Despite being so widespread, little information is available about the problem of vaginal dryness. Only few women seek medical advice, most likely out of embarrassment. According to recent surveys, not even half of all menopausal women have done something to treat their vaginal dryness. But a range of over-the-counter (i.e. hormone-free) and prescription (i.e. hormonal) remedies are available.

The issue is not about whether or not to use hormones in the treatment, but rather to actually get treated. A more recent clinical study found that every form of treatment – regardless of whether hormonal or not – relieves the vaginal complaints of vaginal dryness and the treatment should mainly align with the patient’s individual preferences.¹

Vaginal moisturisers are an effective treatment option for vaginal dryness, especially for women who would prefer to stay away from the use of hormonal preparations and are looking for a natural, hormone-free remedy. Vaginal moisturisers reduce friction with thin and dry vaginal tissue, preventing unpleasant burning and itching sensations, as well as infections. Hormone-free vaginal gels are particularly recommended for a typical case of vaginal dryness.

Meanwhile, prescription hormonal vaginal medications are mainly used to tackle more severe forms of vaginal atrophy.

Vaginal moisturisers are not to be confused with lubricants, which are mainly intended for problems with intercourse due to vaginal dryness and are aimed at helping relieve discomfort and pain. Lubricants are therefore only used if needed.

Vaginal gel moisturisers rehydrate dry mucosal tissue and are absorbed by the skin. They stick to the vaginal mucosa and imitate natural vaginal secretion. Vaginal gel moisturisers preserve the moisture and acidic balance of the vagina.

Vaginal gel moisturisers are intended for the non-hormonal relief of vaginal dryness. Depending on the severity of the vaginal dryness, they are applied regularly, either daily or every 2-3 days.

Vaginal gel moisturisers are ideal for women who are not necessarily sexually active but experience discomfort in the everyday and are also ideal for women having painful symptoms during sexual activity.

As vaginal gel moisturisers are used to hydrate the mucosa, they are usually water-based. They contain plant-based or synthetic gelling agents to bind the water to the mucosa. In addition, they can contain a wide range of other excipients to provide the appropriate viscosity, pH buffering and preservation.

List of sources

(1) Mitchell CM, Reed SD, Diem S, et al. Efficacy of Vaginal Estradiol or Vaginal Moisturizer vs Placebo for Treating Postmenopausal Vulvovaginal Symptoms: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med.2018;178(5):681–690.

(2) Behandlung der vulvovaginalen Atrophie/des urogenitalen Menopausensyndroms: Wie wichtig ist die Zusammensetzung von vaginalen Gleitmitteln und Feuchtigkeitscremes?“, erschienen in CLIMACTERIC, 2016 BD. 19, NR. 2, 151–161

(3) The 2020 genitourinary syndrome of menopause position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause. 2020 Sep; 27(9):976-992

(4) Use and procurement of additional lubricants for male and female condoms: Advisory note, WHO/UNFPA/FHI360, 2012

Have you been living in a relationship for many years? This is a major advantage! Because over the years, trust also grows, and trust is a requirement for carefree sex for most women. There is no need to be ashamed of your desires and you can get your worries off your chest.

To counteract vaginal dryness during the menopause and protect against friction during sexual intercourse, we recommend using a vaginal gel. This should be free from fragrances and preservatives! There are now also wonderful, hormone-free alternatives that are especially suitable for the menopause.

When it comes to love and sex: Keep practicing, even without a partner. Numerous examinations indicate that you not only can balance tension from the stimulation and relaxation brought by climax, but also stimulate your metabolism and your hormone production. Here too, we recommend the use of a natural vaginal gel!

Studies show that menopausal women need more time for foreplay. So enjoy slow tenderness! Be inspired, for example, by Kama Sutra or by slow sex. In no way do you have to “flip through” the entire Kama Sutra to unfold new passion for each other. There are many ideas for how you can restore passion to your sex life.

Many women experience love in the second half of their lives in a much more relaxed way – everything is permitted, but not everything is necessary. Set yourself free from “sex pressure” and “orgasm chasing”. Enjoy cuddling – far more men enjoy it that you would think! And if it leads to more, then great.

Have you become more critical of yourself over the years? Many women are the same. You need to be aware that those little wrinkles do not have any effects on your sex life.

Because: Self-awareness is SEXY! In numerous psychosexual studies, heterosexual men were asked how they would like their partner to be. Across all age limits, men said that they value self-aware women with a positive attitude to their sexuality!

Hitzewallungen beginnen meist im Brustbereich und breiten sich wie eine heiße Welle über den Hals und Kopf in die Oberarme aus. Das Herz schlägt schneller und es kann zu Hautrötungen und Schweißausbrüchen kommen. Die Episoden sind üblicherweise relativ kurz und dauern meist nur wenige Minuten, allerdings können sie mehrmals am Tag auftreten. Hitzewallungen sind letztlich vor allem lästig und unangenehm. Was also tun?

The menopause is – often not only in terms of hormones – a transition to a new phase of life and is a challenge for many women.

During this phase, it is all the more important to break down stress and find ways to relax: Yoga, meditation, autogenic training, breathing therapy or Tai Chi, to name the most important options.

Yoga has a calming and balancing effect in many people, particularly due to its breathing exercises and meditation. Physical exercises known as asanas, are the third component of yoga and a good way of improving how you feel in your body. The asanas help to improve posture, flexibility of the movement apparatus and physical endurance. At the same time, the asanas stimulate or improve some physical functions, such as blood circulation, pulmonary function or metabolic processes.

Especially for menopausal women, so-called hormonal yoga is available alongside general yoga.

Hormonal yoga connects physical and breathing exercises which favourably affect the hormonal and mental balance of women during the menopause. Hormonal yoga naturally activates hormone production and at the same time, helps with stress breakdown and relaxation.

The majority of menopausal women complain about weight problems. Reasons for overweight should be seen as multi-factorial and must be looked at individually. Factors such as stress, lack of exercise and time shortages vary greatly from woman to woman. Some factors such as the breakdown of muscle mass, decelerated metabolism and reduced oestrogen production affect every woman. A harmonious trio of healthy diet, regular exercise and sufficient relaxation form a healthy lifestyle.

A healthy diet is characterised by plant-based, fibre-rich diversity. Wholegrain products such as wholegrain bread, pasta or rice are the focus here. Furthermore, your meal plan should include fresh fruit, vegetables and raw vegetable salad several times a day. Here, the energy density is particularly low, with simultaneous, high nutrient density. Animal protein should be consumed in moderation. Marine fish, meanwhile, can be consumed twice a week without any worries. Otherwise, you should opt for vegetable oils and fats in your fat consumption. For carbohydrates, you should pay attention to long-chain carbohydrates, as is the case with wholegrain products. These take longer to digest and make you feel fuller for longer. Avoid excessive consumption of industrial sugar. As a basis, you should always keep in mind: consume the freshest possible, regional products, with as little processing as possible and in their natural form. Also make sure to follow a varied diet.

The natural loss of muscle mass increases the focus on protein consumption. Protein is essential for the body and counteracts the breakdown of muscles. Good sources of protein are fish, lean meat, nuts, milk and dairy products, pulses and wholegrain products. Be aware that the consumption of protein always needs to be looked at in combination with exercise. You can best counteract the loss of muscle mass if you exercise regularly.

One of the main causes of facial complaints are our eating habits. Stick to a few ground rules to understand and notice better what your body needs and how much it needs.

Pursue a conscious diet; this means that you should take time for your meals. Do not eat at your desk, but even leave the office if possible. Getting out into the fresh air not only boosts your mood, but you also exercise at the same time and can do something for your vitamin D levels.

Cook for yourself as often as you can, such as with your family or partner. In this way, you will know exactly what is in your food and can regulate it better. During preparation, make sure to stew and steam instead of deep-frying and frying. And if you do not want to give up the snacks: Snack right after your main meal, when your blood sugar level is already elevated. Snacks in between throw your blood sugar out of whack and cause ravenous hunger attacks.

The time of the meals plays a key role, but is heavily dependent on individual strategies. Anyone who, for example, practices intermittent fasting, severely limits the time of their meals automatically. In general, you should not eat too late and in the evening, should instead go for something light. If you come home late with ravenous hunger and then properly dig in, then you have forgotten to eat enough during the day. Try to avoid these moments. Not only do you sleep more poorly on a full stomach, but your body also no longer burns the calories and stores them instead.

Hot flushes and sweat outbreaks are among the most common menopausal complaints. Especially here, you can easily counteract these with some small tricks. Avoid excessive consumption of coffee, black tea and alcohol. Spicy meals should also be avoided. Instead, season using fresh herbs.

And very important: Drink enough throughout the day, at least 2 to 3 litres a day. Diluted fruit juices, mineral water, unsweetened herbal or fruit tea are ideal.

Many women experience during the menopause: “I eat just like I used to, but I’m gaining weight.” And that is exactly where the problem is. As we get older, our basal metabolic rate falls. This is part of the energy that our body burns during absolute rest. If the basal metabolic rate falls, but our diet stays the same, our energy balance goes into the positive – and that is what we want to urgently avoid. Because the target at the end of the day is always a negative energy balance – the so-called calorie deficit – if you want to lose weight.

Factors that influence the energy balance are:

The more exercise I integrate into my everyday life, the lower my energy balance is. That is what we want to achieve. By the way: Muscle mass significantly influences the energy balance. The more muscles you have, the more energy the body burns at rest. For this reason, strength training is always a key component in reducing weight, along with its many other positive effects. This means you should train major muscle groups such as back, legs and buttocks.

One positive side effect of physical activity is also that the feeling of saturation is perceived more strongly with meals, stress is reduced and the appetite impulse is lowered.