★★★★★
I hope this is of benefit to those of you residing in the U.K as we do not appear to have the resources available to us that there are in the U.S.
DHEA
★★★★★
Reading all your comments, I started looking for what I could find in my country. I found DHEA tablets, got some cocoa butter, melted the cocoa butter and added the pulverised tablet, poured the concoction as drops on wax paper, let them harden and voila! Home made DHEA suppositories. The go in smoothly, and I used them daily for a week or two, and now only twice a week. The cost is minimal, and no side effects. Back to having amazing sex again. The days I use them I know ill have some goo in my undies, (chocolate smelling goo LOL), but no biggie. Now that dryness is a thing of the past, I can try just the fraction of tablet without the cocoa butter, I guess! Right now the ONLY menopausal symptom that I haven't been able to research myself out of is insomnia...but I'm determined to figure that one out next!! Thank you to all commenters, thank you earth clinic!
★★★★★
★★★★★
Any small plastic container suffices, in fact I no longer use the lid on mine, just shake the Carlsons suppository, Sylk and DHEA from side to side to coat the Carlsons. Any small plastic container will be ok - mine originally contained disposable gloves for hair dye but how about those little containers used to measure medicine or those see through ones that you get on top of toiletries. Easy to rinse out after use and small is good only because you then don't waste so much of the DHEA that tends to stick to the sides. As long as half the suppository just fits into the container it will be perfect. As for inserting vaginally there is only one way and that is to just pretend it's a tampon! The Carlsons are really quite comfortable to use due to their waxy composition. I usually place half a dozen or so into my bathroom cabinet for immediate use and store the remainder of the Carlsons in the fridge.
It has only been a matter of a few months now and, to tell the truth, the Atrophy rarely, if ever, crosses my mind. Mine was so severe as I had been wrongly informed that when I had my hysterectomy some 25 years ago that it was partial, had never been offered any treatment, and was in total ignorance of the long term effects it was having on my vaginal health. It was only when I got to my mid 60's and questioned why I didn't have any menopausal symptoms that the error came to light. I had also given up attempting any form of intimacy, due to the excruciating pain that involved nearly 15 years ago, so wasn't aware of how my condition had really worsened since that time.
So, here I am today and I only use the DHEA about every 3 days or so, and without having to go into details, I can so tell the difference when inserting the Carlsons that maybe if the right man came along ...... well, who knows! The thought certainly doesn't appear to terrify me any more.
Jojoba Oil
★★★★★
★★★★★
Thank you to all for your input, it has been wonderful to read about everyones experience with DHEA. like everyone else I did not want to use an oestrogen supplement for a prolapse and dry vagina.
This lead me to do a great deal of research on DHEA, which I then presented to my doctor with all the findings. Fortunately for me she knows me well and knows how thoroughly I research. We jointly had conversations with a local compounding pharmacy in Brisbane Australia that found a formula for DHEA suppositories 3.25mg (which was what I requested) they formulated a vaginal cream to insert with an applicator and also a refrigerated product to be inserted like a tampon. I have experimented with both of these and they both work extremely well. I am coming up to my third month with nightly doses. I found relief within one week when I started, no more burning and itching, and dryness is no more. The plus is that libido has increased. I am reporting back to my doctor next week and the great thing is that he is totally open to recommending to other women. Hope this helps any other Australians feeling the frustration.
★★★★★
Coconut Oil Suppositories
★★★★★
DHEA
★★★★★
But I have found something. DHEA inserted vaginally. I am well lubricated and it does not hurt to have sex. I bought some DHEA, 5 mg. Then I break the tablet into four pieces with a pill splitter. So I am getting a little over 1mg which is enough vaginally. Also, it does to systemic because my skin is significantly oilier. I have been on this for about six weeks with no spotting (estrogen makes my fibroids grow).
Some people say DHEA converts to estrogen and testosterone. I do not know yet if it is converting to estrogen, but my body will tell me. So with that in mind, it probably would not be good for someone with cancer or who is prone to cancer. I would say to ask your doctor, but doctors generally don't know any more about this sort of thing than a fly knows about computer programming.
DHEA
====ORH====
DHEA
★★★★★
DHEA
★★★★★
DHEA
Medications
DHEA
I think it's an iodine deficiency. Here's why I say that. While I understand that insomnia can have many different causes, I believe that endometriosis is generally caused by an iodine deficiency -- and insomnia is one of the many other issues that may arise because of it.
The odds that you are iodine deficient are quite high. As I recall, Dr. Flechas says that 94% of his patients tested deficient. (I can't recall if it was his female patients (who are actually more likely to be iodine deficient) or if it was 94% of his patients and those of Dr. Brownstein (who, along with Dr. Flechas, was recruited by the late, great Dr. Guy Abraham to do clinical research on iodine supplementation.
In any case, I highly recommend watching Dr. Flechas' YouTube videos (his longer ones -- 40+ minutes and 1-1/2 hours long) and educating yourself about iodine before beginning supplementation because it's a very complex topic and it's very important to take seven or eight nutrients along with the iodine -- including selenium, zinc, magnesium, Vitamin C, B-Complex, Riboflavin, and Niacin. (And I think there's at least one more that I'm forgetting.) And failing to do so can not only result in you not getting the benefit of the iodine, but it can also harm you by aggravating an autoimmune hypothyroid condition called Hashimoto's.
So it's a complex topic that requires an expenditure of time and effort. However, I think you'll find it well worth it in the end. And, by the way, by doing so, you'll be dramatically lowering your risk of cancer along with a myriad of other benefits too numerous to mention.
DHEA
Regarding your question concerning the DHEA cream. I will have to do a bit of research into that as I don't really have any knowledge of it beyond being used solely for anti-ageing. Maybe somebody else on this site has used it and has any comments to add concerning the cream and whether it could be beneficial for atrophy?
Shirley, if you have any further questions just ask and I will try to remember to look in on this site more often. My homemade 'recipe' appears to be working for others too and it's worth a trial as, let's face it, we don't have too many options open to us.
DHEA
I have purchased Douglas brand micronized DHEA tablets, 5 mg and 10 mg.
They are very tiny.
You can split the tablets if you want a dose other than 5 or 10.
I insert one, it dissolves BINGO. No mess. Sometimes a tiny little bit of discharge but invisible. No taste or odor to it.
If you need some help to insert it, you can use a bit of another vaginal suppository or natural oil like coconut or whatever agrees with your body, and perhaps a inserter like for an ovule or suppository.
If you read the research they based the doses on 3.25,6.5 and 13. 25 (or something similar), every day for one month and then tapering or intermittently. The best results were with the higher doses but the tiny increases in serum hormone levels were the highest there too, but all still within normal post-menopausal levels.
Earlier in perimenopause the 5 mg did fine for me, After a month, I reduced to a few times a week and ultimately then cut in half.
As I progressed tho, I needed a bit more and I redid the one month course of 10 mg, which I supplemented with a tiny bit of a DHEA cream for the vulva area, called Julva, to "add up" to 13.
The I started dropping to a few days a week. If I neglect it, I have to do the every day thing again for a while
But honestly with the tablet it is so unobtrusive that it is no big deal.
I tested my levels and they did in fact stay within normal limits. The Vaginal DHEA does NOT affect you like the topical or ingested one. It does its work near where you put it... just like you want it too!
Ladies this WORKS. I have adrenal fatigue so even tho my estrogen was not too low, none of the estrogenic effects got anywhere near where the "trouble" was. Adrenal deficiency or low DHEA can help explain why some women with the same estrogen levels could have dryness while others don't.
And if I am stressed out and my DHEA drops... sure enough my dryness increases and I up back to 10 for a while.
Julva is a cream by a doctor, search it online. I use some of that around the urethra for some Urinary tract issues and to supplement my tablets a little.
Good luck ladies. Once the FDA approves this I hope they don't take it all away from us and make us get costly prescriptions for it.
Because so far this is a miracle solution.
Borax Scent
★☆☆☆☆
WARNING!
DHEA
★★★★★
My recent physical and blood tests, with a new doctor, showed great improvement in hormone levels and the pap smear came back showing not as much menopausal cellular changes. Some states require a prescription for the compounded suppositories and some do not. You will have to check in your area with a compounding pharmacy to see what the laws are. There are some compounding pharmacies on line that will ship out of state. There is one in Ohio that I use that is excellent. They ship the suppositories packed in ice packs and I haven't had any problems with that. But I live in the next state over so not an extreme distance away.
I finally found a local Osteophathic woman doctor that has been a true Godsend to me. She also prescribes a compounded progesterone cream based on my blood test. I have gone to MD gynecologists all my adult life will never go to one again. The extent of their knowledge for this condition seem to be to prescribe synthetic estrogen, and if you refuse that, recommend you get counseling and suggest an antidepressant medication. I am in no way a depressed person, I was stressed out from all the anxiety they helped cause me with their attitudes and lack of caring. Good luck and God Bless you all, I know how awful and stressful the symptoms of vaginal atrophy can be.
★★★★★
So I found this study that said 250 or so women used DHEA suppositories intravaginally for 12 weeks and reported that vaginal atrophy symptoms were relieved. They used varying strengths, to see if that mattered. As it turned out, the 3.25 mg DHEA ovule or suppository seemed to have pretty good results. I found a pharmacist that reported some of their customers had success with 3.25mg DHEA vaginal suppositories (or ovules), inserting 1 suppository nightly for 12 weeks, then 2-3 times per week thereafter. Has anyone tried this?
Another study I came across, the participants utilized a vaginal suppository containing hyaluronic acid sodium salt 5 mg, vitamin E acetate 1 mg, and vitamin A palmitate 1 mg. Dosing was a suppository intravaginally every night for 14 nights, then tapering to every other night for 14 nights. Of 150 women, 126 women completed the study in full. The study assessed efficacy of the study medication in the areas of burning, itching, inflammation and irritation. Results showed that any symptom that was reported as severe initially was resolved to either mild or absent at the end of four weeks. Anyone ever heard of this?
My wife's in a very demanding job, and doesn't have time to research this, so I'll be checking back to hear from you as to what works for you, while I continue to research further and report anything new I find.
★★★★★
I read all emails about JoJoba and tried it and it works! I couldn't believe it. I am post menopausal 54 yrs old and I get dryness and had a history of cervical polyps. I notice when I use the oil I don't have symptoms of unusual discharge. I may have a small polyp developing although the oil is keeping symptoms under control. Try it I know you will like it. It's natural what better than that?
★★★☆☆
BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
I've noticed a huge shift in my nervous energy, racing heart, and emotions. I cry more easily, get frustrated and angry more easily, over nothing! I wonder if it is the hormones. And if so, I'm now doing an experiment and cutting the Cubes in 1/2 , which is difficult as they crumble - not a big problem, I can mold the crumbs together and still insert them...I'll see if I have the same reaction or if I feel more balanced. I'm interested in trying the jojoba oil though. I'm sure we women don't talk enough about this reality of our bodies... and I have to wonder if like letting my hair go grey, it is not just another important aspect of aging to allow the body to simply age and not feel I have to be sexually active as I was when I was young. I've had great sex and connection with my lovers and husband in my life - maybe I don't need to push this and should just let my body be what it is. Older! 65. I'm still quite youthful, healthy and vital and I have a younger husband -- which is one reason I want to continue to have intercourse, both thinking it's good for me and good for him. He's completely loving and wouldn't want me to do anything I don't want to do. Still, I do feel a little confused about my choice. Anyway, that's my story!
Coconut Oil Suppositories
★★★★★
DHEA for vaginal atrophy: Several ladies have posted that when applied vaginally DHEA does not get into the bloodstream and acts only on local tissue.. 2.5 mg mixed with coconut oil triggered migraine consistently after 2 days' use. I infer from this that it does indeed get into the bloodstream. So beware, ladies, as whatever the benefits, the possible side effects listed on sites such as the respected Mayo Clinic can be serious and include hormone sensitive cancers.
