Q:
”Hi Cheryl,
“I have a friend who has been rubbing her legs together to masturbate since she was a child and has noticed that her vagina is getting drier and drier, and she is having trouble having sex with her partner as an adult. What’s going on here? Is it serious? Can it be cured?”
–Anonymous Reader
A1:
Hello and thank you for your letter!
I saw that you linked masturbation to vaginal dryness, so maybe they are connected in your opinion. So let’s talk about masturbation first~
Masturbation itself does not cause vaginal dryness, but the factors that accompany masturbation may have an effect on it! Masturbation is normal and many women have been masturbating since childhood. Because it’s seen as shameful in our culture, female masturbation isn’t discussed and is even considered to have terrible consequences, such as altering the appearance and function of the vulva, affecting one’s health, and damaging that person’s moral character. So, even if masturbation is completely normal, unfortunately, it often causes unnecessary mental stress for women.
Another unfortunate thing is that due to the lack of sex education, masturbation lacks both guidance and safe and inclusive conditions in which it can occur, which allows it to potentially happen in unhealthy and unsafe forms. This can lead to negative consequences. Think about it: masturbating with inappropriate objects because it is difficult to buy safe sex toys, or not cleaning hands and clothes before and after masturbation can lead to vaginal infections (which in turn can lead to changes in vaginal secretions), and lack of personal privacy growing up leads to sexually traumatizing events (e.g., masturbating and being found out and scolded by family members). In this way, the prophecy that female masturbation can have bad consequences is fulfilled.
In addition to the effects of masturbation, the possible causes of a lack of vaginal lubrication are bio-psycho-social.
Biological
Taking medications: allergy medications, asthma medications, cold and flu medications, antidepressants, and histamines in birth control pills can dry out the body, which can dry out the vagina.
Hormonal changes: menopause, recently having experienced childbirth, breastfeeding, being at the beginning and end of the menstrual cycle, and pelvic chemotherapy or radiation therapy can all cause a decrease in estrogen, which can reduce vaginal fluid production.
Exposure to irritants: you may not be compatible with the soaps, body washes, clothing detergents, moisturizers, etc. that you use, perhaps you over-wash your vagina, or are allergic to the material of your towels and underwear
Or your body is dehydrated: drink a glass of water.
Psychological
Psychological factors such as stress and anxiety have been shown to have a significant impact on the body’s ability to produce natural lubrication. When experiencing these emotions, there is insufficient blood flow, which leads to vaginal dryness.
The aforementioned stress and trauma related to masturbation not only has a direct effect on vaginal fluid production, but also indirectly increases stress and affects sexual arousal by devaluing one’s image in one’s own mind (e.g. causing you to think ”there’s something wrong with me”).
Social
Lack of sexual arousal may be caused by an unfit partner, tension with a partner, low libido, or a partner’s eagerness to penetrate. The body may not have enough time to lubricate adequately.
Overall, while this is quite disruptive to a sexual life, it is not serious and there are ways to cure it! I hope that your friend is successful in getting proper medical or professional help!
Best wishes!
Cheryl Ding
A2
So first the first question I will ask is what is the family context, since it is the starting point in the disorder that is mentioned.
Was she caught masturbating by her parents or other adults who told her that it was not okay? This could have a negative impact on the sexual function of the vagina associated with experiencing pleasure.
Then I will ask if the person has already consulted a gynecologist and ask if there has been an examination to identify any dysfunction in the lubricatory function of the vagina.
I will remind you of the possibility of using lubricants, which has today become a common and increasingly accepted practice.
There is work that is possible on the reappropriation of one’s body as an object of desire and pleasure.
As for the medical part, a health professional could respond and in particular suggest using a type of ”eggs” which are used to lubricate the vagina.
Alexis Desjardins
Sex therapist
See Ding, seeding 