Vaginal Dryness with Dr. Gary O’hara

I wanted to take a minute to discuss a longtime problem for women with a new treatment option. Vaginal dryness is a common condition which affects women of various ages but mostly women in a low hormonal state. This includes menopause, perimenopause, and postpartum. Vaginal dryness occurs when the tissues in your vagina are dry, thin and not well lubricated. This can affect your quality of life by causing pain with movement or exercise, and when vaginally especially with sex. Approximately 1 in 5 women experience symptoms. Common symptoms include burning, pain, vaginal dryness, thin tissue, irritation, & a loss of interest with sex mainly due to pain.

Various treatments have been tried over the years (like lubricants & moisturizers), mostly to alleviate symptoms, with varying success. Medical tools like estrogen (oral & vaginal), selective estrogen modulators (ospemifene), and DHEA have also been used with some success.

Newer therapies, e.g., vaginal exosomes, have shown promising results in preliminary studies. These exosomes stimulate collagen induction and blood vessel growth, regulate moisture, and provide anti-inflammatory effects helping to restore thickness and lubrication to the vaginal tissue. This novel treatment offers a non-hormonal alternative to treat symptoms of atrophic vaginitis.

These newer options come in a variety of formulations. They can be administered in a physician's office or self-applied in the comfort of your home. They often include other natural ingredients which aid in lubrication, inhibit inflammation, and barrier strengthening while helping to repair damaged tissues. They can be used as a daily or weekly treatment, introduced as a pessary, local solution, or on an as-needed basis.

Benefits of these formulations include soothing barrier for sensitive skin, hydration and long-lasting moisture, protection against dryness and irritation, and anti-aging support that improves elasticity all in a non-hormonal formulation.

If you’re not satisfied with the current state of your vaginal health consider this new alternative to take charge of your body and female health.