5 Types of Medications That Can Lead To Vaginal Dryness

Types of medications that can cause vaginal dryness include allergy and cold medications, antidepressants, sedatives, heart and blood pressure medications, and medications that affect estrogen levels, like hormonal birth control.

A decrease in estrogen can shrink and thin the vaginal tissue, which can cause inflammation and vaginal dryness, or atrophic vaginitis. Vaginal dryness can lead to itching, soreness, burning while peeing, painful sex or light bleeding after intercourse, and slight vaginal discharge.

Other causes of an estrogen drop include menopause, breastfeeding, childbirth, chemotherapy, radiation, depression or severe stress, surgical removal of the ovaries, and smoking. Irritants like douches, laundry detergents, soaps, and perfumes can also cause vaginal dryness.

Not everyone who uses one of the medications below will experience vaginal dryness. However, understanding which medications can potentially cause dryness can help you find relief if you're experiencing vaginal dryness. Read on to learn how the following medications can affect your vaginal health.

1. Antihistamines

Antihistamines are the main ingredient in allergy medications and are also found in many cold medications. They can dehydrate the mucus membranes in your nasal passages, alleviating symptoms like a runny nose, watery eyes, and sneezing.

However, antihistamines can also dry up the mucus membranes in your vagina. "Antihistamines can lead to narrowing of blood vessels to constrict, so there's less blood flow and therefore fewer secretions throughout the body," Alyssa Dweck, MD, a New York-based OB-GYN and co-author of "The Complete A to Z for Your V," told Health.

The dryness isn't permanent, but it can be uncomfortable. It can also cause difficulty or pain during sex. You may end up with minor abrasions if you have intercourse. If you take antihistamines, you still have options to avoid vaginal dryness.

You may want to use lubricant during sex to supplement your natural wetness. Additionally, talk to your healthcare provider about switching from an oral antihistamine to a nasal spray. "This might help because it works more locally rather than drying things up all over," said Dr. Dweck.

2. Decongestants

Like antihistamines, decongestants may also lead to the narrowing of blood vessels. While this may do a solid job of dehydrating your nasal passages, it might also remove moisture from the vaginal area.

The best way to avoid vaginal dryness when you are looking for a solution to congestion may be to avoid decongestants. However, other options exist to clear your nasal passages, including:

• Breathing in hot steam or taking a steamy shower
• Drinking hot liquids
• Using a Neti pot, a nasal irrigation device

3. Antidepressants

Antidepressants come in different forms, but many antidepressants are thought to treat depression by increasing the availability of hormones serotonin or norepinephrine (or both).

Since depression itself can take a toll on sexual function, some people improve their sex lives when taking antidepressants. However, others notice that antidepressants lead to vaginal dryness or other sexual side effects, such as difficulty reaching orgasm.

Raise your concerns about any antidepressant side effects with your healthcare provider. Some ways to manage sexual side effects include:

• Seek therapeutic support for depression and other mental health conditions
• Talk to your healthcare provider about potentially reducing your dose or switching to another medication
• Use a vaginal lubricant

4. Medications That Affect Estrogen

Many types of birth control help to prevent pregnancy by changing levels of hormones such as estrogen. Medications or hormones used to treat the following conditions may also affect estrogen:

• Breast cancer
• Endometriosis
• Infertility
• Uterine fibroids

Changes in levels of estrogen can lead to vaginal dryness in some people. This is especially true if estrogen levels decrease, as this can cause vaginal tissue to shrink and become thinner, leading to dryness and inflammation.

Here is what you can do to manage vaginal dryness due to estrogen-affecting medications:

• Talk to a healthcare provider about medication options and dosage levels. You may, for example, experience different side effects from switching birth control pills. It can be a trial-and-error process.
• Try a vaginal moisturizing cream to alleviate dryness throughout the day
• Try a water-soluble lubricant during sex

5. Blood Pressure and Heart Medications

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is associated with vaginal dryness and sexual dysfunction. Some medications that treat hypertension, like calcium channel blockers and beta blockers, might also cause vaginal dryness. However, more research is needed to understand this relationship.

Do Antibiotics Cause Vaginal Dryness?

Antibiotics do not directly cause vaginal dryness, but they may indirectly contribute to vaginal dryness. Antibiotics aim to combat bacterial infections, including strep throat, urinary tract infections, and E. coli. They can also change the balance of bacteria in the vagina, causing an overgrowth of yeast and possibly a vaginal yeast infection.

Vaginal dryness and yeast infections have common symptoms like burning, itching, and soreness, so people often mistake one for the other. However, yeast infections also have symptoms like thick, white discharge.

Talk to your healthcare provider about doing the following to reduce your risk of yeast infections while taking antibiotics:

• Taking an oral probiotic
• Taking Lactobacillus acidophilus tablets
• Using an anti-yeast medication (like Monistat)
  

A Quick Review

Several medications can lead to vaginal dryness. These include cold and allergy medications, antidepressants, and medications that can affect your estrogen levels, like hormonal birth control. Vaginal moisturizing creams and lubricants can help relieve dryness.

Consult a healthcare provider before starting or stopping your medications. Tell your healthcare provider if you're concerned your medication is causing vaginal dryness or other side effects.