Olive Oil Combats Vaginal Dryness

Menopause is a natural phase in a woman’s life, but that doesn’t mean it is always comfortable. In addition to hot flashes and night sweats that can disturb sleep, many women experience vaginal dryness. This can interfere with a satisfying sex life. Usually, doctors prescribe estrogen as oral hormone replacement therapy or vaginal cream or a vaginal ring. Not everyone wants to use estrogen, though. Could a natural lubricant help solve this problem?

Olive Oil for Vaginal Dryness

Q. I’ve read that olive oil can be used for vaginal dryness. I couldn’t tell if I should include olive oil in my diet or actually apply it directly to the vagina.

A. This remedy calls for topical application of olive oil to the vagina. It seems to lubricate those dry tissues.

Here is what one reader reported:

“I have been using olive oil for this purpose for a couple of years. When my doctor did a pelvic exam, he thought I was taking hormones although I am not. I think olive oil has natural vitamin E to keep women youthful.”

Vaginal Dryness After Breast Cancer Treatment

Menopause is not the only possible reason a woman might be suffering from a dry vagina. This reader poses a serious question.

Q. I have been treated for breast cancer. The hormone-blocking medication has caused terrible vaginal dryness, making intercourse very painful! Because of the breast cancer, I cannot use any estrogen.

I understand some women have been using olive oil. Can you use it daily to improve the vaginal tissue? Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

A. Women have indeed been using olive oil as a sexual lubricant to overcome vaginal dryness. Unfortunately, researchers have not devoted a lot of attention to this topic.

We found one study that looked at a combination of pelvic floor muscle relaxation training, olive oil as a lubricant during intercourse and a polycarbophil vaginal moisturizer three times a week (Journal of Sexual Medicine, Oct. 2013). This combination was helpful for women who had painful intercourse following breast cancer treatment.

Keep in mind that any oil can degrade latex, so a couple using condoms might choose a water-based lubricant instead.

Many Options to Relieve Vaginal Dryness

Vaginal dryness may persist long after the hot flashes of menopause have faded.

Q. I am 55 and suffering with vaginal dryness that makes intercourse very painful. I rarely have any more hot flashes, just once in a while.

I have tried prescriptions and herbs with no relief. So far, bio-identical creams haven’t made a noticeable difference. Do I have to live like this for the rest of my life?

A. Vaginal dryness can make sexual relations difficult, but there are several approaches that may help. Your doctor could prescribe Estring, a vaginal ring that releases low-dose estrogen over a three-month period.

If you prefer to avoid estrogen, lubricants such as Astroglide may be helpful. Even olive or coconut oil can ease dryness if applied daily.

How to Overcome Vaginal Symptoms Without Estrogen

Q. I am a 63-year-old woman who had estrogen-positive breast cancer 10 years ago. I had bilateral mastectomies, no chemo or radiation.

Now I am extremely estrogen deprived and cannot have sex because of the pain from vaginal dryness. My doctor will not prescribe estrogen to help with this problem because it might increase my risk of cancer recurrence. Is there some other way to treat these atrophic changes?

A. Applying a lubricant such as olive oil or coconut oil daily may be helpful. For intercourse, some people use a water-based lubricant such as K-Y Jelly or Surgilube. Applying dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) vaginally may reduce dryness and make sex less uncomfortable (Annals of Internal Medicine, Oct. 2024).