Vaginal dryness is extremely common, affecting up to 80 percent of women in menopause. Other women may experience it with breast feeding, from hormonal birth control, at certain times during their cycle, or as the result of certain medications. The primary cause is the lack of estrogen, which means there’s less lubrication in the vaginal area. Tissues become thinner, drier, less elastic and more susceptible to tearing. For many women, lubricants and moisturizers are enough to replace the missing moisture. Other women may do better with topical hormonal creams.
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