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Intimate Health in Menopause: What Changes, Why It Happens & What Can Help

JOVEEN JOVEEN

Dryness, sensitivity and discomfort can be part of perimenopause and menopause — but they are still discussed far less openly than hot flushes, sleep or changing skin. Here is what is happening, what may help and when it is important to seek professional advice.

Some changes are talked about. Others still aren't.

Hot flushes. Sleep. Mood. Changing skin. Hair.
These are now familiar parts of the menopause conversation.

Intimate health is different.

Dryness, itching, burning, sensitivity, changes in lubrication or discomfort during intimacy can be much harder to mention — sometimes even to a healthcare professional.

Yet these symptoms can accompany perimenopause and menopause and deserve the same informed, matter-of-fact conversation as every other aspect of women's health.

At JOVEEN, we believe that understanding what is happening can make that conversation easier.

No embarrassment. No unnecessary euphemisms. Just clear information about why intimate health can change, how to care for delicate skin and when skincare is not enough.

Why can intimate health change during menopause?

Oestrogen influences tissues throughout the body, including the vulva, vagina, bladder and urethra.

As oestrogen levels fluctuate during perimenopause and decline after menopause, these tissues may become drier, thinner, less elastic and more vulnerable to irritation.

Healthcare professionals use the term Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause — GSM — to describe the collection of genital and urinary changes associated with low or fluctuating oestrogen.

The British Menopause Society describes GSM as a chronic and progressive condition that can affect the vulva, vagina, bladder and urethra. It also highlights an important problem: symptoms are often under-recognised because women may assume they are simply an inevitable part of ageing.

Symptoms vary considerably from person to person and can include:

vaginal or vulval dryness
itching, burning or irritation
reduced natural lubrication
discomfort or pain during intimacy
increased sensitivity or soreness
urinary urgency or recurrent urinary symptoms
changes in the comfort or resilience of intimate tissues

Some women experience only mild changes. For others, they can have a significant effect on everyday comfort, relationships and quality of life.

The important point is this:

Intimate discomfort should not automatically be accepted as something you simply have to live with.

Vulva and vagina: an important distinction

The words are often used interchangeably, but they describe different areas.

The vulva is the external genital area.
The vagina is the internal muscular canal.

Why does that matter for skincare?

Because a product formulated for external intimate skin should not automatically be assumed suitable for use inside the vagina.

Always follow the directions for the individual product.

Understanding the difference also helps make conversations about symptoms and treatment much clearer.

Intimate skin deserves thoughtful care too

We talk constantly about the facial skin barrier.

When facial skin becomes dry or reactive, we instinctively reconsider harsh cleansers, reduce unnecessary irritation and concentrate on hydration and barrier support.

External intimate skin deserves the same thoughtfulness.

That does not mean creating another complicated skincare routine. In many cases, simpler is better.

Over-cleansing, fragranced products and aggressive washing may be unhelpful when intimate skin already feels dry or sensitive.

A thoughtful routine might instead focus on:

gentle cleansing
avoiding unnecessary fragrance or irritants
supporting hydration
reducing friction where possible
using products specifically formulated for intimate areas
paying attention when symptoms change or persist

This shift from simply making intimate areas feel "fresh" towards supporting skin comfort and barrier health is one of the reasons we have become interested in the emerging intimate dermocosmetic category.

Moisturiser, lubricant and medical treatment are not the same thing

This distinction is particularly important.

An intimate moisturiser is generally intended to provide ongoing hydration and comfort.

A lubricant is designed primarily to reduce friction, particularly during intimacy.

And medical treatment for menopausal genitourinary symptoms is a different category entirely.

Current NICE guidance recommends offering vaginal oestrogen for genitourinary symptoms associated with menopause. NICE also recognises non-hormonal moisturisers and lubricants, including where vaginal oestrogen is contraindicated or someone prefers not to use it. Vaginal oestrogen can also be used alongside non-hormonal moisturisers or lubricants.

This is why JOVEEN does not position cosmetic intimate care as a substitute for appropriate medical treatment.

There is room for both skincare and medicine — but they perform different roles.

When intimate skincare isn't enough

New or persistent symptoms should not automatically be blamed on menopause.

Please seek appropriate professional advice if you experience persistent pain, unexplained bleeding, unusual discharge, sores or lesions, recurrent urinary symptoms, significant itching or burning, or any change that worries you.

A GP, pharmacist, menopause specialist, sexual-health professional or gynaecologist can help determine what is causing the symptoms and what treatment may be appropriate.

Good intimate skincare can help support external skin comfort. It should never delay appropriate diagnosis or medical treatment.

Why we began looking more closely at intimate skincare

For years, intimate care has often been positioned around cleansing, fragrance and "freshness".

We think the conversation should be more sophisticated than that.

The skin around the intimate area can be affected by hormonal change, friction, sensitivity, ageing and changes in barrier function — just as skin elsewhere on the body can.

That is what led us to look more closely at Alyval, a specialist intimate-care range developed from the dermocosmetic expertise of Valetudo.

The brand combines everyday cleansing and hydration with more targeted formulations and places particular emphasis on the ingredient PEA — palmitoylethanolamide — and its proprietary pealiquitech™ delivery technology. The manufacturer describes Valetudo as having more than 40 years of dermocosmetic formulation experience.

What is PEA?

Palmitoylethanolamide, or PEA, is a naturally occurring lipid molecule produced within the body and studied for its role in inflammatory and sensory signalling.

From a formulation point of view, PEA presents a challenge: it has poor natural solubility, which can make topical delivery difficult.

Alyval's proprietary pealiquitech™ technology uses a specialised process to solubilise PEA within a lamellar matrix. According to the brand's technical material, this allows higher concentrations of PEA to be dispersed more uniformly in a topical formula and supports gradual release.

For us, this is an interesting example of something increasingly important in modern skincare: the ingredient itself is only part of the story. How an ingredient is formulated and delivered matters too.

An emerging area of research

Topical PEA is also being investigated within specialist gynaecological research.

At the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists World Congress 2025, a randomised double-blind maintenance study titled PEA-Enriched Topical Formulation for Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus was presented by Fabio Barra and recognised as one of the Congress's Best in Session Oral Presentations.

That is an important distinction. We are not describing Alyval itself as an RCOG-award-winning product. The recognition was given to the scientific presentation investigating a PEA-enriched topical formulation.

But it does illustrate why PEA is an ingredient we think is worth watching as research develops.

Understanding the Alyval range

Alyval is not one generic "menopause cream". The range contains different formulations for different aspects of intimate care.

Alyval AGELESS Intimate Cream

AGELESS is the product most closely associated with perimenopause and age-related changes in external intimate skin. The brand positions it around moisturisation, elasticity, tone and loss of firmness and specifically describes it as beneficial during perimenopause.

Alyval MED Intimate Cream

MED is a soothing external-use cream designed to moisturise and support intimate comfort. The manufacturer's professional material positions the formula particularly around irritation, redness and discomfort.

Alyval REGENERA Intimate Cream

REGENERA is the range's more restorative external-use cream. It is formulated for stressed, dry or fragile intimate skin and to support moisturisation, elasticity and comfort.

Cleansing & lubrication

The range also includes:

VITAL Intimate Oleogel Cleanser — a surfactant-free, non-foaming cleanser designed to cleanse without drying.
VELVET Intimate Foam Cleanser — a gentle daily cleanser formulated to respect the area's natural pH.
TOUCH Intimate Gel — a moisturising and lubricating oil-based gel designed to support hydration and reduce friction.

Discover Alyval Intimate Care

Intimate health is part of women's health

Menopause can change the skin we see in the mirror. But it can also affect parts of the body that we rarely discuss. Both deserve attention.

For JOVEEN, Skin Longevity has never meant trying to freeze skin at one particular age. It means understanding that skin changes throughout life and adapting the way we support its health, resilience and comfort.

That includes perimenopause. It includes menopause. And it includes intimate skin.

The more openly and accurately we talk about these changes, the easier it becomes to recognise symptoms, choose appropriate care and ask for professional help when it is needed.

Because intimate health is health — and it shouldn't be the part of menopause nobody talks about.

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JOVEEN provides cosmetic skincare education and product information and does not provide medical diagnosis or treatment. If you are concerned about intimate symptoms or a change in your health, please seek advice from an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.