Your Vaginal Care Routine: Simple Steps for Comfort and Health
Just like the skin on your face, vaginal tissues change with age and hormones. Dryness, irritation, and pain with sex are common — but are not something you have to live with.
Think of these 3 steps as your vaginal care routine: protect, hydrate, and restore.
Step 1 Protect: Use a Lubricant Every Time You Have Sex
Think of lubricant as sunscreen for your vagina.
Like sunscreen protects your facial skin from damage, a lubricant protects the delicate vaginal tissues from friction, micro-injury, and irritation during sex. Even if you don’t feel “dry,” tissues can be thinner and more fragile with age or hormonal changes.
Why silicone-based lubricants?
They last longer than water-based lubricants
They don’t dry out as quickly
They provide better protection against friction
Osmolarity matters
The vagina’s natural osmolarity is about 300 mOsm/kg. Ideally, your lubricant should be close to this range (about 260–300) to avoid pulling water out of vaginal cells and causing irritation or damage.
Good choices:
Uberlube (osmolarity ~280–300)
Good Clean Love Almost Naked (osmolarity ~280–300)
Avoid:
Hyperosmolar lubricants like Astroglide and KY
These can cause dryness, irritation, and damage to vaginal epithelial cells over time.
Step 2 Hydrate: Use Vaginal Moisturizers Regularly
Think of this like your daily facial moisturizer.
Moisturizers are for everyday vaginal hydration and tissue health. They improve baseline moisture, comfort, and tissue resilience — even when you’re not sexually active.
Great options:
Revaree
Hyaluronic acid suppositories
Helps lower vaginal pH and draws water molecules into the tissue
Replens
Polycarbophil-based suppositories
Binds and retains water to keep vaginal tissues hydrated
Used consistently (usually 2–3 times per week), these can significantly improve dryness, irritation, and discomfort.
Step 3 Restore: Consider Low-Dose Vaginal Estrogen or DHEA
Think of this as the anti-aging treatment for vaginal tissue — like retinoids or hyaluronic acid for your face.
As estrogen levels decline, vaginal tissues become:
Thinner
Drier
More fragile
More prone to pain, infections, and urinary symptoms
Low-dose vaginal hormone therapy works locally (not systemically) to restore:
Thickness
Elasticity
Blood flow
Natural lubrication
Healthy pH and microbiome
Options include:
Vaginal estrogen cream
Vaginal estrogen inserts/tablets
Vaginal estrogen ring (Estring)
DHEA inserts (Intrarosa)
These are very low-dose, safe for most women, and often life-changing for symptoms of vaginal dryness, pain with sex, and recurrent UTIs.
Putting It All Together: Your Vaginal Care Routine
Just like facial skincare:
Lubricant = Sunscreen (protect during sex)
Moisturizer = Daily hydration and maintenance
Vaginal estrogen/DHEA = Anti-aging treatment and tissue restoration
The Bottom Line
Vaginal dryness, irritation, and pain are not something you have to “just live with.” With the right routine, you can protect, hydrate, and restore vaginal health, dramatically improving comfort, intimacy, and overall quality of life.
If you’re not sure which option is right for you, talk with your menopause or women’s health clinician about creating a personalized plan.
