Vaginal Dryness in Your 20s & 30s: Causes & What to do Next

You must have heard that vaginal dryness is a common symptom associated with menopause. But in reality, it affects around 15% to 17% of women even before they reach their 40s. If you notice excessive dryness in your 20s and 30s, it’s easy to feel alarmed, confused, and to dismiss the issue completely. However, there’s no need to fight the discomfort, as dryness at a young age is usually due to other factors that can be easily treated. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the common reasons you might be facing vaginal dryness, red flags to watch out for, and signs when it’s time for you to consult a professional.  

A]What Causes Vaginal Dryness in Your 20s and 30s?

At an early age, vaginal dryness can be connected to a variety of reasons. The causes of vaginal dryness include:

Hormonal Imbalances

A drop in estrogen levels due to external and environmental factors like stress, breastfeeding, and postpartum conditions is responsible for dryness. Low estrogen causes a decrease in blood flow to the vagina, leading to thinning of the lining that affects moisture levels. Women taking medication for endometriosis, fibroids, cancer, or antidepressants may also struggle with hormonal imbalances, which can directly cause vaginal dryness.

Postpartum Changes

Vaginal dryness is a common symptom women observe postpartum. This is mainly due to a significant estrogen drop after delivery. The body is recovering from stretching that occurs during childbirth, which can also cause dryness in the vagina. Lack of rest or sleep after pregnancy is also a reason, as it causes hormonal imbalances. 

Medical or Contraceptive Reasons

The symptom is a side effect of the hormonal changes caused by taking contraceptive pills, IUD insertion, and injectables. Contraceptives can also block nerves that stimulate vaginal fluid glands or block blood flow, causing dryness. Medications taken for a common cold, allergies, and anti-estrogen treatment, as well as calcium channel blockers for those suffering from high blood pressure, can cause such a symptom at an early age. Cancer-related chemotherapy and radiation also contribute to irregular symptoms.

Mental Load or Exhaustion

Stress is one of the major factors causing surprising changes in women’s bodies. Research suggests that women experience 50% higher work-related stress than men. It’s no surprise that this adversely affects the functioning of their body. Stress causes dehydration in the body, leading to vaginal dryness.

Use of Scented Products

Scented soaps and body wash cause an imbalance in the vagina’s natural pH levels, leading to excessive dryness, itching, and irritation.

Delayed Arousal

Dryness and pain in the vagina are common symptoms, especially during rushed sex, due to delayed arousal or insufficient foreplay. The body needs some time to increase the supply of blood to the vagina, which helps with natural lubrication. Consider using lubricants to prevent discomfort.

While lifestyle factors play a major role in causing vaginal dryness in your 30s, ignoring the symptom in the hope that it will fix itself is not a solution. It’s important to note that women who get their ovaries removed pre-menopause are more likely to experience menopause-like symptoms early on.  

B] Health Conditions Linked to Vaginal Dryness

Persistent vaginal dryness can be linked to a severe underlying health condition that requires immediate attention, including:

• Diabetes: Diabetes is a silent ailment, causing damage to nerves and blood vessels all over the body. It affects circulation, causing a decrease in blood flow to the vagina, leading to dryness and discomfort.

• Autoimmune conditions: If you are suffering from Lupus or Sjögren’s syndrome, some of the major symptoms are dryness in the eyes, mouth, and vagina. They disrupt hormone balance, cause inflammation, and attack moisture-producing glands, affecting the body’s natural lubrication process. Certain vulva skin conditions can also cause vaginal dryness.

• Premature ovarian insufficiency: This condition causes the ovaries to stop working prematurely, mainly before the 40s, affecting the supply of estrogen in the body. Dryness is one of the symptoms women are forced to deal with, as the condition causes vaginal walls to thin, leading to reduced vaginal fluid production.  

• PMOS (previously PCOS): Significantly affecting the production of estrogen and increasing androgens in the body, women suffering from PMOS deal with vaginal dryness constantly. Certain medications prescribed to manage PMOS can be a reason for vaginal dryness in your 20s.

It is important that you don’t overlook such symptoms just because you think people at a young age are not affected by severe health conditions.

C] When Is Vaginal Dryness a Cause for Concern?

Occasionally, life changes like beginning a new contraceptive or giving birth can cause sudden vaginal dryness and are not something to worry about. However, if you notice a repetitive pattern of dryness, your symptoms need urgent consultation. If you notice these symptoms with dryness, make an appointment with a gynaecologist:

• Dryness does not reduce even if you use moisturisers or lubricants.
• Severe pain during sex (namely, dyspareunia) that does not improve.
• Bleeding or spotting after sex due to dryness.
• Recurring UTIs or infection-like symptoms along with persistent dryness.
• Dryness alongside other systemic clues, like dryness of the eyes, mouth, and nose.

Women experiencing these or other vaginal issues persistently must visit the gynaecologist as soon as possible.

D] Temporary Relief Before Visiting a Gynaecologist

Can’t visit a gynaecologist immediately? Here are some of the best things for relief from vaginal dryness that will give you a break temporarily:

• Use lubricants daily, not only during sex, to fight dryness.
• Ensure that you use water-based lubricants before intercourse.
• Avoid using scented soaps or perfumes around the vagina.
• Consider using aloe vera for vaginal dryness.
• Wear breathable, cotton underwear, especially in the summer season.
• Stay hydrated throughout the day.

These remedies offer short-lived relief from persistent symptoms. Using these regularly will not give you permanent relief from dryness. A proper diagnosis is what you need to get permanent relief.

Conclusion

Vaginal dryness in your 20s and 30s might seem alarming, but it’s usually explainable and not something you need to panic or feel embarrassed about. In most cases, it’s caused by hormonal imbalances, postpartum changes due to medication and contraceptives, and stress. In certain cases, when persistent dryness occurs, it is essential that you listen to your body, even when the symptom seems tiny enough to ignore. In certain cases, this symptom could point to severe health conditions like diabetes and autoimmune disorders. With Women’s Healthcare, a private gynaecologist in London, you can access personalised care for your needs.

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