Pregnancy is a beautiful journey filled with many changes and surprises, but vaginal dryness is often left unspoken .This common yet uncomfortable condition can affect women during pregnancy due to hormonal fluctuations.
Here I’ll delve into the causes of early pregnancy vaginal dryness, how it can impact your comfort and intimacy, and most importantly, what you can do to alleviate this discomfort. Stay tuned to learn more about managing vaginal dryness during this special time in your life.
What Is Vaginal Dryness in Pregnancy?
Normally, the mucous membranes of the vaginal canal keep the vagina moist and flexible. These membranes coat the vagina with a thin layer of transparent fluid. In pregnancy, fluctuating hormones affect mucous membrane function, resulting in dryness and itching of the vagina. The absence of vaginal moisture might also have an impact on your sex life, producing pain during sex.
Should You Be Concerned About It?
A dry vagina might not seem like a big deal, but it can really hurt and be very uncomfortable. The causes of vaginal dryness include allergies, medications, autoimmune diseases, urinary tract infections, and estrogen-blocking medicines.
So, if your vaginal area feels dry, you should be worried and see a doctor. You should tell your gynecologist if you feel pain, burning, or itching in the vagina. Once he has ruled out any other reasons for the dryness, he will suggest the best way to treat it.
Is Vaginal Dryness Normal In Early Pregnancy?
If you are pregnant, it is normal for your vaginal flow to change. Most of the time, women who are pregnant will have more flow because their estrogen levels are higher. Having more fluid can also help keep infections from getting to the womb.
There may also be a change in how often you discharge while you are pregnant. Some people will start to notice pink, sticky, jelly-like mucus near the end of the third trimester. This is the body getting ready to give birth, and it’s usually nothing to worry about.
Having dry genitalia during pregnancy is not common, but it does happen sometimes. You might notice a drop in flow more if you’re trying to or having sex. A lot of people experience a drop in their libido while they are pregnant. This can also cause painful contact if you aren’t using any lubrication.
Second, stop having sex if it hurts or makes you feel bad. Tell your partner and your provider about it. Also, don’t feel like you have to have sex if you don’t want to. We recommend that you talk to a provider if you notice a big change in your flow, whether it’s going up or down.
What Causes Dryness During Pregnancy?
There are several reasons why your vaginal area might itch while you’re pregnant. Most of them don’t need strong treatment, but some do need medicine. Here are eight possible reasons:
Vaginal yeast infections
Yeast infections in the vaginal area are caused by the fungus Candida albicans.They are also called vaginal thrush or vaginal candidiasis. These infections happen a lot in the second trimester. They are painful, but they don’t put your baby at risk.
Sexually transmitted infections
Herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis are some of the sexually spread diseases that can make your vaginal area itchy. It is important to get these infections handled because they can be passed to your baby and cause problems that could be very bad.
Bacterial vaginosis
It is more normal to get bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy, which can make your vagina swell and itch. A baby with this infection is also more likely to be born early or with a low birth weight.
Hormonal changes
During pregnancy, changes in hormones can make your skin more sensitive, which can lead to dryness, cracking, rashes, and burning.
Breastfeeding
Getting ready to breastfeed and breastfeeding can lower estrogen levels, which can make the vaginal area dry and itchy.
Vaginal Sweatiness
Changes in hormones can also cause vaginal sweating, which can irritate the vagina and help yeast infections grow in people who have them.
Medications
Some medicines, like some antihistamines and antidepressants, can also make the vaginal area dry and itchy.
Pubic hair
During pregnancy, pubic hair can get long and scratchy. It can itch when it rubs against the skin, especially if you wear tight pants.
Symptoms Of Early Pregnancy Vaginal Dryness
A dry vag pregnancy can cause more than just itching and dryness in the vagina. You may also feel the following:
- Having pain when you urinate
- Pain or discomfort when sitting, standing, or working out
- Urge to pee often
- Having repeated urinary tract infections (UTIs) or having an uncomfortable sexual encounter
How to Treat Vaginal Dryness During Pregnancy?
If you are pregnant and your vaginal area feels dry, you should tell your doctor so that they can rule out other, more serious reasons for the dryness. Also, your doctor will be able to suggest a treatment that will work for you. However, some easy things can be done at home to lessen the effects or stop the dryness from happening. The following are some of the solutions:
Staying hydrated
Every day, drinking six to eight glasses of water will help keep all of your cells moist, even the ones below the belt. Since mucus is mostly water, it will help keep the vaginal area damp.
Lubricants
To fix the issue during sex, water-based moisturizers that work quickly can be used. There are a lot of women who use personal lubricants to make sex less painful. The issue is that lubricants don’t work in the long run, and dryness in the
vaginal area doesn’t just go away when you stop having sex. The truth is that itching, burning, and swelling can bother you all day. So, lubricants might work for the immediate sexual experience, but you probably won’t feel like yourself until you find a way to stop being so dry all the time.
Moisturizers
Many women have problems with vaginal dryness all the time, not just during sex. A vaginal lotion can help many of them right away. To keep the vaginal tissues moist, moisturizers are meant to be used regularly. They can be used every day or two to three times a week. They are better than lubricants because they keep you moist and relieve dryness all the time, not just during sex.
Vitamin E
As a natural antioxidant, vitamin E helps reduce swelling and keep vaginal tissue healthy. This can be done by applying Vitamin E oil or buying a good vaginal lotion that already has it in it.
Hygiene
To keep the vaginal area clean, wash it with mild soap and then dry it fully with a towel. This is because being dry in the vagina makes it more likely to get an infection. When you clean your vaginal area, don’t use scented soaps, bubble baths, douches, or lotions. This could make the area more sensitive.
Undergarments
Make sure your underwear is made of soft, open cotton. Avoid synthetic materials and underwear that fit too tightly. This will make the situation worse, make the area itch more, and hurt more. Cotton is the best material to use for underwear.
Pelvic exercise
You can get more blood to the vagina by doing pelvic exercises, also called Kegels. These exercises are safe for pregnant women and won’t hurt the baby.
What Should You Avoid To Ease Vaginal Dryness During Pregnancy?
Here are some things you shouldn’t do while you’re pregnant to keep your vaginal area from drying out: When a woman is pregnant, she shouldn’t use hormone treatment like estradiol cream. Hormone treatment comes with risks that you should be aware of and talk about with your doctor.
Soaps, deodorants, and lotions with scents should not be used near the vagina. These items might make the irritation worse and make the skin even drier.
Can I Take Medicines to Treat Vaginal Dryness During Pregnancy?
It’s easy to treat vaginal dryness during pregnancy. You can talk to your doctor about your problem. Once they figure out what’s causing it, they may give you medicine, oils, or moisturizers.
Can You Prevent Vaginal Dryness By Drinking A Lot Of Water?
Having enough water may help avoid vaginal dryness to some extent, but many things can make the vagina dry. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says that pregnant women should drink eight to twelve glasses (64 to 96 ounces) of water every day. But don’t drink too much-demineralized water because it can lower your potassium and salt levels.
Is Pregnancy Vaginal Dryness a Sign of Infection?
If your vaginal area feels dry while you’re pregnant, it could mean you have an infection in that area or your urinary system. To make sure you don’t have any infections, you should see your doctor and get the checkups you need, like a pap test.
There is a lot of vaginal dryness during pregnancy, especially in the first and third trimesters, when estrogen and progesterone levels change quickly. Take care of the dryness and keep the vagina clean and healthy. Before you use anything to treat genital dryness, talk to your doctor.
Other Cervical Changes During Pregnancy
One of the many changes you may notice in your cervix during pregnancy is that it may feel dry. You should also be aware of these other changes.
Vaginal Itching
During pregnancy, hormonal changes and an imbalance in pH levels can make the vagina itch and turn red. If you also feel like your vagina is on fire, you should see a doctor right away.
Varicose Veins
Most of the time, varicose veins show up in the legs, but during pregnancy, don’t be surprised if you also see them in the pelvic area. Most of the time, this is because of the extra weight and pressure on the cervix. Most of the time, varicose veins in the vaginal area go away after giving birth.
Vaginal Discharge
A lot of the time, women may have a milky, sticky fluid from their genital area. When your estrogen levels drop, you may only feel dry. Other times, you may have vaginal discharge, so make sure you have plenty of panty liners on hand.
Final Words
Navigating vaginal dryness during early pregnancy can be a common concern for many expecting mothers. While this discomfort can be bothersome, it’s essential to remember that it is a normal part of the hormonal changes your body is undergoing.
Staying hydrated, using gentle lubricants, and communicating openly with your healthcare provider can help alleviate any discomfort you may experience. Embracing self-care practices and seeking support when needed are key to ensuring a more comfortable pregnancy journey. Remember, taking care of yourself is taking care of your little one, too.
