Are Vaginal Moisturizers Effective? And Do You Need One?

Low estrogen levels from menopause, childbirth, or cancer treatments can cause your vaginal tissue to thin and lose natural lubrication. This often leads to uncomfortable and painful vaginal dryness. If you're not a good candidate for hormonal treatments, or you prefer the ease of an over-the-counter product, a vaginal moisturizer can help. 

Vaginal moisturizers are a non-hormonal treatment designed to rehydrate your vaginal tissue and provide moisture using hydrating ingredients. They're often one of the first choices to help treat vaginal dryness related to hormonal changes and medications.

There's no reason to deal with pain and discomfort if your vagina feels as dry as the Sahara desert. Here's how vaginal moisturizers help treat vaginal dryness.

What Causes Vaginal Dryness?

Decreasing estrogen levels is the leading cause of vaginal dryness. This is a common effect of hormone changes during menopause, birth, breastfeeding, and cancer treatments.

When estrogen levels drop, your body produces less cervical secretions that help moisturize and lubricate the vaginal tissue. This hormonal change can also cause vaginal atrophy, which is when vaginal tissue becomes thin, dry, and inflamed.

Other medications, treatments, and conditions not directly related to hormonal changes can also cause vaginal dryness. Other causes of vaginal dryness include:

• Sjorgren's syndrome (an immune system disorder that affects how your body produces moisture)
• Diabetes
• Douching and using scented vaginal washes
• Smoking
• Taking cold or allergy medications
• Using some forms of hormonal birth control
• Surgery that removes the ovaries
• Taking anti-estrogen medication (like ones used to treat fibroids and endometriosis)
• Taking certain antidepressants

If you have vaginal dryness, this lack of moisture can make you feel sore or itchy. It can also make sex painful and cause recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Signs of Vaginal Dryness

Vaginal dryness is more common than you might expect. A few signs of vaginal dryness include:

• Burning inside your vagina
• Loss of interest in sex
• Pain with sexual intercourse
• Light bleeding following intercourse
• Soreness inside your vagina
• Persistent or recurrent UTIs
• Itching or stinging inside your vagina

What Is a Vaginal Moisturizer?

Vaginal moisturizers are non-hormonal products that add moisture back to the vagina by rehydrating vaginal tissue and mimicking natural vaginal secretions. Some products are also designed to help hydrate the vulva — the area outside your vagina — which can also become dry.

Regularly applying vaginal moisturizers can help moisturize a dry vagina, similar to how regular lotion helps strengthen and protect dry skin on your body. 

Along with lubricants, vaginal moisturizers are considered a first-line-of-defense treatment for vaginal dryness. But unlike lubricants, you can apply vaginal moisturizers even when you're not having sex to help rehydrate tissue and improve discomfort from vaginal dryness.

Types of Vaginal Moisturizers

You can find over-the-counter (OTC) vaginal moisturizers in a cream, gel, or suppository form. Your doctor can also prescribe you one. Here's how the different types of vaginal moisturizers work:

Creams and Gels

Vaginal moisturizer creams and gels are applied inside the vagina with your fingers or an applicator. These products often include hydrating ingredients like glycerin, mineral oil, sorbic acid, and hyaluronic acid to help moisturize vaginal tissue by attracting and binding to water. Gels with aloe vera have also been used to help treat vaginal atrophy symptoms like dryness and inflammation.

Suppositories

Vaginal moisturizer suppositories are pills or capsules inserted into the vagina using an applicator. Polycarbophil and hyaluronic acid are common suppository ingredients also found in gels and creams. Bioadhesives, like polycarbophil, coat the vaginal lining and help your vaginal cells absorb water. Plus, polycarbophil helps lower the vagina's pH to help restore good bacteria and reduce the risk of infection that can come with vaginal dryness.

Natural Oils

Some folks may also apply natural oils like vitamin E or coconut oil in and around the vagina to help moisturize the tissue. Coconut oil is hydrating and generally considered safe on the skin, but there's no research on vaginal use. Some suppositories may also contain vitamin E alone or with other ingredients. Research is also limited on using vitamin E suppositories. But, studies have shown it may help treat vaginal dryness caused by vaginal atrophy. Keep in mind, oils will break down condoms, and you'll want to check that they are safe to use with your healthcare provider.

Before trying an OTC vaginal moisturizer, talk with your healthcare provider about which type may be right for you. Your doctor may suggest using vaginal moisturizers with other prescription vaginal dryness treatments.

How to Use A Vaginal Moisturizer

For the best results, you'll want to use a vaginal moisturizer daily or at least every two to three days. You can apply a vaginal moisturizer anytime, and you don't have to wait to apply it right before sex. You can still use water-based lubricants before sex to make things even more comfortable.

When using vaginal moisturizers, applications and amounts may vary depending on the product. So make sure to check the instructions before getting started. Some OTC vaginal moisturizers may also say they are only for external use. This means they are not true vaginal moisturizers and are only made to moisturize the vulva. So make sure your product is actually designed for internal use.

Always wash and dry your hands before you use a vaginal moisturizer. Then, insert creams and gels with your clean fingers around and inside the vagina, or insert it with a provided applicator. You'll also insert suppositories with an applicator.

A Quick Review

Vaginal dryness is typically an issue related to hormonal changes during menopause. But, breastfeeding, cancer treatments, and some medications can also affect estrogen levels and cause vaginal dryness.

If you're experiencing vaginal dryness, using a vaginal moisturizer regularly can help add moisture back to your vagina to treat dryness. Just get the OK from your healthcare provider before using an OTC vaginal moisturizer.

Also check-in with your healthcare provider if your vaginal dryness does not improve after using vaginal moisturizers. They may decide to prescribe you hormonal treatments or medications to help treat dryness.