With temperatures beginning to drop as the winter months approach, it's not just your lips and skin that may start to feel dry.

Women often experience 'winter vaginas' due to the dry, cold air causing their genitals to enter 'drought mode', according to an expert.

Mary Burke, a former NHS midwife and senior clinical nurse at the London Bridge Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Clinic, made the claim.

Many women could find intercourse unbearably painful if they experience vaginal dryness, Ms Burke added.

Cold weather causes 'winter vagina' due to heating drying genitals out, expert warns (stock)

'Dry autumn and winter air depletes moisture from our bodies, leaving our skin dehydrated and cracked, and our sinuses parched,' Ms Burke told The Sun.

'And while it’s an issue few will want to discuss openly, our vaginas can enter "drought mode" during this time, too.'

Spending a lot of time in heated rooms reduces the amount of moisture in the air, Ms Burke said.

'And the dryness we experience can often extend to every inch of our bodies - including our most private regions,' she added.

Ms Burke recommended women keep their vaginas moist and healthy during the winter months by:

HEATWAVES GIVE MEN 'SUMMER PENISES' The heatwave of 2018 gave men 'summer penises', it was claimed earlier this year. One man asked users of an online forum if anyone else's genitals grew during the summer months. Many men were quick to respond that soaring temperatures caused their penises to appear larger, their erections better and made them into 'showers instead of growers'. Doctors confirmed 'summer penises' did exist, with one saying sweating and drinking more water makes male sexual organs appear 'bloated'. Dr Dudley Danoff, author of The Ultimate Guide to Male Sexual Health, said hot temperatures cause blood vessels to widen and penises to 'swell', adding: 'There's a reason people don't take honeymoons to the North Pole'. Writing on Reddit, one user asked others if they experienced 'bigger d**** in summer and smaller in winter'. He questioned whether heat improves blood flow to the sexual organ. Many users responded to his post, claiming penises enlarge during hot temperatures as 'part of your body trying to regulate ideal temperatures'. Another said this only happened to his testicles, with warm weather causing them to 'get to my knee'. Urologist Dr Jamin Brahmbhatt, from The PUR Clinic, Florida, argued men's penises always remain the same size, regardless of the weather, but added blood vessels near the organs' surface may contract to maintain heat. Dr Dunoff claimed hot weather may cause blood vessels to 'fill to the max' with blood, making erect penises appear larger. He told MEL Magazine: 'There’s a reason why a hot tub is attractive for romance.' Advertisement

Drinking apple juice - is rich in phytoestrogens, which can reverse the hormonal imbalance that causes vaginal dryness

Eating greens - spinach, kale and broccoli contain nutrients that prevent dryness and boost circulation

Munching on watermelon - the fruit contains the compound citrulline, which relaxes the body's blood vessels to promote circulation and blood flow to the genitals

Drinking coconut water - contains lauric acid, which fights the harmful bacteria that can cause vaginal infections

Eating sweet potatoes - the orange pigment 'beta carotene', which is also found in carrots, gets turned into vitamin A in the body. This is linked to vaginal health

Stressing less - stress causes a woman's oestrogen levels to decline, which can dry the skin

Using a humidifier - central heating drys out the moisture in the air

Exercising - being active has been proven to improve circulation all over the body and reduce stress

Ditching fragrant soaps and bubble baths - these irritate the sensitive skin of the vagina and change its pH

However, other experts disagree over whether 'winter vaginas' are real.

Dr Jen Gunter has previously rubbished the concept of 'summer vaginas' - that a woman's genitals become drier during the hot months.

'Vaginas function quite well in all seasons,' she wrote in May.

'The vagina maintains a steady temperature because it is inside your body and human body temperature only rises with the outside temperature when someone is suffering from heat stroke.'

The NHS states the menopause, breastfeeding, childbirth, lack of arousal before sex, certain contraceptives and cancer treatments can all cause vaginal dryness.

It recommends women use a lubricant or vaginal moisturiser, as well as taking more time to become aroused before having sex.

In severe cases, vaginal oestrogen may be required if dryness is caused by the menopause. Hormone replacement therapy may also help.