Women's Health: Hormonal Balance, Vaginal Comfort & Sexual Wellness

Changes in hormones affect more than your mood — they change the vaginal environment and sexual desire. If you’ve felt burning, dryness, or a drop in libido, you’re not imagining things. This page collects practical steps to identify causes and talk to your clinician about treatments, including topical hormonal options and medications like flibanserin for sexual dysfunction related to endometriosis.

Hormones and Vaginal Burning: what to check

Vaginal burning can come from several sources. Low estrogen (common during perimenopause, after childbirth, or with certain hormonal treatments) thins and dries vaginal tissue. That dryness often feels like burning. Infections such as yeast or bacterial vaginosis can also cause burning, sometimes with discharge or odor. Skin conditions and allergic reactions (to soaps, gels, or laundry detergent) are another possibility.

Quick, practical steps: stop douching and scented products, switch to a gentle unscented cleanser, and use a water-based lubricant for intercourse. If symptoms point to yeast (thick white discharge, itching), an over-the-counter antifungal often helps. If you see blood, have a strong smell, fever, or symptoms that don’t improve in a few days, see a provider.

A clinician may check for infections, measure vaginal pH, or discuss a trial of topical estrogen if low estrogen looks likely. Topical estrogen creams or rings usually relieve dryness and burning by restoring local tissue health without the systemic effects of oral hormones. Keep a symptom diary (time of month, recent meds, sexual activity, products used) — it helps your clinician make a faster, more accurate plan.

Sexual Dysfunction, Endometriosis, and Flibanserin

Endometriosis can reduce sexual desire in two main ways: pain during sex and chronic fatigue or mood changes from ongoing pain. Flibanserin (brand name Addyi) targets low sexual desire in premenopausal women diagnosed with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). It works on brain chemistry, not on pain itself, so it can help desire but won’t remove endometriosis-related pain.

Know what to expect: flibanserin is a nightly pill with modest average benefit in trials — some women report meaningful improvement, others do not. Side effects can include dizziness, sleepiness, nausea, and low blood pressure. Don’t drink alcohol while taking it and tell your doctor about other meds; drugs that strongly affect the liver enzyme CYP3A4 can interact with flibanserin.

If pain from endometriosis is the main issue, ask about pelvic physical therapy, nerve blocks, or hormonal suppression for the endometriosis itself. Combining medical treatment for pain with counseling or sex therapy often gives the best results for desire and intimacy.

Track your symptoms, bring notes to your appointment, and ask specific questions: what tests are recommended, what side effects to watch for, and how long before a treatment should help. Our articles and guides go deeper into each option so you can discuss choices with your clinician and get a plan that fits your life.