Vaginal drying treatment
Key points
- Although more studies have been done to evaluate the use of soy for other menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, a diet rich in soy foods may, in theory, help relive vaginal dryness.
- This is because soybeans contain plant-based substances called isoflavones that weakly mimic the action of estrogen.
- Soy foods include tofu, soy milk, and whole soybeans (also called edamame).
- Another method that many women claim relieves their symptoms of vaginal dryness is creams containing wild yam - a natural progesterone-like substance.
Alternative names
Treatment - vaginal drying
Information
Question:
Is there a drug-free relief for vaginal dryness?
Answer:
Although more studies have been done to evaluate the use of soy for other menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, a diet rich in soy foods may, in theory, help relive vaginal dryness. This is because soybeans contain plant-based substances called isoflavones that weakly mimic the action of estrogen. Soy foods include tofu, soy milk, and whole soybeans (also called edamame). Avoid soy supplements, however.
Another method that many women claim relieves their symptoms of vaginal dryness is creams containing wild yam - a natural progesterone-like substance. However, no well-designed research has evaluated these creams. Moreover, many products that claim to contain natural progesterone actually contain synthetic medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA).
Written and revised by
David Cohen, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
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