When Things Feel a Little Dry: What Your Body’s Trying to Tell You

Vaginal dryness is one of those symptoms people often chalk up to “just getting older” or “postpartum recovery,” but it is actually a sign of an underlying shift in the vaginal environment. Dryness can affect comfort, intimacy, and everyday activities, and it is far more common than most people realize.¹

While many associate dryness with menopause, it can also show up after childbirth, during breastfeeding, when stopping or switching hormonal contraception, or during times of stress. Any change that reduces estrogen levels or alters the vaginal microbiome can impact natural lubrication and tissue health.

The good news: dryness is almost always treatable, and solutions range from hormone-free moisturizers to estrogen therapy that is safer than many people have been led to believe.

Why Dryness Happens

The vaginal and vulvar tissues rely on estrogen to stay thick, flexible, and well-lubricated. When estrogen levels drop, the tissues produce less moisture and become more delicate.²

Dryness can also develop when the vaginal microbiome shifts toward a less acidic environment, often during hormonal transitions.³ This change makes the tissues more sensitive and prone to friction.

Common moments when dryness appears include:

• Postpartum and breastfeeding
• Perimenopause and menopause
• After stopping birth control
• During long-term stress
• After certain medications
• After pelvic floor injuries or muscle tension

Many people ignore early signs because they assume dryness is “normal” or that it will resolve on its own. Often it does not, simply because the underlying cause has not changed.

How to Recognize Vaginal Dryness Early

Dryness is not always obvious. It can show up subtly before becoming more noticeable.

Signs can include:

• Irritation or burning during movement
• Discomfort with penetration
• A feeling of tightness or pulling
• Micro-tears after sex
• Recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Increased sensitivity to soaps or detergents

If you notice any of these changes, your body is likely signaling that the tissues need more moisture and support.

Is Estrogen Safe? Here’s What Changed

For years, many people avoided vaginal estrogen because the FDA required a boxed warning that suggested it carried similar risks to systemic hormone therapy. That warning has now been removed.⁴

Today, research confirms that low-dose vaginal estrogen is safe for most people, including those who cannot or prefer not to take systemic hormones.⁵ 

It stays primarily in the vaginal tissues, does not meaningfully raise bloodstream estrogen levels, and is highly effective for restoring moisture and elasticity.⁶

If dryness is persistent or significantly affecting quality of life, vaginal estrogen is one of the most effective treatments available and is considered first-line therapy by many clinicians.

Hormone-Free Options That Actually Work

Not everyone wants or needs estrogen. There are several non-hormonal ways to improve comfort and restore moisture.

Hyaluronic acid moisturizers

Hyaluronic acid binds to water and helps the tissues stay hydrated. Vaginal creams or suppositories with hyaluronic acid have been shown to be as effective as low-dose estrogen for some people.⁷ These can be used several times a week for ongoing moisture.

Vaginal lubricants

Lubricants provide temporary hydration and reduce friction during sex, exercise, or tampon use. Water-based lubricants offer clean, gentle moisture, while silicone-based options create a longer-lasting glide. Lubricants do not treat dryness long term, but they can make daily life noticeably more comfortable.

If you are looking for a clean option that supports comfort during dryness, you can check out our Ultra Glide Lubricant. It is safe for sensitive skin, made with organic ingredients, and features a soft silicone tip designed to help apply lubricant directly to intravaginal devices for smoother, easier insertion.

Probiotics or microbiome-supportive products

If dryness is tied to shifts in the microbiome, targeted probiotics or pH-supportive products may help create an environment where natural lubrication can return.⁸

Pelvic floor relaxation

Tension in the pelvic floor can make dryness feel worse by creating a “tight” sensation. Gentle relaxation, stretching, or pelvic floor physical therapy can reduce irritation.⁹

None of these options need to be all or nothing. Many people combine a regular moisturizer with a lubricant or supportive pelvic floor routine.

When to Seek Extra Support

If dryness is persistent, painful, causing recurrent infections, or interfering with intimacy, it is worth asking a clinician about next steps. You do not need to wait for symptoms to become severe. In most cases, early treatment makes a dramatic difference.

Footnotes

1. ACOG. Prevalence and presentation of vaginal dryness across lifespan.

2. North American Menopause Society. Estrogen’s role in vulvovaginal tissue health.

3. Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease. Microbiome changes during hormonal transitions.

4. FDA announcement regarding removal of boxed warning on vaginal estrogen.

5. ACOG guidelines on safety of low-dose vaginal estrogen.

6. Clinical trials evaluating systemic absorption of vaginal estrogen.

7. Comparative studies of hyaluronic acid vs low-dose estrogen for vaginal atrophy.

8. Emerging research on microbiome-supportive products and lubrication.

9. Pelvic floor therapy guidelines on muscle tension and dyspareunia.