Vaginal dryness is one of those things that doesn't get talked about nearly enough - despite being genuinely common at every stage of life. Studies suggest that anywhere from 10 to 30% of premenopausal women experience it, with that figure rising significantly (possibly 50% and over) during perimenopause and menopause. If this is your experience too, you're far from alone, and there's almost always a reason worth understanding.
Here's a clear look at what causes vaginal dryness, and what actually helps.
How Natural Lubrication Works
Your body produces two types of vaginal lubrication. One comes from the cervical glands and works continuously, helping keep the vagina clean and balanced. The other is produced in response to arousal - glands near the vaginal entrance release a slippery film that makes the walls wetter and sex more comfortable. Both are normal and necessary, and both can be affected by a range of factors.
What Causes Vaginal Dryness?
Hormonal changes
Oestrogen plays a significant role in keeping vaginal tissue healthy, supple, and naturally lubricated. When oestrogen levels drop - during perimenopause, menopause, after childbirth, or during breastfeeding - the tissue can become thinner and drier. Cancer treatments targeting the pelvic area can have a similar effect. Lower oestrogen also affects the vaginal ecosystem more broadly, making some women more prone to UTIs, bacterial vaginosis, and thrush.
Medication
A surprisingly wide range of medications can contribute to vaginal dryness. Antihistamines, the contraceptive pill or injection, asthma medication, and some antidepressants are among the more common culprits. If you suspect a medication might be affecting your natural lubrication, it's worth raising with your doctor.
Irritants
The vagina is self-cleaning - it genuinely doesn't need soap, scented products, or anything beyond warm water. Perfumed soaps, hygiene sprays, scented detergents, and even some hair dyes can disrupt the natural balance and contribute to dryness or irritation. Switching to unscented products and skipping soap in that area entirely often makes a noticeable difference.
Stress and anxiety
Chronic stress affects hormone balance, blood flow, and arousal - all of which influence natural lubrication. If life has been particularly demanding and dryness has crept in, it may not be a coincidence.
Insufficient arousal
Sometimes the simplest explanation is the right one. If sex feels rushed, or you're not quite finding your way into it, your body may simply not be ready yet - and that's not a flaw, it's just how our arousal works! Natural lubrication follows genuine turn-on, (at a realistic pace), not the other way around. More time, more foreplay, and more of what actually works for you, can make a significant difference. If that feels like a conversation worth having with your partner, it probably is. Your body knows what it needs - it just sometimes needs the space and time to get there.
What Helps
A good quality lubricant makes an immediate difference during masturbation or sex - it does the same job as natural lubrication, and makes intimacy feel comfortable and enjoyable again. If dryness is ongoing rather than just during sex, a vaginal moisturiser used regularly is likely to offer better support than a lubricant alone - the two serve different purposes (and can be used together.)
For a clear explanation of which to choose, our vaginal moisturiser vs lubricant guide covers it simply and clearly. And if you'd like to explore lubricant types, the Lubricant Hub is a good place to start - we stock water-based, silicone-based, sensitive skin, and lubricants chosen specifically for women's bodies, so there's something for wherever you are right now.
As an important note: This input and advice is a guide to dealing with dryness. If you're experiencing other syptoms, eg: persistent dryness, pain, or unusual discharge, then these are always worth discussing with a healthcare professional. But for most women, a little understanding and the right product makes a very real difference.
