Is vaginal dryness common during menopause?
Vaginal dryness is one of the most common symptoms of menopause and its onset can be fairly sudden at any stage of the menopause. Menopause Vaginal Dryness mainly affects women between 40-65 years although it can happen at anytime for reasons other than menopause.

As the vaginal tissues re-moisturize they recover their natural elasticity and functions.  The degree to which their full function is able to return may be dependant on the severity of the atrophy.

How many women suffer from vaginal dryness in menopause?
As many as 80% of women entering menopause are effected by vaginal dryness and about 50% of women completing menopause continue to experience vaginal dryness.

Is it usual to feel shocked by these changes?
To feel suddenly let down by one’s body, to discover that the “warm wet welcome” that was always taken for granted now is not, can be shocking. Vaginal dryness can ruin sexual intercourse and intimacy for some women and leave many feeling inadequate, guilty and confused.

Why does vaginal dryness happen during the menopause?
The mucous membranes of the vagina produce a fluid or natural lubricant that keeps the vagina moist, elastic and strong. Estrogen in the body encourages the vaginal tissues to produce this lubricant. The body’s own natural lubricant is acidic which helps protect the vagina from bacterial and fungal infections.

As estrogen levels fall during menopause the vaginal tissues produce less of the lubricant. This then can cause the vagina to become dry and the tissues to lose their elasticity and strength. As the vaginal tissues become thinner they become more fragile and sensitive.

Can vaginal dryness cause more Thrush infections?
As the vaginal tissues become drier they also lose the acidic protection of the natural lubricant and the vaginal environment is then less effective at fighting infections. Also the use of any product that could reduce the natural acidity of the vagina, such as douches, similarly impacts the vagina’s ability to fight infections.  Therefore, more frequent Thrush and urinary tract infections are a possibility with vaginal dryness. 

Are there other changes I need to be aware of (down there)?
It is not often mentioned that as the estrogen levels decline, less blood flows to the reproductive areas; as less blood reaches the vaginal tissues the cells begin to lose their elasticity and the vagina might begin to sag. It is also possible that the external appearance will change as the vulval tissues become thinner.

What are the symptoms of vaginal dryness?
The symptoms are itching, dryness, burning, irritation, soreness or pain during sexual intercourse.  Without its natural lubrication the vagina becomes more fragile, less lubrication means more friction, which can damage the thinning vagina. Bleeding after intercourse can be a sign of vaginal tissue rupture. Forceful penetration can tear the fragile vaginal tissues.
Menopausal itching is a very distressing symptom, and can be internal or external.  External itching can be due to the vulval tissues drying, losing their acidic and protective moisture.
An increased susceptibility to infection is another possibility with menopause vaginal dryness. As the acidity of the vagina reduces so the usual protective vaginal environment loses its ability to fight vaginal infections such as Candida albicans (Thrush) and other micro-organisms.

What are the treatments for menopause vaginal dryness?
One of the most common seems to be “try to have sexual intercourse as often as possible”; this increases the blood flow, helps stimulate natural lubricant production and so keeps the vagina moist. In fact abstinence from sexual intercourse is thought to make menopause vaginal dryness worse.  This is the “use-it-or-lose-it” approach. 
The treatment options include:

1. HRT and local estrogen application (such as vaginal rings, pessaries and creams).
2. Personal lubricants during sexual intercourse, to make sex less painful.
3. Vaginal moisturizers for regular rehydration of the vaginal tissues.  This is a similar principle to facial moisturizers.

At Yes^® we expect that you want to take the best possible care of your sensitive vaginal tissues. Yes^® water-based uniquely contains natural polymers that moisturize the dry tissues powerfully and gently.

Yes^® water-based is the only certified organic, natural and hormone-free vaginal moisturiser, in the world. 
This means that Yes^® water-based represents the purest possible solution for all women who want to treat their bodies with respect.

How does Yes^® water-based protect vaginal tissues?
The pH of Yes^® water-based matches and supports the optimal vaginal pH; this ensures that the newly re-moisturized tissues are in their right environment.  The physiological pH of the vagina creates an ideal environment that protects against infections such as Bacterial Vaginosis and Thrush outbreaks.

How is Yes^® water-based different from other Vaginal Moisturizers?
There are so many ways that Yes^® is different we call it an
INTIMATE REVOLUTION.
Here are some of them:

	Yes® water-based is dual action: a powerful moisturizer and an outstanding lubricant.
	Yes® water-based is the only certified organic water-based intimate product in the world, (there are a few who have some organic ingredients, but this is very different to being certified organic), which means it is certified free from parabens, petrochemicals, processing aids and contaminants, synthetic thickeners, untested ‘natural’ ingredients, pesticides, genetically modified ingredients and known skin irritants.
	Yes® water-based is free from glycerin, which is thought to encourage the growth of Candida albicans.
	Yes® water-based feels reassuringly like the real thing.  Free of smell and taste, it is very discrete and leaves the skin free of the unpleasant residues experienced from using old style moisturizers and lubricants.

Read more about Yes^® water-based here