temporarily. However, with chronically deteriorating thin vaginal tissue, more lasting intensive moisture through long-acting nightly vaginal moisturizers becomes vital beyond 50.

What are Vaginal Moisturizers?

Over the counter, non-hormonal, long-lasting vaginal moisturizers like LivRing provide preemptive hydration without medications. These replenishing gels, oils or creams mimic natural moisturizing secretions to relieve delicate tissue and boost lubrication. Unlike short-acting watery lubricants disappearing quickly, specialized moisturizers offer deep overnight hydration for menopausal vaginal health.

Daily use makes intercourse, exercise, and everyday activities more comfortable by buffering symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy. Early adoption eases the transition into menopause before advanced dryness sets in. When thick vitamin E creams, aloe vera, coconut and almond oils provide insufficient relief from burning and pain, specialized moisturizers restore moisture, elasticity, and pH balance. Noticeable improvements manifest over several weeks of continued use.

Added Benefits

Non-hormonal vaginal moisturizers also help prevent recurring yeast and urinary tract infections exacerbated by menopause through the following protective actions:

• Stabilize vaginal pH between 3.5 and 4.5.
• Boost populations of protective lactobacilli.
• Form a humectant barrier retaining moisture.
• Emollient oils soften and hydrate delicate tissue.
• Restore mucosal lining to trap pathogens.
• Improve secretory function of glandular ducts.
• Stimulate healing by promoting new blood vessel growth.

This fortifies local immunity against problematic bacteria and yeast overgrowth. When pH rises above 4.5, discomfort, odor and infections manifest more easily because of altered microbial make-up. Moisturizers help maintain a healthy pH below 4.5.

Are Systemic and Local Estrogens Alternatives?

Low-dose prescription estrogen creams, tablets and rings consistently alleviate severe, stubborn dryness when affordable OTC moisturizing regimens fail after an adequate trial. Topical applications administer hormones directly to genital tissue without significant absorption into the bloodstream. However, many women wish to avoid medications that could cause problems like blood clots, stroke, heart disease, or breast cancer.

For those seeking non-pharmaceutical approaches, combining vaginal rejuvenation with nutritional and lifestyle modifications better addresses the root causes of age-related dryness. This holistic healing approach aims at collagen regeneration, supporting local immunity, healthy libido, adequate blood flow and tissue oxygenation through moisture retention. Committing to nightly plant-based moisturizers as the first line of symptom relief remains wise.

Conclusion

Incorporating non-hormonal, long-lasting vaginal moisturization into a self-nurturing menopause care plan fortifies delicate tissue against progressive thinning and irritation. Prioritizing things like relaxation, gentle movement, nutritious anti-inflammatory foods, probiotics, plant botanicals, omega fats, massage, steaming herbal baths and pelvic floor physical therapy also improves quality of life as estrogen fades. Through tender loving nourishment from both inside and out, the vagina can happily transition into maturity.