Chronic Vaginal Dryness

I’ve scoured this entire forum and honestly, I couldn't find anything even remotely close to this topic. If there’s already a thread where people are actually tackling this head-on, please just move me over.

So, here’s the deal:

I’m 25, and ever since my first time, I’ve been dealing with issues regarding Vaginal lubrication—basically, regardless of how much I’m actually into the sex, my body just rarely, rarely manages to get fully wet on its own. My mom deals with something similar, so she suggested using lubricants, but honestly? I can't stand the thought of having to mess around with messy gels right in the middle of things. It totally kills the vibe.

I see my gynecologist regularly, my Pap smear results are perfectly fine, and the dryness issue persists no matter what kind of birth control pills I'm on—it doesn't matter which brand, it doesn't matter who the partner is, and it even happens during masturbation. I seriously thought maybe it was all in my head—you know, some psychological thing—but it's not. I'm relaxed, I'm comfortable, and I've been with the same partner for years...

The whole point is this: I was watching some shows lately where women going through menopause were talking about libido issues and Vaginal dryness, and they mentioned using certain creams and bioidentical hormones. They said it made a massive difference for them.

Since none of the five gynecologists I’ve seen seem to think this is a "serious" issue, this feels like my last resort. I want to know if there are other girls out there facing this, and if you actually found a way to fix it? Are there any specific treatments recommended for women who aren't even near menopause yet?

I’ve been digging around online, but everything is such a mess—most of it just circles back to "use lube" or "spend more time on foreplay." That's not what I'm looking for. I want an actual solution to the underlying problem.

.....

Just to be clear, my periods are regular and everything else is fine—technically speaking, I'm perfectly healthy, aside from this one little annoying thing.

So, have you actually had your hormone levels checked yet? I’m honestly not sure what kind of advice would even be helpful to give you right now.

I think someone mentioned earlier that there are certain vaginal suppositories designed to help with moisture levels—you should probably do a little digging online about those.

Can dryness actually be caused by an infection from b.vaginalis? And once I finish the treatment, will things go back to being normal? 😢

My apologies if there’s already a thread like this; I couldn't seem to find one...
So, I had a hysterectomy quite a few years ago, and it's only just now that I've started experiencing occasional dryness during intimacy. I was wondering if I should just stick to something basic like Vaseline, or if there is a specific product designed specifically for these kinds of issues? Thanks 🙂

Hi,

I've been dealing with this issue for about a month or two now. I can't seem to get lubricated, which makes sex painful and pretty much impossible. I'm on birth control—been taking them for four months. Everything was fine for the first two, then I dealt with a yeast infection and used some vaginal creams and suppositories to clear it up. That’s when the dryness started. The infection is gone, but the dryness isn't. I suspect it might be the pill; I took a week off recently, and by day eight, things were back to normal for once. As soon as I resumed the pills, the dryness returned.🤷

Angela Sanders3 said:Hey,

I’ve been dealing with this annoying issue for a couple of months now. I just can't get lubricated, which totally kills the mood because sex actually hurts. I have no clue what's going on. I started taking birth control about four months ago, and everything was fine for the first two. Then, I ended up with a yeast infection and had to use some vaginal creams and suppositories to clear it up. That’s when the dryness first kicked in. Even though the infection is gone, the dryness hasn't budged. I’m stuck wondering if it was the infection or the pills. Honestly, I’m leaning towards the pills. I took a week off from them recently, and by day eight, I was wetter than I've been in ages! But then I went back on them and—boom—nothing. 🤷

You basically answered your own question.😉

Birth control definitely causes dryness. Go talk to your OB-GYN or just look up the side effects online.😉

Does every single pill cause this? I'm currently on Bell, so perhaps I should have a word with my gynecologist about switching. These haven't given me any other side effects, at least.

Birth control can definitely mess with your hormones, which might be why you aren't feeling that spark with your partner lately. If things keep going this way, it might be worth switching up your prescription or just using condoms.
I think this discussion belongs in the Health subforum.

Lube?

Using lubricant is really just a temporary fix, so you should definitely check in with a doctor for a more permanent solution

It’s all about how you personally react—everyone is wired differently.

For instance, I’ve found that Trinovum tended to tank my wife's libido, while Diane worked wonders for her drive, even if the scent was a bit off-putting. Then there was Logest, which was mostly fine, though it did seem to make her skin more sensitive to sunlight—at least in our experience.

Do some math and figure out which one actually costs you more: a bottle of lubricant or getting pregnant because you decided to ditch the pill.

John Newman34 said:Don't even think about skipping the gynecologist.
That would be pretty foolish, wouldn't it? 🤦

My doctor is in a different city, and between my college classes and working weekends, I honestly don't have the time. 124 miles😢

Thanks for the input, everyone. I'll check in with him once he can recommend some other options. There's no point in worrying about pregnancy if I'm not even having sex. 🙂

Nicholas King said:Do the math on what’s actually cheaper: buying lubricant or dealing with a pregnancy if you stop taking your pills.

Wait, why would anyone need lubricant unless they were already going through menopause? 😕

Angela Sanders3 said:I mean, let’s be honest—there is really no point in worrying about birth control when you aren't even having sex in the first place, right? It just seems a bit redundant—like carrying an umbrella around on a perfectly sunny day in Phoenix when there isn't a cloud in the sky! 🙂

😕😕

Error—these pills are... Compromise—it’s such a loaded word, isn't it? Sometimes it feels like a necessary bridge to get two sides of a canyon to meet in the middle, and other times, well, it feels more like a slow erosion of one's own principles. I was thinking about this the other day while watching a documentary on urban planning in Chicago—how every single skyscraper is essentially a massive, concrete compromise between architectural ambition and the stubborn reality of zoning laws. You want to touch the clouds, but the city says, "Hold on, let's talk about the wind tunnels first." It's much the same in our personal lives, especially when we navigate those tricky waters of health and wellness. We often find ourselves caught in this tug-of-war between what we *know* we should be doing—the strict regimens, the disciplined choices—and what actually fits into the messy, unpredictable rhythm of an American lifestyle. It’s that constant negotiation between the ideal version of ourselves and the person who just wants to grab a quick coffee in downtown Seattle and move on with their day. I suppose we all have to find that sweet spot—that delicate equilibrium where we aren't selling out our values, but we aren't being so rigid that we snap under the pressure. It's a balancing act, really. Much like trying to maintain a steady course on a boat in the middle of a choppy Atlantic swell; you can't fight every wave, or you'll capsize, but if you stop steering altogether, you're certainly heading for trouble. Finding that middle ground... that's where the real work happens. Which one is actually detrimental? Honestly—if you aren't having regular sex (and enjoying it, of course, because what's the point otherwise?)—I just don't see any real sense in it.

Angela Sanders3 said:My gynecologist is based in a different city, and since I'm 124 miles busy with college classes all week and working weekends, I really can't find the time.😢

Thanks everyone for the replies! I'll check in with him once I can get some other doctor recommendations, because there’s no point in worrying about pregnancy if I'm not even having sex.🙂

If you aren't active, just take a break from the pills. It sounds like they definitely aren't agreeing with you.
It might also be a yeast infection.
Just to be safe, try putting some crushed garlic in your pizza and let it sit overnight. Garlic is great for fighting fungus, and it won't hurt you if you don't have an infection. Better safe than sorry!😉

driftingmaker clearly knows her stuff when it comes to dealing with yeast issues—unlike some people here.

where did this topic even come from? I get the feeling people are jumping in who aren't even interested in this PDF.🤷

Checking in from the local coffee shop here in Seattle!

Angela Sanders3 said:My doctor is based in a completely different city, and honestly, between my heavy course load at the university and working through the weekends, I just can’t find the time to make the trip 124 miles more than a week away from everything else I have going on. It's just impossible to squeeze it in! 😢

Thanks so much to everyone for all the replies! I'll try to touch base with him once he manages to send over some other recommendations, because, let's be real—there's absolutely no point in worrying about pregnancy prevention if I'm not even planning on having sex 🙂
anyway!

In any case, you really should head to the gynecologist as soon as possible.
I truly believe they'll be able to provide much more professional and reliable advice than anyone here on the forum ☕

It took me forever to realize what she actually meant when she said she wasn't having sex because it hurts... she wasn't saying she doesn't have sex at all, just that it's painful. I mean, come on, who in their right mind would be popping pills for "protection" if they weren't even getting laid?

Also, that garlic tip? Total lifesaver!! 😉