Relieve Vagina Dryness with Supplements for Better Sex
Estrogen and testosterone play a significant role in sexual drive and keeping the vagina lubricated, but things like stress, dehydration, and lifestyles can all impact your natural lubrication. If you’re getting older and noticing you feel different down there or sex isn’t pleasurable, it could be linked to a hormonal imbalance.
More than a quarter of women struggle with natural lubrication in perimenopause.
There are 34 symptoms that could be triggered by fluctuating hormone levels associated with perimenopause, ranging from heart palpitations to headaches to joint pain, to even vagina dryness.
Vagina dryness can not only cause sex to be less pleasurable (or painful), but research shows it can also lead to women feeling less confident in themselves, and having a lower body image.
Besides vagina dryness, many women experience lowered sex drive and potentially even a loss of sexual desire during perimenopause. Since vagina dryness and other sexual changes associated with hormone fluctuations are common experiences, we’re breaking down 3 key nutrients that can help balance hormones and support optimal sexual health to keep sex fun!
For more holistic ways to naturally support balanced hormone levels, our lovely sex & relationship expert, Hakima shares more in, Struggling with natural lubrication? You’re not alone.
Top supplements for boosting women’s natural lubrication in perimenopause
If you could use some extra support keeping hormones in balance, supplements can be an incredible resource to lean on for help. Symptoms of hormonal fluctuations impact us in many different ways, and we’ve researched the top nutrients to support vagina dryness during perimenopause and the research to back them up:
Vitamin D promotes vagina lubrication
Most commonly associated with its bone health benefits for women, vitamin D is also shown to help keep things lubricated down there! Estrogen boosts the enzyme needed to activate vitamin D in the body, so it may be easier to become deficient as hormones start declining. It's estimated 50% of the global population isn't regularly getting enough vitamin D, and the skin actively produces less vitamin D as you age, which makes it important to ensure you’re getting enough through your diet via whole foods and/or supplements to support optimal healthy aging.
What the research shows: A systematic review that included 6 studies found taking vitamin D oral supplements helped reduce vagina dryness and improve overall vagina health in women going through perimenopause.
* Note: Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin which means that our body stores it in fat cells, so be sure you know what you’re taking and talk to your doctor about how getting a simple blood test to see much vitamin D you have and how much could be helpful to supplement.
Sea buckthorn oil improves vaginal elasticity
Derived from leaves, berries, and seeds of the buckthorn plant, this natural plant oil contains essential fatty acids that play key roles in supporting the skin’s moisture barrier and stimulating collagen production — the protein responsible for giving skin its elasticity and preserving its strength.
What the research shows: A study of 116 postmenopausal women saw significant improvements to the integrity of vaginal tissue in women who consumed 3 grams of sea buckthorn oil daily.
Fish Oil may support healthy estrogen levels
The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil are often celebrated for their heart-healthy benefits but they also might be especially good for women experiencing hormonal fluctuations around menopause! As mentioned above with sea buckthorn oil, omega 3’s have been shown to promote skin health and hydration to help reduce dryness.
What the research shows: A few different studies have found omega 3’s may actually help increase estrogen levels, which may help prevent symptoms of vaginal dryness!
Remember to talk to your doctor before starting a new supplement routine and that you won’t see any changes happening overnight. Learning which supplements help you feel your best might mean trying a few out before you find what works for you. Giving your body the proper nutrition it needs to function will help support long-term health and wellness.
Use your MBODY app to track what supplements taking and other important things such as daily exercises, how much water you’re drinking, or other symptoms that could be linked to a hormonal imbalance you’d like to note down — all in one place easy for you to look back on and notice trends.
How are you doing? What symptoms are you tracking at the moment? Let us know in the comments below or reach out to us on Instagram at @mbody.official! Available on the App Store and Google Play Store today!
