A drop in your estrogen level is usually behind the development of vaginal dryness, according to the website Women to Women. Estrogen tends to decrease during perimenopause and menopause, as well as postpartum. ScienceDaily, a website that specializes in breaking research news, reports that a woman’s estrogen can drop up to 1,000 times lower in the four days after giving birth. Diet and some supplements can help to relieve associated problems.

Soy

MedlinePlus, a website of health information provided by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, cautions that you should always consult your physician before trying to treat yourself for any condition, including vaginal dryness 1. Once you rule out causes for vaginal dryness such as infection, you can try soybeans, which are rich in isoflavones, a phytoestrogen that can imitate the effects of estrogen if your level is low. Research into isoflavones is ongoing, including the dosage necessary for relief and the best sources, notes MedlinePlus. Try bumping up your intake of soy foods, such as tofu and edamame beans, to see if it offers any relief. You can also purchase isoflavone powder or capsule supplements at most vitamin and health stores. However, the website EarlyMenopause.com warns against this if you have a thyroid condition 2.

Flax Seed

Flax seed is another good source of phytoestrogen, according to the Women to Women website. Adding this to your diet might prompt your body to resume its normal levels of lubrication decreased by lack of real estrogen.

Vitamin A/Beta Carotene

Your body converts beta carotene into vitamin A from foods, such as carrots, or from supplements. This vitamin prompts healthy skin and mucous membranes and it can help relieve vagina dryness, according to EarlyMenopause.com 2. You should not take vitamin A supplements if you’re pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant, however, as it can cause birth defects in high doses, as noted in Science News 4.

B Complex Vitamins

B complex vitamins relieve stress, and the Women to Women website links problems with vaginal dryness to stress. Additionally, B vitamins also aid adrenal function. Estrone – the kind of estrogen produced by your body after menopause – begins in the adrenal gland. There are some indications that B vitamins can help prevent vaginal dryness for this reason.

Vitamin E

Either take this vitamin supplement orally or use it as a vaginal suppository, EarlyMenopause.com suggests 2. Either way, additional Vitamin E can result in a slight increase in lubrication.

Evening Primrose Oil

EarlyMenopause.com notes that this source of gamma linoleic acid counters both PMS symptoms and menopause symptoms, including vaginal dryness 2.