Menopause and Vaginal Dryness

Menopause vaginal dryness can result in painful sex, itching and burning and other symptoms we may not necessarily associate with menopause, including urinary symptoms.

Vaginal Dryness

What is the association between vaginal dryness and menopause?

In Vaginal Dryness After Menopause: How To Treat It? the author explains:


“Vaginal dryness can be a problem for many people after menopause. Vaginal dryness is the main symptom of what’s called genitourinary syndrome of menopause. The syndrome used to be called atrophic vaginitis or vaginal atrophy”.

In Looking After Yourself During Menopause: Sex and Relationships – What Can Affect Your Sex Life? Dry Vagina and Pain During Sex the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health explain:

“The loss of oestrogen at menopause causes changes in the tissues of your vagina and vulva. This means your vagina becomes drier and less elastic, which can lead to vaginal irritation, vaginal atrophy and pain during sex”.

Common or Not

How common is vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA)?

In Vaginal Atrophy: Overview – How Common Is Vaginal Atrophy? (GSM) the Cleveland Clinic note:

“At least half of women and people AFAB who enter menopause show signs and symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause. Vaginal dryness is typically the first indication that a person is developing vaginal atrophy”.

Vaginal Dryness Treatment Options

What are some vaginal dryness treatment options?

On page one and two in Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause, published May 2025, The Menopause Society (formerly The North American Menopause Society) elaborate on:

“There are many effective treatment options for GSM, including over-the-counter and prescription therapies. Therapies for less severe symptoms include nonhormone over-the-counter lubricants used as needed for sexual activity and moisturizers used regularly (several times per week) to maintain moisture. Prescription therapies include low-dose vaginal estrogens, vaginal dehydroepiandrosterone inserts, and oral ospemifene. Nonhormone lubricants and moisturizers can be used in combination with prescription therapies for more severe symptoms.

  • “Nonhormone Remedies
    • Vaginal Lubricants…
    • Vaginal Moisturizers…
    • Regular Sexual Stimulation…
    • Expanding Your Views of Sexual Pleasure…
    • Vaginal Dilators…
    • Pelvic Floor Exercises…
  • Vaginal Hormone Therapy…
    • An effective and safe treatment, low-dose local estrogen applied directly to the vagina…
    • FDA-approved low-dose vaginal estrogen products…
    • Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA; Prasterone)
    • Low-dose vaginal estrogen or DHEA may be options for women with a history breast or uterine cancer…
  • Systemic Estrogen Therapy
  • Other Therapies…
    • Ospemifene
    • Vaginal Laser Therapy…”.

Vaginal Oestrogen

How effective is vaginal oestrogen?

In the Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause, first published online 10 June 2022, one of the recommendations is:

  • “Low-dose and ultra-low dose vaginal oestrogen preparations can be taken by perimenopausal and menopausal women experiencing genitourinary symptoms and continued for as long as required. All vaginal oestrogen preparations have been shown to be effective in this context and there is no requirement to combine vaginal oestrogens with systemic progestogen treatment for endometrial protection, as low-dose and ultra-low dose vaginal oestrogen preparations do not result in significant systemic absorption or endometrial hyperplasia”.

Health Care Provider

What if I think I have vaginal dryness?

On page three in Vaginal Dryness: What To Do Next the (British) Women’s Health Concern explain:

“Recognising that vaginal dryness is normal and common is the first step to helping yourself. The next is to talk to your doctor, who can recommend a treatment to suit you”.

On page two in Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause, The Menopause Society note:

“Vaginal and vulvar symptoms not related to menopause include yeast infections, allergic reactions, and certain skin conditions, so consult your healthcare professional if symptoms do not improve with treatment”.

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Last Updated: 15 June 2025 – Last Revised: 17 March 2025
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