Winter vagina: How the cold weather can affect your genitalia

Living in places where there's a considerable drop in temperatures has probably left you with chapped lips at some point in your life. But did you know this could also occur to your downstairs lips?

Drops in temperature can affect your vagina

According to Mary Burke, a former NHS midwife and senior clinical nurse, the drying effect caused by drops in temperature and indoor heating being turned on can cause a drought in your privates. This can later on have a number of repercussions extending to your sex life and intimate relationships. She explains that:

Dry autumn and winter air depletes moisture from our bodies, leaving our skin dehydrated and cracked, and out sinuses parched. And while it’s an issue few will want to discuss openly, our vaginas can enter ‘drought mode’ during this time, too.

And continued saying:

When we spend a lot of time in air conditioned rooms, or with the heating on, we’re living in air which carries very little moisture.

And the dryness we experience can often extend to every inch of our bodies—including our most private regions.

What does this mean for your sex life?

This vaginal dryness, which can happen to just about anyone with a vagina no matter their age, can also have a rather negative impact on your sex life. For one, not only can it make sexual intercourse incredibly painful, it can also take a toll on your relationship with your partner. If you experience vaginal dryness, then you can probably relate to the following symptoms:

• Irritation or a burning sensation
• Pain during sex
• Vaginal discolouration
• Difficulty getting aroused and reaching climax
• Frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs)