Is vaginal dryness your issue? Do you know the cause and treatment?

I experienced painful intercourse for the first time. Shockingly, I was not a happy camper. My mind was filled with why and what if. These are not the thoughts to think at intimate moments. The doctor said the cause was Vaginal Atrophy/Dryness. I heard of it, but now it was happening to me. Has it happened to you??

The common medical treatment for vaginal dryness is estrogen hormone therapy. After breast cancer, I can not take estrogen. Hum, what are my choices?? One hand is hormones and risk cancer again; the other hand is no sex for life? This is not good. How lucky can I be? I was determining to solve this naturally. I really did not have choice if I wanted to enjoy an intimate sex life again. After my radiation therapy, my whole body changed.

Through my medical research, I discovered natural safe options I used to have a healthy sex life again. Dryness is one of menopausal women's biggest offenders. Vaginal dryness and painful intercourse really is a serious medical issue that many women suffer in silence with. It can lead to decreased vaginal elasticity, pliability and stretchability. Many women with severe atrophy or dryness suffer from painful intercourse and have also known to suffer form frequent urinary tract infections. Does this sound like you??

Why do something if it's painful and uncomfortable? What kind of fun is that? Was I going to be sentenced to a life without sex? No way was that going to happen to me.

Vaginal dryness is not only reserved for the mature menopausal women; women who breast feed or those on certain medications or suffer from a variety of other medical conditions can all suffer from vaginal dryness. Vaginal dryness can lead to painful intercourse which then leads to avoidant behavior—resulting in lowered interest.

My seven steps to great sex and those special intimate moments.

Step one. I began using Wise Women Essentials Natural progesterone cream topically to increase the moisture over time. I chose this because it had the combination of proven herbal ingredients for hormone balance in addition to high amounts of natural progesterone. Natural Progesterone has the science behind it too. Dr. John Lee found in his clinical studies for over 30 years, that women regained moisture over time with natural progesterone. In addition, it helps with balancing the whole system.  He also suggested you may want to try is applying 1/2 teaspoon of natural progesterone cream intravaginally once a day.

Step two. I used Herbal Balance Supplement. I selected it because it has some of the same effective herbal ingredients, plus it helped so many hormonal issues from PMS to menopause. Herbal Balance has the four most popular phytoestrogen-containing herbs black cohosh, dong quai, Chinese ginseng. Red Clover, Chaste Tree Berry, Wild Yam, in addition to Blue Cohosh, Red Clover, Peony Root, Marigold, Alfalfa, Red Raspberry and licorice root. Chinese ginseng, perhaps the most famous medicinal plant of China, exerts estrogenic activity. It may prevent atrophic vaginitis, and help to regulate body temperature. It helps to prevent adrenal hypertrophy and excess corticosteroid production in response to stress. Red clover acts as an antibiotic, appetite suppressant, blood purifier and relaxant. Chaste tree berry has been shown to reduce menstrual complaints, especially PMS, amennorhea, dysmennorhea and endometriosis as well as menopausal symptoms, especially hot flashes. Blue Cohosh has been shown to improve poor uterine tone by stimulating the uterus and increasing blood flow to pelvis. Marigold helps to regulate menstrual cycle. Contains lutein which has been associated with reduced risk of breast cancer and cervical dysplasia. Red raspberry decreases menstrual bleeding, relaxes uterine and intestinal spasms and strengthens uterine walls. This is an effective blend that worked for me. It can help you too.

Step three. The easiest, quickest choice for vaginal moisturizer is lubricants.  Always lubricate yourself before having intercourse. In the 70's, I learn about Karma Sutra products.  They are still making great products for intimate moments. Kama Sutra luxurious lubricants are designed to provide unlimited pleasure. Silky and never sticky, each lubricant is formulated to provide the utmost in comfort and sustainability. Dermatologist Tested and Latex Safe. Lubricants can be from the kitchen.  There's also cocoa butter or coconut oil also make nice natural lubricants. It's excellent as well as other lubricating products, such as Replens or Astroglide. Aloe Vera/slippery elm paste is often used to soothe and lubricate an inflamed, dry vagina. Mix enough slippery elm powder into some aloe vera gel to form a thick paste. Apply inside the lips and up into the vagina. It will feel very cool and soothing. Apply lubricants to the vaginal area, they help hydrate the vaginal tissues; lubricants without flavors, colors, warming additives can and should be used during intercourse.  Be careful in your choice of lubricants. Household products should be avoided since they change the natural balance of the vaginal bacteria.

Another natural lubricant is saliva. Yours or his. Sometimes it simply takes longer and requires more stimulation. Manual works fine. The woman or her partner can do it. Oral works better and faster. It can take 45 minutes to an hour. It is not a quick solution, but if a woman needs longer to become lubricated, she needs about the same amount of time to become aroused and her clitoris erect for orgasm. To shorten the time needed by using one of the replacements might be synonymous with having sex for a partner's pleasure primarily.

How to lubricate yourself with various oils and lubricants: Put a big glob, about the size of a nickel, on the tip of the index finger. Reapply whenever needed. Start by spreading both the inner and outer lips of the vulva with the finger, lubricating as you go. If there is any tissue sticking together, gently rub the finger with the lube in the center of the two lips while pulling back on the outermost lip at the same time. Make certain sure the area between inner and outer lips and between the inner lips is lubed. Then, starting at the vaginal opening make a circular upward spiraling inside the vagina. Also, instead of or addition to the vaginal application, grease the penis up.

Step four. Diet and Water. First and foremost, drink at least two quarts of water and/or herbal tea every day. Add some oil to your diet. Doing something as simplistic as swallowing one tablespoon of oil (Canola, olive, sunflower, and soybean) daily will add lubrication to your body.

Step five. Vitamin supplements. I read that take 600-800 I.U. of vitamin E daily—in doses of 200 IU at a time - can help. You can insert a vitamin E capsule intravaginally for lubrication and to ease the pain of dryness. No need to break open the capsule; the pH of your body will do the job. This is one of the least expensive, most natural and effective ways of treating vaginal dryness… You can also cut open the capsule and place the vitamin E oil in the palm of your hand, then put some on your finger and insert it into your vagina. Again, make sure you have no nails that are sharp which might cause scratching or irritation.

Taking vitamin A orally is very helpful for dryness in general. Add some oil to your diet. Doing something as simplistic as swallowing one tablespoon of oil (Canola, olive, sunflower, and soybean) daily will add lubrication to your body.

Step six. For building intimacy or sexual desire and response are frequently diminished during perimenopause due to the fluctuation and decline of hormones, but one's intimate relationships can be enhanced with various remedies. According to JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, more than 40% of American women experience some sort of sexual dissatisfaction and sexual issues frequently become more apparent when perimenopause sets in.

Herbal Arouse F for women and Herbal Arouse M for men helps increase sexual desire. 

Make sure your mind is in the moment.

Step seven. If all natural methods fails, your doctor can order estriol from a compounding pharmacy. He can also order testosterone for increasing the libido. Estriol is a safe type of estrogen that is used for women with cancer.