*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature L: Laxatives.

Vaginal Dryness

Vaginal dryness is a common problem that many women have at some point in their lives. But there are things that can help.

Symptoms of vaginal dryness

You may have vaginal dryness if you:

feel sore or itchy in and around your vagina
feel pain or discomfort during sex
need to pee more often than usual
keep getting urinary tract infections (UTIs)

These things may make you feel less like you want to have sex.

Causes of vaginal dryness

You can get vaginal dryness if you:

go through the menopause
are breastfeeding
take contraceptive pills or antidepressants
have your womb removed (a hysterectomy)
have cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy

These things can cause a change in your hormone levels. This change can affect how much vaginal discharge or fluid you have.

You can also have vaginal dryness if you:

are not aroused during sex
use perfumed soaps, washes or douches in and around your vagina
have an underlying condition, such as diabetes or Sj?gren's syndrome

How to treat vaginal dryness yourself

You can try these things before you see a GP. You can get most of them from a pharmacy without a prescription.

Do

use water-based lubricants before sex - put these in and around your vagina, on your partner's penis, on your partner's fingers, or on a sex toy if you're using one
use vaginal moisturisers for vaginal dryness - you can put these inside your vagina to keep it moist
use unperfumed soaps and washes around your vagina
try to enjoy more foreplay so you feel more aroused during sex

Don't

do not use perfumed soaps, washes and any douches in and around your vagina
do not put creams or lotions like petroleum jelly inside your vagina as it can cause an infection
do not use moisturisers that are not for your vagina

See a GP if:

you've had vaginal dryness for a few weeks and things you've tried yourself are not working
vaginal dryness is affecting your daily life
you have unusual discharge or bleeding from your vagina
you have bleeding after sex or in between your periods

If you're getting vaginal dryness because of changes in your hormone levels, you may be prescribed creams, gels, patches or medicines to increase a hormone called oestrogen. This is called HRT.

OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature L: Laxatives. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
Photos: LightFieldStudios and one of VladOrlov, Stockcube, darak77, ajr_images or rawpixel.com.