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Question
My wife suffers from a dry vagina. Although she still enjoys sex, it can be difficult without the use of lubrication.

Is this common and is there a cure? She has had two children and is 34 years old.

Answer
The problem that you and your wife have encountered is extremely common. Some women produce a lot of vaginal secretion naturally, whereas others are constitutionally drier. It is just the way they are made. It is absolutely normal.

There are factors that have an influence on natural lubrication levels, however. Sexual stimulation will certainly increase the level of secretion, so adequate and prolonged foreplay will certainly help.

Female hormones also strongly increase the level of secretion. Women on the oral contraceptive pill can be provided with a brand with a high oestrogen content that can increase the level of lubrication.

If this is a new problem your wife is suffering from, it is important to eradicate other, albeit unlikely, causes. These can include premature menopause, which would mean that falling oestrogen levels might be responsible. However, a premature menopause at 34 is extremely unlikely.

There are also a number of easy solutions to dryness that can be bought over the counter. Replens is a vaginal pessary inserted every third day that provides a continuous level of additional lubrication. This means that lubrication does not have to be used at the time of lovemaking and so allows spontaneous sex.

Other forms of lubrication include KY jelly, chemist own-brand aqueous lubricants and another called Senselle.

Sometimes after childbirth a woman is so busy looking after young children that she becomes less focused on sexual fulfillment, which means that the hormones which turn her on are less effective. Finding time to be romantic and to enjoy extended foreplay will seriously help.

Yours sincerely

The Medical Team

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