To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor will perform a pelvic examination to examine your vulva and vagina for signs of dryness, redness and thinning of tissue. If you are menopausal and have bleeding after intercourse, your doctor may want to check for endometrial cancer cancer of the uterine lining by doing an endometrial biopsy. In this procedure, a small piece of tissue is removed from the uterine lining, and is examined in a laboratory.

The doctor also may want to check for a problem with the cervix by doing a Pap test. A water-soluble vaginal lubricant can be used to moisten the tissues and prevent painful sexual intercourse. Regular sexual activity also can help to prevent symptoms.

This is because sexual intercourse improves blood circulation to the vagina, which helps to maintain vaginal tissue. Treatments range from over-the-counter moisturizers to prescription-only hormone therapy.

Women can often manage mild symptoms with nonhormonal moisturizers and, during sexual intercourse, vaginal lubricants. Sexual activity itself may improve the symptoms. If none of these approaches helps, you may need low-dose estrogen in the form of a cream, tablet, or ring inserted into the vagina. Here's how the various options work:. Schedule an appointment with your doctor if you experience any vaginal bleeding, vaginal dryness, burning or itching, or if painful sexual intercourse is not relieved with a water-soluble lubricant.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. Available for Android and iOS devices. Subscribe to Drugs. That means it's really sensitive, and for many women, stimulating it is the best way to orgasm.

The hood, a flap of skin that slides back and forth, functions to protect the clitoris and prevent irritation and arousal when you don't want it. When you are aroused, however, the hood slips back to expose the clitoris.

The outer clitoris that you can see and feel is actually connected to an inner clitoris!! This small opening, which is where urine comes out, is right below the clitoris. It's hard to see, and you can't really feel anything there. And, no, pee doesn't come out of the vaginal opening! Davis says that many young women think the clitoris is actually the urethra, but don't be fooled. Right below the urethra lies the introitus, also called the vestibule or the opening to the vagina.

Think of it as a foyer. Basically, the vestibule is the lobby leading to the vagina, which is inside your body. We should also say here that there are many color variations in the whole external vulva area, depending on your skin tone and whether or not you're sexually excited.

This concept is mind-blowing and a relatively recent anatomical discovery. Older women produce less vaginal lubrication and reduced estrogen levels may be associated with increased vaginal dryness. When a woman is experiencing vaginal dryness before sexual activity, sexual intercourse may be uncomfortable or painful for her.

A personal lubricant can be applied to the vaginal opening, the penis, or both, to augment the naturally produced lubrication and prevent or reduce the discomfort or pain. More rarely, a vaginal suppository may be inserted prior to intercourse.

Oil-based lubricants can weaken latex and reduce the effectiveness of condoms , latex gloves , or dental dams as either forms of birth control or for protection from sexually transmitted diseases, so water- or silicone-based lubricants are often used instead. The use of an artificial lubricant can make sexual intercourse less painful for a woman, but does not address the underlying cause of the vaginal dryness itself.

Both canola oil and mineral oil are recommended by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine as fertility-preserving types of personal lubricant. Some people particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa practice dry sex , which involves the removal of vaginal lubrication in some way. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Main article: Vaginal discharge. Main article: Personal lubricant. Bartholin's gland Female ejaculation G-spot Personal lubricant Pre-ejaculate Skene's gland Spinnbarkeit , the stretchiness of cervical mucus associated with ovulation; one property of this secretion is to lubricate the vagina Toxic shock syndrome , linked to the use of tampons that excessively dry up the vaginal lubrication Urethral sponge.

Explore now. Choose a degree. Get updates. Give today. Request Appointment. Healthy Lifestyle Women's health. Products and services. Free E-newsletter Subscribe to Housecall Our general interest e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics. Sign up now. Vagina: What's normal, what's not Vaginal health affects more than just your sex life. By Mayo Clinic Staff. Open pop-up dialog box Female reproductive system Close.

Female reproductive system The ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix and vagina vaginal canal make up the female reproductive system. Open pop-up dialog box Vulva Close. Vulva The vagina is a muscular canal that extends from the vulva to the neck of the uterus cervix. Show references Graziottin A. Vaginal biological and sexual health — the unmet needs.