Breast cancer and the treatments that manage it can cause side effects such as breast variations, menstrual irregularities, skin changes, and hair loss. Some women may also experience vaginal dryness and sexual discomfort due to a decline in estrogen levels after chemotherapy or endocrine treatments for breast cancer.
Although it’s a side effect of breast cancer treatment, vaginal dryness is not something cancer survivors should accept in the long-term. Organic vaginal moisturizers can ease irritation and itching, and personal lubricants can moisten the vaginal canal for more comfortable and enjoyable sex.
The key is to use personal lubricants that won’t further irritate already sensitive skin or upset the vaginal pH while replenishing moisture in the vaginal walls without masking sexual sensations. Read on, to learn about the best lubricants for vaginal dryness after breast cancer.
What is Vaginal Lubrication?
Vaginal lubrication is the natural moisture produced by the vagina. When a woman becomes sexually aroused, the Bartholin glands increase fluid production to protect the vaginal walls from friction, injury, and infection during intercourse.
This vaginal fluid is 90% water, 1% salts, a mix of old cells, antibodies that prevent infection, and organic compounds like lipids and amino acids.
In addition to sexual arousal, hormone fluctuations and the menstrual cycle can also alter the amount and consistency of vaginal lubrication.
The hormone estrogen, in particular, plays a vital role in sustaining adequate vaginal lubrication and tissue elasticity. Therefore, anything that causes estrogen levels to decrease, can cause vaginal lubrication to lower too, thereby drying and thinning the vaginal tissues.
Vaginal Dryness and Breast Cancer
Vaginal dryness is a common side effect of breast cancer treatment and is caused by reduced estrogen levels, endocrine therapies, or induced menopause.
Chemotherapy and endocrine therapies (such as tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors) are known to lower estrogen production, which is necessary for a healthy vagina and sustained tissue moisture.
Additionally, some chemotherapy treatments can induce premature menopause, the symptoms of which can include vaginal dryness, hot flashes, poor sleep, and sudden mood alternations.
In some cases, women with breast cancer may be advised to have a hysterectomy or the ovaries removed (oophorectomy), or both. Given that the ovaries produce the body’s estrogen, when they are removed, women of any age will enter menopause immediately, possibly experiencing symptoms like vaginal dryness and others due to lowered estrogen levels.
In many cases, menopause symptoms like vaginal dryness can be eased with estrogen-based menopause hormone therapy (MHT), however, it’s not typically recommended for breast cancer survivors. But that doesn’t mean vaginal dryness should become a lifelong companion after treatment.
Daily vaginal moisturizers, like Enchanted Rose Organic Feminine Balm, and personal lubricants can help enormously to alleviate the vaginal itching, burning and irritation associated with vaginal atrophy, as well as pain or uncomfortable friction during sex.
Why Are Some Personal Lubricants Safer Than Others?
Categorized as water-based, silicone-based, or oil-based, some personal lubricants are considered ‘safer’ than others due to their ingredients, compatibility with condoms & sex toys, and how they affect the body.
Oil-based personal lubricants, for example, are no longer recommended for women due to their ability to cause vaginal irritation and damage latex condoms.
Most water-based and silicone-based lubricants are considered safe for use with latex condoms, they feel comfortable in the vagina, and successfully provide relief from vaginal dryness or dyspareunia after breast cancer.
Water-based lubricants are typically thinner than silicone-based lubes and are designed to resemble the feel of natural lubrication. Silicone-based lubricants are thicker, water-resistant, and longer-lasting for added comfort during long sessions.
One drawback to silicone-based lubricants is that they can damage the outer lining of silicone pelvic health tools or sex toys.
That said, even though most water-based and silicone-based lubes are considered effective and safe for alleviating vaginal dryness after breast cancer, some are not ideal for vaginal health.
Ingredients to Avoid in Personal Lubricants After Breast Cancer
Lubricants with fancy flavors and summery scents may appear appealing for some sexy fun. However, the synthetic ingredients involved in producing those tastes and aromas can disrupt the vaginal pH, cause more irritation, and result in a vaginal infection.
Other ingredients to avoid in personal lubricants after breast cancer are glycerin and parabens.
Gylcerin is sometimes added to water-based lubricants to provide extra glide but it’s also known to dehydrate vaginal tissues and encourage candida growth, which causes yeast infections. Parabens are synthetic preservatives used to prevent products from spoiling and are still used in some personal lubricants, but they are known to affect hormone balance.
Additional dehydration and further hormone imbalance are not something that breast cancer survivors need to deal with. Therefore, the best lubricants for vaginal dryness are always glycerin-free, paraben-free, fragrance-free, and flavorless.
The Best Lubricants for Vaginal Dryness After Breast Cancer
Water-based lubricants and hypoallergenic silicone-based lubricants are recommended for breast cancer survivors experiencing vaginal dryness or pain during sex. However, some brands continue to include glycerin for extra glide in their water-based lubes, and some silicone-based lubes are not hypoallergenic, so it’s wise to check the labels.
1. Water-Based Lubricants
Popular water-based lubricants with a cheaper price tag, such as Astroglide or KY Jelly, are well-known but not always ideal for comfort or vaginal health after breast cancer.
Our client feedback deemed Astroglide too sticky for comfort, and many clients mentioned it dries out quickly. KY Jelly water-based lubricant, on the other hand, contains glycerin and parabens, both of which can further irritate sensitive vaginal skin after breast cancer.
Jo Organic Personal Lubricant and AH! Yes Water-Based Personal Lubricants are popular and effective, but often too costly for our client’s pockets.
For example, Jo Organic Personal Lubricant is priced at $16.99 for a tiny, 1 oz bottle or $24.99 for a 2 oz bottle, and AH! Yes Water-Based Personal Lubricants are priced at $19.99 for a 3 oz bottle. In comparison, Serenity Water-Based Lubricant from pelvic health specialists, Intimate Rose, costs just $13.99 for an 8 oz bottle, and a little goes a long way.
In addition to being free from all harmful ingredients, Serenity Water-Based Lubricant is as effective and silky smooth as higher-priced lubes but offers much more value for money. For these reasons, Serenity Water-Based Lubricant is the first lube we recommend to any of our clients experiencing vaginal dryness or dyspareunia after breast cancer.
Formulated with premium, body-safe ingredients that won’t irritate already sensitive vaginal skin, Serenity Water-Based Lubricant is FDA-cleared, glycerin-free, paraben-free, fragrance-free, and free of synthetic flavors. It is specially designed for ultra-sensitive and dry vaginal skin during menopause or after breast cancer treatment. This lube also feels silky smooth, doesn’t dry out quickly like other water-based lubes, and won’t stain your bedsheets.
2. Silicone-Based Lubricants
Pjur Original Bodyglide, Wet Platinum Premium Lubricant, and Uberlube are popular silicone-based lubricants due to their smooth, long-lasting, and non-sticky texture. Although these lubes are popular for improving a couple’s sex life, some ingredients may be off-putting for women recovering from breast cancer, not to mention the high price point.
Wet Platinum Premium Lubricant is smooth and effective for many, but it contains dimethicone and cyclopentasiloxane for added moisture. While these synthetic ingredients are generally considered safe, they can irritate sensitive vaginal skin after breast cancer treatment.
Pjur Original Bodyglide is priced at $39.99 for a 3 oz bottle or $128.00 for 33 oz, and Uberlube is priced at $25.95 for a 1.5 oz bottle. That said, in comparison to our top pick, Eternity Silicone-Based Lubricant, these exceptionally highly priced lubes did not feel as good or last as long during our client-based research.
Therefore, our best recommendation for silicone-based lubes after breast cancer is once again a highly effective and reasonably priced product from pelvic health experts, Intimate Rose.
Eternity Silicone-Based Lubricant is hypoallergenic, water-resistant, ultra-slippery, glycerin-free, paraben-free, and fragrance-free. Priced at just $13.99 for an 8 oz bottle, it is designed to last longer than their Serenity Water-Based Lubricant for those requiring longer-lasting lubrication than water-based lubes. It’s also perfect for fun in the shower and bath or for longer sessions.
Conclusion
Vaginal dryness after breast cancer treatment is common due to lowered estrogen levels. It can be eased by using organic vaginal moisturizers for daily relief from itching and vulvar irritation, and a water-based personal lubricant for less friction and more enjoyment during intercourse.
To avoid further vaginal irritation, it’s vital to ensure the water-based lubricant you choose is glycerin-free, paraben-free, fragrance-free, and contains no synthetic flavors. In our opinion, the best lubricants for post breast cancer vaginal dryness are Serenity Water-Based Lubricant from pelvic health specialists, Intimate Rose. If an ultra-slippery lube is your preference, their Eternity Silicone-Based Lubricant is also free of harmful ingredients, water-resistant, and longer-lasting.
If vaginal moisturizers and lubricants don’t offer sufficient relief, which can sometimes happen after breast cancer, body-safe silicone vaginal dilators are recommended to relax tight vaginal muscles and improve natural lubrication.
References
Cleveland Clinic – Vaginal Atrophy - https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15500-vaginal-atrophy
Science Direct – Vaginal Lubrication - https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/vaginal-lubrication
Mayo Clinic -Women’s Wellness: Vaginal atrophy after breast cancer - https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/womens-wellness-vaginal-atrophy-after-breast-cancer/
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists - Treatment of Urogenital Symptoms in Individuals With a History of Estrogen-dependent Breast Cancer - https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/clinical-consensus/articles/2021/12/treatment-of-urogenital-symptoms-in-individuals-with-a-history-of-estrogen-dependent-breast-cancer
Dr. Barb DePree, M.D., has been a gynecologist and women’s health provider for almost 30 years and a menopause care specialist for the past ten.