Vaginal dryness after childbirth? here's how to get it & bull; hello healthy

Vaginal dryness after childbirth is normal. Indeed, this can make you uncomfortable or feel sick when having sex with your partner again. However, hormonal changes that occur after you give birth contribute to vaginal dryness. Some women can't avoid vaginal dryness, but you can handle it.

What causes vaginal dryness after childbirth?

Normally, the vaginal walls are lubricated with fluid. This lubricating fluid in the vaginal wall is influenced by the hormone estrogen. In addition, the hormone estrogen is also needed for sexual arousal because it helps increase blood flow to the genitals. This makes you feel comfortable and less painful during sexual intercourse.

However, after you give birth, the hormones estrogen and progesterone decrease drastically. What's more, if you are breastfeeding, the hormone estrogen will decrease even more because high estrogen can interfere with milk production in the body. This decrease in estrogen levels causes vaginal dryness.

Vaginal tissue can also become thinner, less elastic, and more prone to injury. The vagina can become inflamed, making you feel hot and itchy in your vagina. Having sex when your vagina is dry can cause you pain, and it can even cause vaginal bleeding.

How to deal with vaginal dryness after childbirth?

Vaginal dryness is annoying if you want to have sex with your husband. However, don't worry because you can do things like the following to treat vaginal dryness.

1. Use lubricants when you have sex

Because your vagina doesn't produce enough natural lubricant after giving birth, you need one to treat vaginal dryness. Lubricants are especially helpful during sexual intercourse when your vagina is dry. Penetration when you are not using the lubricant can cause pain, discomfort, and injury to your vagina.

Choose a lubricant that is water based because it is safe for your body. If your partner uses a condom, you should avoid petroleum-based lubricants as they can damage the condom. In addition, also avoid using petroleum jelly or lotion as a lubricant for your vagina. These products usually contain perfumes and chemicals that can cause serious infections in your vagina.

2. You can also use vaginal estrogen cream

Using vaginal estrogen creams, such as conjugated estrogens or estradiol, can help you treat vaginal dryness. However, before deciding to use it, you should first talk to your doctor.

3. Avoid use douche and a special vaginal scented soap

Use douche (pubic cleansing spray) and scented soaps to clean the vagina can actually irritate sensitive vaginal tissue. The chemicals in these ingredients can interfere with the natural chemicals in your vagina. Using a vaginal cleansing spray containing vinegar or baking soda is actually not good for vaginal health. Simply clean your vagina with warm water and soap without perfume.

4. You can do foreplay longer

A few weeks after you give birth, your body may take longer to produce natural lubrication in the vagina. Therefore, foreplay longer periods may be needed to produce more natural lubrication in the vagina. This of course can help relieve your dry vagina. In addition, you can try different techniques and positions to provide comfort when you have sex.

5. Keep your body hydrated by drinking lots of water

Breastfeeding mothers need more water. If you consume only a small amount of water while you are breastfeeding, you are more likely to become dehydrated. Dehydration can make vaginal dryness worse because the body prioritizes the distribution of fluids to the vital organs. Therefore, you should keep your fluid intake at least 8-10 glasses per day or maybe more depending on your needs. Follow the signals given by your body, drink it when you feel thirsty.

6. Eat foods with balanced nutrition

Eating a balanced diet can help you increase the production of natural lubricants in the vagina, which can help treat vaginal dryness. High intake of fatty acids is highly recommended for you. Fatty acids can help the production of natural vaginal lubricants. You can get fatty acids from eating fatty fish (such as salmon, tuna, mackerel), sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds.

In addition, you are also advised to eat lots of foods that contain isoflavones. Isoflavones can help regulate hormone levels, so they can also treat vaginal dryness. You can find isoflavones in cherries, apples, nuts, soybeans, celery, and flaxseeds.

7. Increase your vitamin intake

Several vitamins play an important role in maintaining vaginal flexibility and relieving vaginal dryness. Instead, always try to meet the needs of vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin B complex in an effort to treat vaginal dryness.