The Reasons Why you Might be Dry

Vaginal Dryness

Sex is supposed to be fun, slippery and pleasurable. But when you battle with vaginal dryness, it can be anything but. Many women experience vaginal dryness at some stage of their lives – it is, in fact, an extremely common condition. If you think this only affects postmenopausal women, you’d be wrong! Around 17% of all women aged 18 – 50 will experience vaginal dryness, so you’re not alone. So, the question remains – why are you dry? There are many reasons – which we’ll get into here – but know that the solution is as simple as adding a good quality lubricant to your sex life.

But first – What is Vaginal Lubricant?

Your vagina produces two type of lubrication. One is produced by the glands of your cervix and helps to keep the vagina clean and infection-free. The other type of natural lubrication is produced when you become aroused. In this instance, glands at the entrance to your vagina release a “slippery film”, making the vaginal walls wetter to make sex feel great. However, there are a number of factors that can impact the ability of these glands to produce the lubrication required for sex.

Contributing Factors to Vaginal Dryness

Changes in Hormones

Oestrogen, the primary female sex hormone, has a big impact on the health of your vagina. One of the most common causes of vaginal dryness is decreased levels of oestrogen, which happens during menopause, after childbirth or even during breastfeeding. Cancer treatments to the pelvic area can cause low oestrogen, which results in a decrease in vaginal lubrication.

Oestrogen also helps to maintain a healthy ecosystem in your vagina. If there is a lack of moisture, you may become more prone to an overgrowth of healthy germs, resulting in urinary tract infections (UTIs), bacterial vaginosis and thrush. Not fun!

Medication

There are lots of meds that can cause vaginal dryness. Allergy and cold medications with antihistamines can reduce your levels of natural lubrication. Other culprits: the contraceptive pill or injection, asthma medication, and even antidepressants. If you suspect one of these is causing your natural lubricant to dry up, speak to your doctor.

Irritants

Many women have allergies to detergents and soaps. The chemicals found in hygiene products, hair dyes, soaps and perfumes can all upset the balance of your vagina. Remember, the vagina is a wondrous thing, so wondrous in fact that is self cleans. You do not need harsh detergents or soaps to stay clean. Warm water is all you need. So, forego the soap down there, and you may notice a difference in your natural lubrication.

Anxiety

We all know that stress has a huge impact on our general wellbeing. So it’s no surprise that that anxiety can also affect our libido. When a woman is feeling anxious, she’ll experience less blood flow, which results in less arousal and, of course, less lubrication.

Lack of Arousal

Sometimes the only reason you’re not getting wet during sex is because you’re not sufficiently turned on. If you’re not enjoying sex with your partner, or if your partner suffers from premature ejaculation, for example, you may find it difficult to get riled up. If this is you, you must communicate with your partner to find a way to make sex more fun for you.

The Solution

Quality lubricant will perform the same function as natural lube, and make sex feel slippery and delicious again. Choose between water- or silicone-based lubricants – the choice out there is huge! Have a look at our Lube Guide to learn about the different types of lube, to help you find your perfect bedroom partner.

At Matilda’s, we have a lube for every occasion. We’ve got silicone-based lubricants, water-based lubricant, anal lubricants, sensitive skin lubricants and everything in between. So, stock up, lube up and go have yourself some fun!