Please be advised this article contains adult content to educate women 18 and over.
Before you start complaining about the lack of foreplay in the bedroom and blaming the inexperience of your partner for not getting “hot and ready,” you may want to stop and reevaluate yourself..
“He’s not hitting it right!”
“He doesn’t turn me on like that.”
“I just been stressing, that’s all.”
Excuses, excuses, excuses. Just like men have a laundry list of excuses as to why they can’t get it up or make it last, women can have just as many on why they can’t get it wet. But if you’re a middle-aged woman, the reason may not be the guy after all, but you instead.
Lack of vaginal moisture could be caused a medical condition known as vaginal atrophy or atrophic vaginitis. Its a condition in which the vaginal walls become thinned, dried and inflamed due to your body having less oxygen and estrogen. According to the Cleveland Clinic, low estrogen levels could change the acid balance of the vagina and cause vaginal and urinary tract infections.
Vaginal atrophy typically occurs to women after menopause. Other causes include perimenopause ( the years leading up to menopause), surgical menopause ( surgical removal of the ovaries) and chemotherapy for cancer.
Nonetheless, the condition can make intercourse painful. And we’re not talking about the 50 shades pleasurable type of pain. Many of the symptoms are associated with syndromes of menopause (GSM).
Mayo Clinic provides other symptoms for atrophic vaginitis:
- Vaginal dryness
- Vaginal burning
- Vaginal discharge
- Genital itching
- Burning with urination
- Urgency with urination
- More urinary tract infections
- Urinary incontinence
- Light bleeding after intercourse
- Discomfort with intercourse
- Decreased vaginal lubrication during sexual activity
- Shortening and tightening of the vaginal canal
Other risk factors are:
- Smoking; which not only causes every type of cancer known to mankind but could also could impact the blood circulation to your vagina and reduce estrogens in your body.
- Lack of vaginal births; yep, the number of children coming out of your vagina makes a difference. Women with fewer vaginal births are more likely to develop GSM than women with vaginal deliveries.
- Lack of sexual activity; not getting any not only makes a moody woman but a dried-up, bitter one as well. Doctors say sexual activity increases blood flow and makes your vaginal walls more flexible. Please note: we understand the average person’s sex life is not a page out of Zane’s Sex Chronicles ( unfortunately), and you don’t have to be a tramp about it ( STDs are still a big deal) Practice safe sex with your partner (s), and if you have no one, there’s always you. Masturbation can be just as stimulating as actual penetration.
Although the condition can not be fully treated, it could be controlled. For instance, if sex is uncomfortable for you, doctors suggest using a vaginal moisturizer or lubricant such as K-Y jelly or Liquibeads. Doctors suggest avoiding products that contain petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline. If penetration becomes unbearable, additional treatments from your doctor will be recommended such as vaginal dilators and or a pelvic floor physical therapist for the treatment of painful intercourse.
Treatment varies with vaginal atrophy; however, many women found themselves ashamed to go to the doctor and even more are unaware of this condition. But doctors say the symptoms are nothing to be ashamed of. One treatment that is recommended is called vaginal estrogen therapy. The therapy could come in the form of a cream, ring, tablet or soft-gel that’s inserted into the vagina.
Another is systemic estrogen therapy which provides estrogen to the entire body through a patch, gel or pill, or vaginal ring; This treatment is often used as a first-line treatment for women. Vaginal estrogen is similar to systemic estrogen and is applied in smaller doses.
Shalease is a new laser treatment on the market designed to combat vagina atrophy. The 15-minute procedure involves inserting a cylindrical device into the vagina that uses laser therapy to help promote the production of collagen, which boosts the health of the vaginal wall, that has wasted away.
Talk to your doctor to discuss the best treatment options for your body.
Source: Michael Baisden Live ( a shared partnership)
