Staying Comfortable in Menopause: Managing Vaginal Dryness in Utah's Climate
If you live in Utah, you already know desert life is beautiful, and dry. Add perimenopause or menopause, and dryness can show up in new places: your skin, eyes, mouth, and most often your vagina. The good news? There are many ways to feel better. This guide explains why dryness happens here, what you can do at home, and how telehealth care can help you get back to comfort.
Why Utah’s climate makes dryness worse
Utah is one of the driest states. Summer humidity can dip under 35%, and even winter air can feel crisp with little moisture. Dry air pulls water from your skin and mucous membranes (the moist tissues in your nose, eyes, mouth, and vagina). At higher altitudes, water also evaporates faster, so you lose moisture more quickly during daily life, workouts, and sleep.
Quick definition: Mucous membranes
These are the soft, moist linings inside your body, like in your mouth, nose, eyes, bladder, and vagina. They keep tissues flexible, comfortable, and protected.
Why menopause changes moisture
During perimenopause and menopause, your estrogen levels fall. Estrogen is a key hormone that keeps vaginal and urinary tissues thick, stretchy, and naturally lubricated. When it declines, those tissues get thinner and drier. In terms of vaginal health, you may notice:
- Vaginal dryness and burning
- Pain with sex (called dyspareunia)
- Irritation when you sit, exercise, or wear tight clothes
- More urinary urgency or discomfort
Doctors group these symptoms under GSM or Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause. GSM can affect your vagina and the nearby urinary tract, and it tends to be progressive if untreated. That means symptoms can get worse over time, not better. Frontiers
Quick definition: GSM
GSM is a medical term for the vaginal and urinary changes that happen with low estrogen in menopause, like dryness, pain with sex, and urinary symptoms.
Utah’s “double-whammy”: Desert air + low estrogen
Dry climate plus low estrogen can make dryness more obvious and more uncomfortable. Many middle aged women also become more active outdoors, which means wind, sun, and altitude. Each of these adds to moisture loss. If you’re already noticing changes, you’re not alone. Large studies show vaginal dryness increases as you transition through menopause, and it commonly links to pain with sex.
Reassurance: Dryness is common and very treatable. You deserve comfort, pleasure, and confidence at any age.
How dryness can affect self-confidence and relationships
When you don’t feel confident in your body, it can affect everything, from your mood to your connection with your partner. Vaginal dryness and pain can make you avoid sex. You might feel less spontaneous or worry that intimacy will hurt. Research shows GSM symptoms can reduce sexual satisfaction and quality of life; many women quietly work around it instead of getting help. You do not need to put up with pain or avoid touch. Relief is possible, and often simple. Johns Hopkins Medicine
Tip for partners: Say phrases such as, “I want you comfortable. Let’s find what feels good.” Pressure and guilt make symptoms worse. Kindness and patience help.
What you can do today (home strategies that help in Utah)
Daily moisture habits
- Drink water all day. Small sips add up.
- Run a humidifier at night. Moist air helps skin, sinuses, and vaginal tissues.
- Choose gentle skin care. Stick to fragrance-free, alcohol-free moisturizers.
- Wear breathable cotton underwear. Avoid harsh soaps and fabric softeners near your vulva (the outside area of the vagina).
These daily steps make a difference, but sometimes your body needs extra support. That’s where vaginal moisturizers and lubricants come in. While they’re often mentioned together, they aren’t the same, and knowing the difference can help you feel more comfortable in Utah’s dry climate.
Moisturizers vs. Lubricants (they’re different!)
It’s easy to confuse vaginal moisturizers and lubricants, but they work in different ways. Moisturizers keep tissues hydrated and flexible over time, while lubricants make intimacy more comfortable in the moment. Many women find the best relief by using both.
Moisturizers
- Used a few times a week (like lotion for your vaginal tissue)
- Absorb into the vaginal wall for lasting comfort
- Help restore flexibility and moisture over time
- Common types:
- Water-based gels (often polycarbophil-based, such as Replens or Revaree) cling to tissue and slowly release moisture
- Oil-based creams or suppositories (like coconut oil or vitamin E suppositories) longer lasting, but not all are specifically tested for vaginal use
Lubricants
- Used right before sex
- Reduce friction and pain during intimacy
- Work more like oil to smooth movement
- Common types:
- Water-based: Easy to clean, but may dry out faster in desert air
- Silicone-based: Longer lasting, many women prefer these for dryness
- Oil-based: Very long-lasting, but can weaken latex condoms
Moisturizers are for ongoing comfort and tissue health, while lubricants are for immediate comfort during sex. Many women use both for best results.
If dryness is mild, these often help. But if pain continues, or if dryness affects your daily life, medical treatments may be needed. Many women in the menopause transition end up choosing this option to more effectively counterbalance the effects of low estrogen.
Let’s walk through those options together.
Medical treatments that restore comfort
Vaginal estrogen (local therapy)
This is a small amount of estrogen placed directly in the vagina as a tablet, cream, ring, or softgel insert. Because it works locally, only a tiny amount enters your bloodstream. Vaginal estrogen:
- Thickens and strengthens vaginal lining
- Restores natural moisture
- Makes sex more comfortable
- Helps with urinary urgency and burning
What about safety?
Studies show low-dose vaginal estrogen is safe for most women. If you’ve had breast cancer or another hormone-sensitive condition, your provider will help decide what’s right for you. Almost all women (even those at higher risk) can still use vaginal estrogen after talking with their care team. This is a current care gap that needs to be closed by the clinical community.
Vaginal DHEA (prasterone)
DHEA is a hormone your body converts in vaginal tissue into estrogen and androgens (another group of hormones). It improves lubrication and reduces pain with sex.
Ospemifene (oral pill)
Ospemifene works like estrogen in vaginal tissue but is not actually estrogen. It’s a daily pill that improves dryness and pain.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
If you also have hot flashes, night sweats, or trouble sleeping, systemic HRT may help. This means estrogen (and if you have a uterus, progesterone too) taken as a pill, patch, or gel. HRT may improve vaginal comfort, but many women still add vaginal estrogen for best relief.
Quick comparison: Vaginal vs. Oral Estrogen
|
Vaginal Estrogen |
Systemic (Oral/Patch) Estrogen |
|
Works directly where dryness happens |
Works throughout your body |
|
Only a tiny amount enters bloodstream |
Higher amount enters bloodstream |
|
Best for dryness, irritation, and pain with sex |
Best for hot flashes, sleep, mood, bone health |
|
Can be used alone or with HRT |
Often combined with vaginal estrogen for full relief |
These medical treatments address the root cause of dryness, not just the discomfort, and can help you feel more like yourself again.
What about “vaginal rejuvenation” lasers?
Some clinics advertise lasers or radiofrequency devices. While some women report improvement, the research is limited and results are mixed. These procedures are also costly and not covered by insurance. Most medical groups still recommend vaginal estrogen, DHEA, ospemifene, and moisturizers/lubricants as the proven first steps.
Caring for your emotions and intimacy
Pain and dryness can make it hard to feel like yourself. You might avoid intimacy or feel worried about your partner’s reaction. This is not your fault. And it’s not something you need to live with.
Steps that help:
- Talk openly: “I want closeness, but I’m hurting. Let’s work on comfort first.”
- Use lubricant every time you need it. Think of it like lip balm for delicate skin.
- Plan intimacy. A warm bath, unhurried touch, and comfortable positions can help.
- Consider pelvic floor therapy. If penetration hurts, muscles may tense up. Therapy teaches relaxation and comfort techniques.
Addressing the physical symptoms is important, but caring for your emotional well-being and relationships matters just as much.
When to seek care
Reach out if you notice:
- Pain with sex or daily activities
- Bleeding after sex
- Frequent urinary urgency or burning
- Ongoing itching or irritation
- Repeat vaginal infections
You don’t need to wait for an in-person exam. A telehealth provider can often start treatment based on your symptoms and history. If needed, they can recommend an in-person visit later on.
A simple “desert” day routine for comfort
To make things easier for you, here’s a gentle daily plan you can follow:
Morning
- Drink water with breakfast.
- Apply a gentle vulvar moisturizer after your shower.
Midday
- Refill your water bottle.
- Use a vaginal moisturizer (2–3 times weekly).
Evening
- Run a humidifier in your bedroom.
- Use vaginal estrogen, DHEA, or other treatment as prescribed.
- If intimate, apply lubricant generously right before sex.
What to expect once you start treatment
Every woman responds a little differently, but here’s a general idea:
- Moisturizers: Relief often in 1–2 weeks.
- Vaginal estrogen or DHEA: Noticeable comfort in 4–8 weeks, with continued improvement over 3 months.
- Ospemifene: Works over several weeks.
- HRT: Hot flashes and sleep may improve within weeks; may still need added local therapy for vaginal comfort.
While these timelines give you a sense of what to expect physically, it’s just as important to care for your emotional well-being and intimate relationships during this stage. Vaginal dryness and pain don’t just affect your body, they can also influence confidence, closeness, and how you feel about yourself. That’s why finding both medical and personal support matters.
With Inflexxion Health, you can:
- Meet with a menopause specialist online
- Share your symptoms, history, and goals
- Choose a plan: moisturizers, lubricants, vaginal estrogen, DHEA, ospemifene, or HRT
- Get prescriptions delivered
- Adjust treatment easily through follow-ups
We aim to make care simple, supportive, and personalized, so you can get back to feeling like yourself.
Getting started is easier when you know what to expect. After your first telehealth visit, your provider will guide you through next steps and tailor a plan for your comfort. To make your appointment feel less stressful, it helps to think ahead about how dryness shows up for you and what you’ve already tried. That way, you and your provider can focus right away on solutions that fit your life.
Gentle checklist for your telehealth visit
- What dryness feels like for you (burning? pulling? sandpaper-like?)
- When it happens (daily vs. only with sex)
- Any bladder symptoms
- What you’ve already tried
- Your health history and goals for intimacy
You’re not alone
Dryness in Utah’s climate is very real. Menopause only adds to it. But with simple steps and the right treatment, you can feel comfortable again. You can enjoy closeness without fear of pain. And you can get there with the support of a caring provider, from the comfort of your own home.
References
- Waetjen LE, Xing G, Johnson WO, Greendale GA, Gold EB. Association between menopausal transition stages and developing symptoms in a multiethnic cohort of midlife women. Menopause. 2018;25(11):1174-1184. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000001164
- Alvisi S, Gava G, Orsili I, et al. Vaginal health in menopausal women: a review on genital atrophy and sexual function. Medicina (Kaunas). 2019;55(10):615. doi:10.3390/medicina55100615
- Danan ER, Cohen A, Cochrane ZR, Matteson KA, Rahn DD, Lichtenstein M. Interventions for genitourinary syndrome of menopause. Ann Intern Med. 2024;177(8):JC33. doi:10.7326/ACPJ202410150-033
- Parish SJ, Faubion SS, Weinberg M, et al. Evaluation and management of genitourinary syndrome of menopause: a consensus statement from The North American Menopause Society. Menopause. 2020;27(9):976-992. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000001609
- Faubion SS, Larkin LC, Stuenkel CA, et al. Management of genitourinary syndrome of menopause in women with or at high risk for breast cancer: consensus recommendations. Menopause. 2018;25(6):596-608. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000001121
- American Urological Association; Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction; American Urogynecologic Society. Genitourinary syndrome of menopause: AUA/SUFU/AUGS guideline. J Urol. 2025. doi:10.1097/JU.0000000000004520