12 Tips to Boost Natural Lubrication and Treat Vaginal Dryness

If you suffer from chronic vaginal dryness, you’re not alone. 

These stats will put things in perspective:

• Vaginal dryness affects at least 70% of women post-menopause.
• About 17% of women between 17 and 50 years have trouble enjoying intercourse because of vaginal dryness and pain during vaginal penetration.

You have many ways to create natural lubrication so you don’t experience as much vaginal dryness. 

But before we show you how to create natural lubrication, let’s find out why you experience vaginal dryness in the first place.

Why Is Your Vagina Dry?

The hormone estrogen, produced by your ovaries, plays a pivotal role in ensuring vaginal moisture. A lubricated vagina ensures the vaginal tissue is thick and protected. 

But for whatever reason (we’ll get to this in a minute), your ovaries can stop producing sufficient estrogen. This has a ripple effect: your vag becomes dry, causing the vaginal wall to become thin and inflamed. 

This condition is called vaginal atrophy (also known as atrophic vaginitis and vulvovaginal atrophy). 

It can manifest through vaginal dryness symptoms like:

• Vaginal irritation
• Itching
• Painful intercourse
• Burning
• Unusual vaginal discharge
• Urinary tract infection
• Bacterial vaginosis
• Yeast infection
• Frequent urination

Hot-tip:

If you’re experiencing vaginal irritation or pain during sexual intercourse with condoms (like polyutherane or latex condoms) due to vaginal atrophy, use a sexual lubricant. This can increase wetness and maximize pleasure.  

So why does your body experience a lower estrogen level and insufficient lubrication? 

Here are some reasons why:

• Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (commonly known as menopause)
• Chemotherapy
• Contraceptives like the birth control pill
• Fluctuations in hormones from childbirth, breastfeeding, and your period
• Certain medications (like antidepressants and acne meds)
• Removal of the ovaries
• Dietary imbalances
• Autoimmune disorders like Sjogren’s Syndrome
  

How to Create Natural Lubrication: Try These 8 Vitamins & Minerals 

Generally, the quickest way to eliminate vaginal dryness (and painful sexual intercourse) is with commercial, natural vaginal lubricants (think Coconu).

But you can also increase blood flow and vaginal lubrication with sexual arousal, proper nutrition, and hydration.  

Here are the vitamins and minerals you need to keep your body and vag in working order:

1. Vitamin B 

Did you know vitamin B is responsible for boosting immune function? 

And when it comes to vaginal health, proper immune function is super important.

You can include food like fish, poultry, bananas, and potatoes in your diet to increase vitamin B. Or you can take a vitamin B supplement. 

But like any vitamin, make sure you don’t overdose on it as it causes tummy troubles, painful wounds, and loss of muscle control.

2. Vitamin D

If you love the sunshine and get a fair amount of AM sunlight daily, your vitamin D levels may be acceptable. 

But, if you don’t get as much sunlight or have more melanin pigment, chances are your vitamin D levels are low.

You need vitamin D to help fight inflammation, prevent type 1 and 2 diabetes, and strengthen your muscles and bones. But it also plays a significant role in increasing vaginal fluid and natural lubrication.

3. Vitamin E

Studies have shown that vitamin E helps increase vaginal lubrication, making sexual activity less painful. It’s also an antioxidant that fights disease. 

You can eat foods like:

• Nuts
• Seeds
• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Plant-based oils (like avocado oil)

You can also take vitamin E orally as a supplement. But make sure you get the proper dosage to avoid side effects from taking too much.

4. Fish Oil

You can take a fish oil supplement to up your levels of omega-3-6 fatty acids to increase lubrication. This is ideal if you’re going through menopause and experiencing painful intercourse.

Omega 3 fatty acid is a fat in fatty fish that keeps your heart, joints, skin, and cell membranes in tip-top condition. It also helps with blood flow and circulation, which is great for sexual arousal and your sex drive.

Find omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil supplements or through food like:

• Flaxseeds
• Soy
• Walnuts
• Hemp Seeds
• Seaweed

The fish you can incorporate into your diet include:

• Sardines
• Salmon
• Cod
• Atlantic Mackerel
• Lake Trout
• Herring
• Canned Tuna

Omega-6 helps battle chronic disease. It's mainly found in food like:

• Walnuts
• Pine Nuts
• Sunflower Seeds
• Almonds
• Tofu
• Plant-based oils like grapeseed oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, and soybean oil

You can also take a supplement like primrose oil to increase vaginal moisture.

5. Linseed (or Flaxseed)

Linseed is a type of phytoestrogen food that can help increase natural lubrication in the vagina. 

Here’s what you need to know:

Phytoestrogens are plant-based female hormones. Linseed contains a phytoestrogen called lignans.

The quickest way to enjoy the benefits of this seed is to grind it to release the lignans. Just sprinkle 25g of ground linseed in your cereal, oats, smoothies, or muffins (Yum!). 

6. Sea Buckthorn Oil

Sea buckthorn oil is a natural supplement rich in essential fatty acids that reinforce the skin’s barrier and stop water loss (even the vaginal lining). It also helps wounds heal, regenerate tissues, and increase collagen production.

Sea buckthorn oil comes from the seeds, berries, and leaves of the sea buckthorn plant. The recommended dosage is 3g of sea buckthorn oil daily. 

7. Boron

You can find boron in prunes, raisins, almonds, coffee, and leafy greens. 

It’s a nonessential mineral but has shown some effects to increase vaginal fluid when consumed as a supplement.

More research is required, but the health pros suggest 1-13mg of boron daily to combat vaginal dryness.

8. Protein

Here’s the deal: 

You need protein to build muscle mass. 

It’s a macronutrient that helps your bones stay strong, lower blood pressure, increase metabolism, repair body tissues, and send more oxygen into your system. 

Your vaginal health can benefit from protein because it contains amino acids that produce collagen. Collagen is necessary to give your vag more elasticity, which, in turn, helps your vagina create lubrication. 

Eat food rich in protein like:

• Poultry
• Red meat
• Eggs
• Yogurt
• Fish

Remember: 

The only way you’ll see positive results, a high estrogen level, and increased vaginal moisture is if you take any of the above vitamins or minerals regularly over a period of time. 

But before you add any supplements to your diet, consult your doctor to get the all-clear. 

4 Other Natural Remedies to Combat Vaginal Dryness

While vitamins and minerals are the ideal way to improve vaginal dryness naturally, there are alternative treatments out there that can do the trick!

These natural remedies include: 

1. DHEA

Um, what’s DHEA? 

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone your body produces that helps create other hormones like estrogen. 

Your DHEA hormone levels typically are at their best during your early adulthood and drop as you age. 

You can take DHEA as a supplement or use it as a topical cream on the vagina to increase vaginal estrogen, strengthen vaginal lining, increase female lubrication, and reduce vaginal dryness.

2. Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid may not sound like something your body produces. But it is naturally present, particularly in your joints and eye fluids.

In supplement form, hyaluronic acid is often found in a rooster comb as it’s rich in this substance. Alternatively, it can be created in a lab with bacteria.

It’s commonly found in skin care products for its role in aging and general skin health.

To help with vaginal lubrication, try a vaginal suppository. You can also apply a topical gel around the vaginal area.

3. Vaginal Moisturizers

When your skin is feeling dry, your first thought is to apply some moisturizer. 

So why not do the same for your vagina?

A vaginal moisturizer is a non-hormonal product designed to add moisture and improve the quality of your vaginal wall. It rehydrates vaginal tissue and mimics naturally produced vaginal fluid. 

Vaginal moisturizers have a long-lasting formula and are NOT to be used in place of a vaginal lubricant.  

There are four types of moisturizers for the vaginal area:

• Creams
• Gels
• Suppositories
• Natural oils 

Some women use natural oils like vitamin E or virgin coconut oil as a vaginal moisturizer.

Check with your doctor or gynecologist before using a natural oil on your lady bits.

4. Relieve Stress 

Want to know a sure way to balance your hormones?

By maintaining a low-stress level. 

Your mental health plays a significant role in regulating your hormones. Concerns like stress, anxiety, and depression are thought to make vaginal dryness worse, particularly for a menopausal woman.  

Look, relieving stress can be done in many ways, from singing in the shower to taking mental health walks. But research shows that a balanced diet, regular exercise, and sufficient sleep can aid stress management. 

Pro Tip:

Tried the natural route and are still suffering from vaginal dryness? Speak to a sexual health or medical professional about vaginal estrogen treatments, particularly if you’re a menopausal woman. 

You’re Not Alone

Low estrogen and vaginal atrophy are something all women experience as they age. So you’re not alone. 

With the right nutrients and regular maintenance, you’ll soon have a healthy vagina that naturally produces female lubrication and is free of pain, irritation, and infection. And, in the long run, it’ll help you maintain your sexual health. 

While you wait for the vitamins to kick in and moisturize your vaginal tissue, add a bit of sexual lubricant in the bedroom with the Coconu all-natural personal lubricant range. 

Try the Coconu Hemp and Oil Combo pack and awaken the senses!