Real Moms and Their Sex Lives: Dry All the Time or Atrophic Vaginitis

In another article, we talked about how often married couples had sex and whether regular sex was necessary for a good marriage.  This article deals with another common issue of real moms regarding their sex lives, namely, vaginal dryness.   

 

When Sex is More Painful than Pleasurable

Many moms complained of lack of lubrication or oversensitivity—that in spite of foreplay, they would “dry up” faster than they would before and intercourse would be painful.  Husbands would take it personally, feeling inadequate and worried their lovemaking was not up to par.  To some extent, married women felt that that added even more pressure to not just having sex but enjoying it, if only to make husband feel better.

Unfortunately, it would result in a vicious cycle—the harder they’d try to have fun with sex, the less fun it actually was.

Odette, a mother of two, said, “It got to the point that I’d dread sex kasi masakit, tapos nagiging sensitive pa ang asawa ko.”  Another wondered, “What’s wrong with me?  Why can’t I get excited?  Related ba yan sa age?  Don’t tell me frigid na ako…”

 

Atrophic Vaginitis

According to the MayoClinic.com, Vaginal dryness or atrophic vaginitis is a common occurrence for women who are hitting menopause.  Normally, there is a thin layer of moisture that coats your vaginal walls.  As you get older, hormonal changes affect the amount and consistence of the moisture.

 

Click here to read on about Atrophic Vaginitis and how to cure as well as prevent it.

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Read on to learn more about Atrophic Vaginitis and how to cure as well as prevent it.

 

Signs and symptoms of vaginal dryness included dryness, itching, burning and pain or light bleeding with sex.  Vaginal dryness occurs fairly frequently—four in 10 menopausal women observed these symptoms.  Even in non-menopausal women, dryness can happen because of reduced estrogen, allergy medication, cigarette smoking, lack of sleep and douching. 

According to Dr. Eddie Concepcion, a medical doctor and acupuncturist of the Oasis Acupuncture Clinic, you should see a doctor if you frequently experience this condition.  “Even in non-menopausal women, dryness can happen because of reduced estrogen, allergy medication, douching and even the fluctuation of weather patterns,” he states.  “Female moisture is a sign of good health so any imbalances will cause dryness.  They may not be serious but it’s still worth looking into, especially if you have vaginal burning, soreness or painful sexual intercourse.”

 

Cure and Prevention

Go see your family doctor or gynecologist first.   The doctor will determine the cause, whether it’s due to an infection, decreased estrogen, or an allergy.  Normal treatments include estrogen creams and hypoallergenic water-soluble lubricants.  However, for most, the best cure is having more intercourse (Yay!).

 

Read more articles about Moms and Their Sex Lives:

• How Often is Normal?
• Fear of High Expectations
• Stress and Harried Woman’s Syndrome
• Improvement Over Time & Intimate Alternatives

 

Photo from sxc.hu