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Vaginal dryness is a taboo subject that women often feel uncomfortable discussing, despite it being a common symptom of the menopause that can negatively impact a particularly enjoyable and somewhat pivotal part of life: sex!
Women across the UK say vaginal dryness is one of the worst symptoms they have experienced (or are experiencing) due to the menopause. The symptom is also partly responsible for the loss of confidence that half of the UK's women suffer from prior to, during or after the menopause and - considering confidence is key when it comes to a good sex life - part of the reason why intimacy can often fall by the wayside during this time.
Here's how you can remedy your vaginal dryness and rediscover your sex life.
Use sea buckthorn oil
Taken in the form of tablets or supplements, sea buckthorn oil is derived from an orange fruit that grows on sea buckthorn shrubs and its benefits have been used in Chinese medicine for over a thousand years.
Vaginal dryness is caused by the thinning of 'mucous membranes' which are a type of bodily tissue. Sea buckthorn oil has been proven to help conquer said thinning and, for want of a better word, rehydrate your vagina. In effect, sea buckthorn is a natural medicine that'll help you on your way to a new lease of sex-life.
The research
A study by researchers from Aromtech and the University of Turku in Finland found that 40% of postmenopausal women suffer with vaginal dryness.
The same study of 116 post-menopausal women with vaginal dryness found that after a daily dose of sea buckthorn over 3 months, the symptoms of participants not taking placebos improved. Those randomly given placebos showed no improvement whatsoever.1
How does it work?
The pulp and seed of the sea buckthorn berries produce an oil high in omega 7 fatty acids; the oil is also rich in omega 6 and 9 fatty acids, carotenoids and tocopherols.
The successful impact of sea buckthorn oil on vaginal dryness is down to its containment of fatty acids and carotenoids as these have long been known to contribute to the normal functioning of mucous membranes.
The beginning of a brand new sex life
Now that we've got vaginal dryness sorted, your sex life should be just as good post-menopause as it is prior - if not better. Psychologist Dr Meg Arroll says, "contrary to the view that the menopause marks the close of an enjoyable sex life, it instead leads to a phase of sexual exploration as pregnancy and menstruation are no longer causes for concern."
Perhaps, then, we should all be enjoying the freedom of life after the menopause as opposed to dreading its onset.
For more advice and information about the menopause, select Menopause from the Your health menu above.
