Vaginal dryness can mean discomfort throughout the day or a lack of lubrication during sex. They overlap, but the fix for one moment is not always the answer for ongoing tissue dryness. Here are eleven ways to approach the problem, including a new local-moisture option.

Updated September 28, 2026 with current product information, research context, and safety notes.

A Silent Calamity

Vaginal dryness can affect women at different ages, and the cause matters. Falling estrogen during perimenopause and menopause is one reason; breastfeeding, medications, irritation, and other conditions can also play a part. If it persists, or comes with pain, bleeding, or unusual discharge, get the cause checked. Here are some situations to consider:

•  Around 17 percent of women, ages 18-50, consistently have a hard time enjoying sex due to a lack of natural vaginal lubrication.
• Some women notice changes in lubrication around their menstrual cycle; this is not a universal six-day rule.
• Women of all ages who experience hormonal imbalances, very often experience vaginal dryness.
• Breastfeeding mothers have lower levels of estrogen, which often leads to vaginal dryness.
• Perimenopause and menopause can bring changes in vaginal moisture and comfort, and the impact differs from woman to woman.
• A large percentage of women on medications such as antidepressants, birth control pills, blood pressure pills, etc. experience decreased lubrication.
•  Most breast cancer patients are recommended to take estrogen containment pills for at least 5 years post breast removal. It is not because estrogen is inherently cancerous, it is that some cancers seem to have receptors for specific hormones and use hormones as a fuel to grow. Meanwhile, lowered estrogen levels cause vaginal dryness.
• Women who suffer from other forms of cancer, and undergo chemotherapy, also suffer from generalized dryness throughout the body, and in women, vaginal dryness.

Vaginal Dryness Begone

Dryness can make sexual activity painful and may contribute to irritation or small tears. You do not have to grit your teeth through it.

Lubricants differ in ingredients and condom compatibility. Check the label and choose one that feels comfortable for you; a lubricant used during sex and a moisturizer used regularly are different tools.

Let’s look at 11 ways to approach vaginal dryness and intimacy with a little more comfort.

1. Natural lubricant

For friction during sex, try a lubricant made for intimate use, such as Curious Intimate Massage Lotion. Check its ingredients and compatibility with any condoms or toys you use. If dryness is present beyond sex, a moisturizer may be more useful between encounters.

A lubricant can improve comfort during sex, but it is not a treatment for infections or a substitute for investigating persistent pain or discharge.

2. Stay Super-hydrated

Drink enough water for your body and circumstances. Dehydration can make you feel lousy, but extra water is not a guaranteed fix for vaginal tissue changes caused by hormones or medication.

According to the naturopath, Talia Mansdorf, “The best way to stay hydrated is to make sure you’re getting electrolytes in your water. Add a bit of lemon juice and a pinch of sea or Himalayan pink salt into your glass/bottle. Get creative by adding some cucumbers or fruit for flavor. ”

Remember the quality of the water is key. Ideally, you should be drinking structured clean water. And if you want to super boost your hydration, try a natural molecular hydrogen supplement like Hydra.

3. Oil of Evening Primrose

Evening primrose oil has been suggested for dryness, but evidence for this specific use is limited. Do not insert a punctured oral supplement capsule vaginally; choose a product formulated for vaginal use and discuss persistent symptoms with your clinician.

4. Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fats belong in a balanced diet, but eating them is not a proven quick remedy for vaginal dryness. Food can support overall health while you address the direct cause of discomfort.

You can also get more omega 3 in your diet with certain types of fish, such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel, sesame seeds, raw pumpkin, and sunflower seeds.

5. Phytoestrogen-Rich Foods

Some plants contain phytoestrogens, compounds with estrogen-like activity. Food choices alone are not a reliable treatment for persistent vaginal dryness, and the effects of a food are different from those of a locally applied product.

6. Check oil and condom compatibility

Kitchen oils are not a proven fix for persistent vaginal dryness. Oil-based products can weaken latex condoms, so check compatibility before using any lubricant with a barrier method. A vaginal moisturizer for ongoing dryness and a condom-compatible lubricant for sex serve different purposes. See the CDC’s condom guidance.

7. Careful Cleaning

Make sure you’re not washing your vaginal area more than twice a day. And avoid soaps or creams, especially chemical ones, since they disturb the body’s PH and wash away protective vaginal fluids. Also make sure you avoid douching, as that can really lead to vaginal dryness.

8. Supplements

No supplement reliably fixes every cause of dryness. Review medication effects, hormones, irritants, and other possible causes before buying a shelf full of promises. For ongoing menopause-related dryness, ACOG discusses vaginal moisturizers and lubricants as separate options.

9. Cannabinoid Oils

Some women explore cannabinoid products for relaxation, but an oral oil is not a demonstrated treatment for vaginal dryness. If dryness is persistent, consider a purpose-made vaginal moisturizer and look into the cause.

10. Foreplay

Giving yourself more time for arousal can help with lubrication during sex. But if tissue feels dry or painful day after day, foreplay alone may not solve it. A compatible lubricant can reduce friction in the moment; a vaginal moisturizer addresses ongoing dryness. Curious is one of the intimate products HoneyColony carries. Get curious, not resigned to discomfort.

11. Hygeena vaginal suppositories for ongoing moisture

If dryness has turned comfort into a negotiation—especially around perimenopause or menopause—take a look at Hygeena vaginal suppositories. This is a 15-count vaginal product containing hyaluronic acid for moisture, Pueraria mirifica, sea buckthorn oil, vitamin E, aloe vera, and SilverBiotics. It is used locally and is different from a lubricant applied right before sex.

Pueraria mirifica contains compounds with estrogen-like activity. A 12-week trial of a Pueraria vaginal gel in postmenopausal women found improvements in symptoms and vaginal tissue measures; estrogen cream improved tissue measures more. A separate placebo-controlled gel trial also reported improvements. Neither trial tested the finished Hygeena suppository, so we are not borrowing a gel’s results and sticking them on this jar.

HoneyColony offer: Hygeena is $79 for 15 suppositories, down from its $99 retail price. If you want both formulas, the 750 mg Detoxamin + Hygeena bundle is $209—$47 less than buying those same jars at their current standalone sale prices ($177 + $79). Detoxamin is for rectal use; Hygeena is for vaginal use.

Because Pueraria has estrogen-like activity, discuss it with a qualified clinician if you have a hormone-sensitive condition or unexplained bleeding. Persistent pain, burning, or unusual discharge deserves an evaluation. See the full Hygeena formula and directions here.

For women who want both

Hygeena is $79 (retail $99). The 750 mg Detoxamin EDTA + glutathione jar is $177 (retail $199). Or get the two-jar bundle for $209: $89 below the combined $298 retail price, and $47 below buying the two current sale-priced jars separately. No whispering, no arithmetic tricks. Choose what fits your body and read each label.

Linda Miriam Aziz-Zadeh is a freelance writer and editor who is passionate about preserving the natural beauty and wonder of our bodies, this planet, and the world. She is the co-founder of Crunchy Buzz, a digital wellness marketing firm that serves the health and wellness industry.

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