4 Steps to Ease Intimate Dryness Before Period

If, during ovulation, the increase in estrogen promotes vaginal lubrication, following this, progesterone increases in turn, sometimes leading to intimate dryness before menstruation. The lubrication of the vagina is not done well, which causes discomfort, both on a daily basis and during sexual intercourse. Although this symptom is common in premenstrual syndrome for many women, it is nonetheless unpleasant. As an e-concept store dedicated to female intimacy, Gapianne has made it its mission to provide you with solutions to intimate dryness. Here are 4 steps to alleviate intimate dryness before menstruation.

Step #0: Identify the cause of your intimate dryness

If you are reading this article, it is because you have certainly identified that you generally feel intimate dryness after your ovulation / when your period approaches. As we mentioned in the introduction, it is not only possible but also quite common and completely benign – although very unpleasant. This is explained by the drop in estrogen in the body after ovulation and the increase in progesterone; if this fluctuation is natural, it can be difficult for your body to manage, depending on the cycles.

That being said, it should not be overlooked that intimate dryness can be linked to other factors , such as:

• poor hygiene practices (a lack of hygiene and, conversely, too much hygiene can cause disruptions to the vaginal flora);

• perimenopause / intimate dryness at menopause ;

• vaginitis, vaginosis or more broadly a sexually transmitted infection.

It is essential to rule out these different causes before attempting to treat your intimate dryness by following the steps below. Indeed, if your intimate dryness is not linked to your menstrual cycle but rather to one of the causes above, you may not be able to get rid of it.

How do I check if it is related to my cycle?

A good way to check if your vaginal dryness is related to your cycle is to track your cycle and write down the symptoms you experience during your cycles. To do this, we recommend using a period tracking app , like Clue or Flow, and writing down your cycle. This way, you can quickly see if your vaginal lubrication is related—or not—to a specific time in your cycle.

It's related to my cycle...but why now?

Most women who menstruate do so between the ages of 15 and 45. So why do premenstrual symptoms only occur at ages 27 or 32? While hormonal fluctuations seem to be a preferred route, it is unfortunately difficult to explain and predict, just as it is difficult to explain that some menstrual cycles are more painful than others, for example. However, it seems “normal” that symptoms related to premenstrual syndrome evolve over time and with cycles. Also, even if you have never had vaginal dryness before your period, it is possible that you experience this problem “late on”, after several years. Also note that vaginal dryness is a common problem during perimenopause and menopause: if you experience vaginal dryness after the age of 35, it may be worth consulting a doctor for their opinion.

Step #1: Rebalance your vaginal flora

Once you are certain that the intimate dryness you are experiencing is linked to your menstrual cycle, the first step to treating it is to rebalance your vaginal flora. This is the first step because it is the action that will take the longest to deploy – it generally takes 3 months.

The idea here is that regulating hormones with dietary supplements is not currently possible. However, it is possible to mitigate the effects of the lack of these hormones on our body by taking dietary supplements. By regularly taking a set of prebiotics and probiotics, you will promote the good health of your intimate flora and thus promote the general lubrication of your vagina.

🌈 At Gapianne, we strongly invite you to discover the probiotic intimate and intestinal flora cure - MiYé . Composed of a complex of probiotics, it restores and maintains the balance of vaginal and intestinal flora. Made in a French laboratory 🇫🇷 and vegan 🌱, this cure must be taken for three months at a rate of 2 capsules per day.

I want this probiotic cure - Miyé

Step #2: Promote good hygiene practices

Having good hygiene practices is essential to avoid an imbalance in the vaginal flora and limit intimate dryness. Too little hygiene can be harmful while overly aggressive practices can be bad for your intimate health. Here are the rules to remember to promote good hygiene:

• Wash your intimate area daily, once a day maximum , with clear water or with a neutral pH soap. 🌈 At Gapianne, we have two different favorites for your intimate hygiene:

• The intimate cleansing bar - Baûbo is, as its name suggests, a solid cleansing bar without soap. We love its 100% natural composition 🌱 which contains Calybiota® Bio, a new natural prebiotic active ingredient based on red kapok flowers that rebalances the microbiota of the intimate flora. As a bonus, this product is zero waste to also respect the planet 🌍!
  

I want this organic intimate cleansing bread - Baûbo

• The intimate cleansing gel - Wumi without soap is particularly pleasant to feel fresh without damaging your intimacy. Very soft, it delicately foams and will allow you to gently clean your vulva and anus. Made in France 🇫🇷, 100% natural and vegan 🌱, it is as respectful of your intimacy as it is of the environment
  

I want this intimate cleansing gel - Wumi

• If you prefer to use a glove to clean yourself, change your glove daily , do not use it more than once: bacteria accumulate and develop on the fabric while it dries;

• Avoid wearing your menstrual protection (tampons, cups, menstrual pads or menstrual panties) for too long: the wearing time for each of these protections differs, respect the time indicated by the manufacturer. Exceeding the indicated time can lead to the development of bacteria and unbalance your vaginal flora;

• Ban the practice of vaginal douching : inserting water directly into your vagina is a source of imbalance for your vaginal flora. This practice should absolutely be avoided!

• Ban scented products from contact with your vulva . Along the same lines, inserting scented products into your vagina or cleaning your intimate area with scented products can increase the imbalance of your vaginal flora and cause vaginal dryness and discomfort.

Step #3: Moisturize your vulva

When you get out of the shower, you may be in the habit of creaming your face, body, hands, and feet. But do you also cream your vulva ? Well, maybe you should start! 😉 This practice will allow you to alleviate the small discomforts that you feel, in particular because of underwear that is too irritating (ouch, the badly placed seam) or poorly lubricated sexual intercourse.

🌈 At Gapianne, we recommend without hesitation the Baûbo vulva care balm . Composed of many oils (coconut, jojoba, avocado), its formula has been gynecologically tested for the hydration of the vulvar mucosa. Very oily and moisturizing, it envelops your intimate area and protects it from discomfort. Made in France 🇫🇷, organic and vegan 🌱, we love its values.

I want this Baubo balm

Step #4: Prevent during sex

Last but not least: use lubricant when using sex toys and during sexual intercourse. Intimate dryness is particularly unpleasant in this context: not only are you likely to have pain during intercourse, but friction can cause lesions that will create pain in the longer term.

🌈 If you suffer from intimate dryness, we recommend the water-based lubricant - My Lubie . Water-based 💦, vegan and 100% natural, it will protect your intimacy without unbalancing it - unlike lubricants with latex, oil or even CBD. As a bonus, water-based lubricants are compatible with medical silicone sex toys.

I want this water based lube