Free Book Excerpt from "The V Book: A Doctor's Guide to Complete Vulvovaginal Health"

Chronic conditions

The fluid that lubricates the vagina comes through the vaginal wall from the bloodstream. Diseases that affect blood vessels make them less flexible and less able to act as a conduit, possibly contributing to a dry vagina. Such diseases include high blood pressure (hypertension), hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis), diabetes, and some connective-tissue diseases. Vaginal dryness combined with pain at intercourse may be the first signs of a connective-tissue disease called Sjögren's syndrome. A wide range of skin conditions can cause vaginal dryness too…