Vaginal Dryness, also known as Vaginal Atrophy is more common than you might think. At least 17% [1] of women will experience vaginal or vulval dryness, and the numbers soar to as many as 90% for postmenopausal women [2]. It can cause embarrassment, a sense of loss, and at times, extreme physical discomfort.
Vaginal dryness has many causes and can occur at any stage of life. No one should experience the uncomfortable (and sometimes debilitating) effects of vaginal dryness. For many of us, embarrassment is the barrier to finding relief. Others might be at a loss as to where to go for help or how to begin caring for their intimate health. Perhaps discussing vaginal dryness is one of our last taboos.
Similar to other conditions, the effects of vaginal dryness can have a significant impact on quality of life. Women often struggle with sex and intimacy as well as navigating day-to-day life with pain and discomfort.
The great news is there are very effective ways to treat vaginal dryness naturally, but your first point of call should always be your doctor or gynaecologist.
[1] National Library of Medicine [2] National library of medicine
Vaginal dryness and discomfort can be relieved with the use of water-based vaginal moisturisers and intimate lubricants. Depending on cause, some doctors may prescribe oestrogen gel to treat vaginal dryness. If menopause or hormonal changes are the cause, you may be offered Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
Vaginal dryness and discomfort can be relieved with the use of water-based vaginal moisturisers and intimate lubricants. Depending on cause, some doctors may prescribe oestrogen gel to treat vaginal dryness. If menopause or hormonal changes are the cause, you may be offered Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
If vaginal dryness is causing you pain during sex or penetration, it’s time to reach for a lubricant. There are three main types of lubes – water-based, oil-based and silicone-based. Water-based lubricants are formulated with water as the main ingredient. They tend to feel the most natural and work quickly to ease vaginal dryness and discomfort.
Silicone-based lubes are often hailed as a ‘natural’ option that lasts longer than water-based alternatives. Silicone lubricants are not absorbed or broken down by our body, so they do provide long-lasting lubrication, which often needs to be washed off after use for comfort and skin health. They cannot rehydrate dry tissues as they contain no water. They can, however, make a seal over the skin, so whilst they can lock in moisture, they can also lock in dirt and bacteria.
Oil-based lubricants are usually more long-lasting than the alternatives and they are also water resistant. We believe the best oil-based lubes are made with natural oils such as coconut oil, shea butter, or almond oil. YES® OB is deeply nourishing and soothing for dry tissues.
Vaginal moisturisers can be used daily to treat symptoms of dryness. They usually come as a topical gel to apply externally to the vulva and vaginal opening. Vaginal moisturisers can also be applied internally using applicators. Most vaginal moisturisers last up to three days and are effective at providing fast relief from symptoms of dryness, irritation and discomfort.
YES® VM our vaginal moisturiser has been designed to alleviate symptoms of vaginal dryness, by gently replenishing vaginal moisture levels, supporting typical vaginal pH, rapidly soothing and improving comfort without compromising intimate health. Moisture is released slowly at the rate the body needs keeping the vagina hydrated for up to three days – this is YES® Smart moisture Release. YES® VM can be applied internally using applicators or externally to the vulva.
Many women with sensitive skin may experience adverse reactions to the ingredients in glycerine/glycol based lubricants, but can use all YES® products with confidence due to their guaranteed pure, natural and gentle ingredients. All YES® products are formulated with ingredients that have proven track records as skin foods, so you can trust that your delicate tissues will be treated tenderly.
YES® WB & VM are recommended by a wide range of healthcare professionals and are available on NHS prescription
(YES® WB is available on the NHS as YES® water-based vaginal lubricant).
| ARE YOU EXPERINCING: | YES® WB | YES® VM | COMMENTS |
| Supporting vaginal pH | | | pH matched to the typical vaginal pH |
| Painful Sex | | Use before and during intercourse | |
| Intermittent Vaginal Dryness | | Use for comfort and intercourse | |
| Vaginal Atrophy | | Use daily initially, then every 3 days as symptoms improve | |
| Itching, Burning from the dryness | | As needed to alleviate itching and burning | |
| Menopause Vaginal Dryness | | Use daily initially, then every 3 days as symptoms improve | |
| Atrophic Vaginitis | | Use daily initially, then every 3 days as symptoms improve | |
| Short-term bouts of Vaginal Dryness | | Use for comfort and sex | |
| Long-term requirements for Vaginal Moisturiser | | Use daily initially, then every 3 days as symptoms improve | |
| Persistent, long term Dyspareunia | | Use daily initially, then every 3 days as symptoms improve | |
| Intercourse Dryness | | Use for intercourse |
Autoimmune conditions such as Sjögren’s syndrome. This disorder affects the moisture-producing glands in the vagina and commonly causes vaginal dryness.
The vulva is the external part of the female genitals. It is an often-misunderstood collection of organs that include the mons pubis (the fatty tissue that lies over the pubic bones), labia majora (outer lips), labia minora (inner lips), clitoris, urethra, and the opening of the vagina.
The vagina is the internal part of the female genitals. It is the muscular canal that runs from the cervix (the opening of the womb) to the vaginal opening. Both the vagina and the vulva contain mucous membranes. Mucous membranes are the moist layer of tissue lining the mouth, nose, eyes, vagina, tip of the penis, and gastro-intestinal tract. Vulval tissue is a hybrid of normal skin and mucous membranes and therefore can be washed with gentle pH matched to the vagina cleanses.
Mucous membranes don’t have the protective layer found on the surface of the outer skin so they can be damaged, irritated, and dried out by synthetic chemicals much more easily. This is why ingredients matter when it comes to intimate health.
Osmolality is a measure of the strength and concentration of ingredients (osmoles) in a solution.
Do you remember Osmosis from school biology? Water moving through a cell wall to balance the concentration on each side? Any treatment applied to the vaginal mucous membranes should match the same concentration or osmolality as the mucous membrane tissues, to prevent tissue damage and further irritation
Vaginal moisturisers should be iso-osmotic to vaginal tissues, meaning they only rehydrate tissues that need it. They gently rehydrate dry vaginal tissues. Iso-osmotic moisturisers won't pull or push water into the tissues, unlike strongly hypo or strongly hyper osmotic moisturisers.
Iso-osmotic moisturisers are designed to release hydration as the body needs it over the course of 1 to 3 days. YES® smart moisture release means that YES® VM (Vaginal Moisturiser) is designed with osmolality at the forefront of formulation. It will only release moisture when and where your body needs, it gently adheres to the vaginal walls, so you won't feel constantly wet and your delicate vaginal tissues won't be damaged.
Lubricants used for sex need to release hydration much more quickly. This means the perfect lubricant would be hypo to iso-osmotic and would release water more rapidly to enable intercourse.
(Read more vaginal moisturisers here, and discover more about osmolality here)
You may have heard of the gut microbiome, but lesser discussed or understood is the vaginal microbiome. The vaginal microbiome is a complex micro-ecosystem that plays a crucial role in maintaining vaginal health and protecting against infections [1].
The vaginal microbiome is dominated by Lactobacilli, a form of 'good bacteria' which produce lactic acid and other antimicrobial compounds. When we have an infection, the presence of Lactobacilli significantly decreases. Lactobacilli provide the first line of defence against pathogens and infection. When the healthy vaginal microbiome is compromised, our intimate health can also be compromised.
Lactobacilli are the main source of lactic acid that keeps the pH value of the vagina lower than pH 4.5 [1]. The acidity of the vagina creates an inhospitable environment for potential pathogens that thrive in alkaline conditions. If vaginal pH is higher than pH 5, we are more susceptible to infections. Lactobacillus inhibits the growth of harmful microorganisms and helps to fight off sexually transmitted infections such as Candida albicans (Thrush), Chlamydia, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Gardnerella vaginalis.
Several factors can compromise the presence and abundance of vaginal Lactobacilli. These include:
Keep reading to discover more about the importance of vaginal pH in intimate health.
pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a water-based environment. The pH scale is from zero to 14, with pH7 in the middle being neutral or neither acidic or alkaline. If a pH is lower than 7 then the liquid is acidic and when above 7 it is alkaline.
pH levels are important because they can help our body to fight infection, aid digestion, kill harmful bacteria, and more. Intimate human pH varies: vaginal pH is acidic, typically around pH 4, rectal pH is neutral at pH7.0, semen pH is slightly alkaline at pH7.0-8.5.
The physiological pH of the vagina creates an ideal environment that protects against infections such as Bacterial Vaginosis and Thrush outbreaks.
Maintaining a healthy vaginal pH level is an important part of safeguarding your intimate health. Many factors can alter vaginal pH levels such as douching, using harsh soaps on the vaginal area, taking antibiotics, and the use of certain lubricants. Using products that are pH matched to the vagina will aid in maintaining healthy pH levels and avoiding irritation, infection, and uncomfortable symptoms.
Did you know that YES® WB and YES® VM are both available on UK NHS prescription?
Pass on the following PIP codes to your doctor when asking your them to prescribe YES VM and YES WB. The pip codes are there to allow your doctor to identify the product.
YES® WB Pre-filled Applicators Pip code: 345-5805
YES® WB Tube Pip code: 345-5789
YES® VM Applicators Pip code: 402-3420
YES® VM tube Pip code: 402-3412
You may also wish to take advantage of our subscription package to receive 15% off your order every time you purchase.
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