Vaginal Dryness: Possible Causes

What are the possible causes of vaginal dryness?

In many cases, women have vaginal dryness when estrogen hormone levels decrease. Treatments for other conditions can also cause this symptom. Vaginal dryness can result from:

• Menopause.
• Breastfeeding and childbirth.
• Birth control pills.
• Cancer treatments including chemotherapy and hormonal therapy.
• Diabetes.
• Medications, including anti-estrogen medications (treating uterine fibroids or endometriosis), certain antidepressants and antihistamines (treating itchy eyes and runny noses).
• Removal of the ovaries.
• Sjogren’s syndrome (an autoimmune disorder that can cause dryness throughout the body).