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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, progressive condition — and notes that symptoms are often under-recognised because women may assume they are simply an inevitable part of ageing.

Symptoms vary 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, the effect on everyday comfort, relationships and quality of life can be significant.

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. This matters 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 and concentrate on hydration and barrier support. External intimate skin deserves the same thoughtfulness — not a complicated new routine, but a simpler, more considered one. 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 and 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've become interested in the emerging intimate dermocosmetic category.

Moisturiser, lubricant and medical treatment are not the same thing

An intimate moisturiser is generally intended to provide ongoing hydration and comfort. A lubricant is designed primarily to reduce friction, particularly during intimacy. Medical treatment for menopausal genitourinary symptoms is a different category entirely.

Current NICE guidance recommends offering vaginal oestrogen for genitourinary symptoms associated with menopause, and also recognises non-hormonal moisturisers and lubricants — including where vaginal oestrogen is contraindicated or someone prefers not to use it. The two can also be used alongside each other. 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 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 — but 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 Alyval, a specialist intimate-care range developed from the dermocosmetic expertise of Valetudo, which the manufacturer describes as having more than 40 years of formulation experience. The range combines everyday cleansing and hydration with more targeted formulations built around PEA (palmitoylethanolamide) — a naturally occurring lipid studied for its role in inflammatory and sensory signalling. PEA is notoriously hard to deliver topically because of its poor solubility; Alyval's proprietary pealiquitech™ technology solubilises it within a lamellar matrix, allowing higher concentrations to disperse more evenly and release gradually. As with most ingredients, how it's formulated and delivered matters as much as the ingredient itself.

Topical PEA is also being explored in gynaecological research: at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists World Congress 2025, a randomised double-blind study on a 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. The recognition was for the scientific presentation, not for Alyval itself — but it's part of why we think PEA is worth watching.

Understanding the Alyval range

Alyval isn't one generic "menopause cream" — the range covers different aspects of intimate care:

AGELESS Intimate Cream — positioned around moisturisation, elasticity, tone and firmness; specifically described as beneficial during perimenopause.
MED Intimate Cream — a soothing formula positioned particularly around irritation, redness and discomfort.
REGENERA Intimate Cream — the range's more restorative cream, for stressed, dry or fragile intimate skin.
VITAL Intimate Oleogel Cleanser — surfactant-free and non-foaming, 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, lubricating oil-based gel that supports hydration and reduces friction.

Discover Alyval Intimate Care

Intimate health is part of women's health

Menopause can change the skin we see in the mirror. It can also affect parts of the body 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 how we support its health, resilience and comfort. That includes perimenopause, menopause, and 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's 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.