Click here to browse our six best lubricants for vaginal dryness
Vaginal dryness can be caused by many things. Cancer treatment, hormonal issues and often menopause. Just because your body is changing doesn’t mean you aren’t allowed to still have amazing sex. That's where the best lubricants for menopause dryness can come in handy for your next solo or partnered session.
Often times, when people experience vaginal dryness, it can be more difficult to have sex that actually feels good, and this is due to a number of reasons.
Our bodies change as we get older. Menopause associated vaginal dryness can be a result of decreased estrogen. This leads to the thinning of the vaginal mucosa, decreased elasticity, and changes in the bio flora. These changes can make sex feel more rough, more uncomfortable, and sometimes even painful.
This isn’t uncommon, studies have shown that the majority of postmenopausal women deal with vaginal dryness, Unfortunately, a lot of those individuals don't find solutions. There are multiple reasons, but a big one is that women simply don't talk about it, assuming there's nothing that can be done.
That's a big menopause myth as there are many options for dealing with vaginal dryness. It's important to keep in mind that everyone has a unique experience with menopause, so what works for some may not work for others. But there are several different types of lubricants that have shown to be helpful with menopausal dryness. It may just take some experimenting to find out which ones work best with your body. What worked for you when you were younger may not be the most optimal now. Here's what you need to know about the types of lubricants available and our picks to help with vaginal dryness.
Water-based lubricants
Water-based lubricants are a safe option to use during partnered sex and self-pleasuring.
Water-based lubes are easy to use and wash off. They’re also available over-the-counter, and they’re compatible with latex condoms.
For some, water-based lube can cause irritation (especially if they contain glycerin and parabens). This lube can also dry up quicker than others, which means you’ll have to apply more frequently.
Oil-based lubricants
Many oil-based lubes include vegetable and nut oils (like coconut and almond oil); others include baby oil and petroleum jelly.
Nut-based oils are generally the most natural, they typically cause the least amount of irritation, and they work better in water.
Although oil-based lubricants usually don’t contain preservatives found in other lubes, they can actually increase the risk of bacterial infection if you don’t wash it off properly. It's best to stay away from baby oil and petroleum jelly, since they can increase the risk of a urinary tract infection. Oil-based lubes are also not compatible with latex condoms, as they contribute to their deterioration.
Silicone-based lubricants
Silicone-based lubricants are a middle ground between water-based and oil-based lubes.
Silicone-based lubes typically last longer than water-based lubes, they’re safe to use with latex condoms, and they’re H2O-friendly.
Silicone lube can be harder to rinse off, which can cause vaginal irritation. Silicone-based lubes also shouldn’t be paired with silicone sex toys, as they can cause the material in the toys to break down.
Natural lubricants
Natural lubes are very popular. Many natural lubricants include ingredients such as aloe vera, flaxseed, and chia extract, but it depends on the brand. The main takeaway with natural lubes is that they don’t contain additional chemicals like glycerin and parabens, which can be irritating.
They're generally safe, and have no added chemicals.
Some natural lubes can dry up faster, so you’ll have to reapply more. Some ingredients may be irritating to certain individuals. Depending on the natural lube, you might not be able to use it with a condom (make sure to read the label).
There are some ingredients to stay away from if you have menopausal vaginal dryness, try to avoid anything with glycerin and parabens, as well as nonoxynol-9 (this kills off good bacteria found in the vagina), propylene glycol, benzocaine, and chlorhexidine gluconate.
Most of the Pjur range of lubricants that we sell do not contain any additives but please read the product descriptions as they are all designed slightly differently depending on the issue you are facing.
At the end of the day, lube is a great addition to your sex life, no matter how old you are or how frequently you're dealing with dryness. Finding that you need lube to feel good is nothing to feel bad about. Lubricants can benefit people during all stages of life, and for those experiencing specific vaginal dryness, lube can truly be your best friend during intimacy. It’s important to understand that vaginal dryness is nothing to be ashamed of and can happen for various reasons.
Click here to browse our six best lubricants for vaginal dryness