Effective help with vaginal dryness Dryness and irritation in the intimate area can be very uncomfortable and painful. The causes of vaginal dryness, which affects many women of all ages, are mostly hormonal changes that throw the physical balance out of sync. The most common complaints include itching, burning and pain during sexual intercourse. The lower secretion of vaginal fluid also inhibits the self-cleaning mechanism of the vagina, pathogenic bacteria can spread more easily.