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Vaginal Atrophy

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DHEA v. Estradiol Cream for Vaginal Atrophy

M (New York) on 03/10/2024

Hi Everyone, I'm honestly confused. I see a lot of posts here about DHEA, but is it a natural remedy? My doctor prescribed Estradiol Cream and told me that it is the best choice in treating VA. He also said that the medicine doesn't get absorbed into the bloodstream. I read the same in these threads about DHEA. So is DHEA a real alternative? Is it healthier? How? And what dosage would it be comparable to the Estradiol cream 1%? Do we know how to compare it? I'm a bit reluctant to ask my doctor lol but I will..

I also saw a post about the use of a coconut oil alone and I'm very intrigued by that. That is a 100% healthy solution... if it works. Did anyone else try it? The person who recommended it to me had similar issues (dry, itchy) after giving birth but I think it's probably a bit different from VA.

I appreciate the opportunity to share here and support each other.

Coconut Oil Suppositories for Vaginal Atrophy

Kristine (OH) on 02/06/2024
5 out of 5 stars

I have been dealing with vaginal atrophy for a few years. It started with menopause and has continued into my postmenopausal phase. I have now helped the problem with nightly coconut oil suppositories. I make my own using nothing but cold pressed, organic coconut oil. At first I wasn't getting complete relief so I decided to make the suppositories larger and this is all that was needed. I don't add anything else to the suppositories. After I make them I keep them stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container. I place one in the vagina, as far as it will go, right before getting into bed for the night. It will melt after a few minutes and will slowly leak out (I put a small, folded washcloth in my underwear, like a pad to absorb the melted oil) but it nonetheless gets rid of the burning sensation from the atrophy. I have been doing this for two weeks and it is inexpensive and effective. Immediate results after the first night.

Royal Jelly for Vaginal Atrophy

Houdini (Chicago, Il) on 01/26/2021
5 out of 5 stars

Anyone have any experience with topical royal jelly for vaginal atrophy? There was a study that it worked as well as topical estrogen. Would like to make diy. Have tried EVERYTHING.

Bethbs (London) on 07/02/2019
0 out of 5 stars

Warning!

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.

DHEA for Vaginal Atrophy

Kathleen (Ca) on 05/13/2018
5 out of 5 stars

Thank you everyone for this great thread. I am having great (and quick! ) success with the 2.5mg DHEA pill and suppository combo. I'm looking forward to sharing my results with my doctor.

DHEA for Vaginal Atrophy

La (Brisbane, Australia) on 02/22/2018
5 out of 5 stars

Hi to all on the thread.

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.

Mack (California) on 02/04/2018
5 out of 5 stars

DHEA: Huge success. Here are the details - I ordered 2 items, from Vitacost online. DHEA tablets: Manufacturer is Douglas Laboratories DHEA Micronized 5mg. I split them in l/2, using a single edge blade or a pill cutter (from online drug store). Also ordered the Carlson Key-E suppositories. Separately, I googled 'vaginal suppository plastic applicator', and figured out where to get them. Even if you have to purchase a product 'off the shelf', to get the applicator - go for it. Let the flat end of the suppository, get a bit 'softish'. You can do this, by just holding your fingertip on the end, for art 15 seconds. Insert the suppository 'pointed end FIRST', so that when it is in the applicator, you are looking at the 'flat' end of the suppository. Take the l/2 of the DHEA tablet, and gently push it into the softened end of the suppository. It is MUCH easier, to have it all in the plastic applicator. If you need a little 'help' getting the applicator inside - use a bit of lubricant on the outside of the applicator. After act 5 days, I did not need any lubricant. This is MUCH easier, than melting the suppositories, and trying to mix up the l/2 of the DHEA pill, etc. The newly FDA approved DHEA suppositories called, 'IntraRosa', are too expensive for me. Murry Avenue Apothecary online, also has them; again, too expensive for me - but may be an option for a lot of you. Best regards.

Re: DHEA Suppositories

Amanda (S. Fl) on 01/26/2018
1 out of 5 stars

I tried estriol suppositories and they did not help at all. I'm now trying the DHEA/Carlson suppository approach (2nd day) and will report back. Thank you to all the women on here for posting their experiences!

Sea Kelp for Vaginal Atrophy

ME Martinez (El Centro, Ca) on 05/28/2017
5 out of 5 stars

Vaginal atrophy cure:

Try SEA KELP. It fixed my delicate, sensitive, irritated, painful private parts. Highly recommend!! I finally feel normal again! I now take 1 pill 225 mgs daily (mornings). Had complete hysterectomy last year at age 55 hoping it would help recover the many feminine issues I had, but it did not fix much. The DHEA also helped me but this much more. I take both now.

I take 100 mgs of DHEA once a week.

I have been on the Kelp only a few weeks now but the results were within a few days!

Re: DHEA for Vaginal Atrophy

Mar (Mexico) on 05/09/2017
5 out of 5 stars

I'm so thankful for earth clinic and for all the women that have commented on this cure, you saved my life! I was depressed to the point of being suicidal after my oophorectomy at 43 (my last ovary removed due to endometriosis). I expected some hot flashes, but my doctor never mentioned "your sex life will be over" as a menopause symptom (or I would've waited out the endo) So after my first attempt after the operation, I had painful sex for the first time ever... I had an emotional breakdown! I researched furiously for days and once again, earthclinic was the source for the best remedy! (I've come here before for many other remedies in the past)

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!

Re: Vaginal Atrophy

Frances (Cabarlah, Qld.) on 09/18/2016
5 out of 5 stars

Recently on an essential oil summit on the internet, one of the lady presenters said that the best oil for vaginal atrophy is pomegranate. I found a source in the UK via eBay.

DHEA for Vaginal Atrophy

Sandra (U.k) on 02/16/2016
5 out of 5 stars

Hydration cubes or anything like that are not available in the U.K. After a lot of searching I decided to use the Carlsons, but the main problem was getting hold of the low dose DHEA capsules. It took a lot of research but I finally found them at a company called Swanson. I ordered one bottle of 120 10mg for less than £9 with postage. It is quite simple, I break a Carlson in half (a whole one is too much) and roll it in the contents of a DHEA capsule, which has been opened up and put into a small plastic container. One capsule lasts about 3 days so 120 will last approx a year. I intend to do this daily for a month and then cut down to 3 times a week. My severe atrophy symptoms disappeared within a few days and now I feel completely cured and it's only been 2 weeks!

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.

Re: DHEA for Vaginal Atrophy

Mary (The Netherlands) on 07/23/2015

Hi all, I really would like to order these DHAE cubes but shipping it to Europe is quite expensive. Does anyone know if I can get this anywhere in Europe? I cannot find it on the Internet. I really would be very thankful.

Re: DHEA for Vaginal Atrophy

Gracd (Falls Church Va) on 07/22/2015

Hi, over time did you continue using DHEA? Did it affect your fibroids? I've just been told by a compounding pharmacist that DHEA breaks down into estradiol which concerns me. Any insight would be greatly recommended as I'm deciding upon which treatment to embark upon.

Help Requested for Constant Pain from Vaginal Atrophy

Jean (Bellevue, Wa) on 06/28/2015
5 out of 5 stars

I've been suffering for 7 yrs extreme pain then recently started using 1/2 tsp hydralonic acid gel OTC with OTC syringes, w/o the needle. Uh...was THIS all that was needed ???? I can have sex without pain for first time in years! Frozen coconut oil cubes for lube too I have tried estradiol -silk -Yes- vitamin e - dilators -everything and anything. HA and coconut oil. 1x per day till better than 2x a week. Enjoy life again!

DHEA for Vaginal Atrophy

Karen (Florida) on 05/02/2015
5 out of 5 stars

I have been using the DHEA supositories and I can't believe the difference. I am a 60 year old woman and I was about to give up sex it hurt and I had lost the desire. Well I feel like this is the magic bullet. I actually feel like a woman again. I know that sounds corny but the DHEA I got from a compounding pharmacy they are little cubes and I cut them in half , they were prescribed, a full one was to much, I started to spot a trace and he told me to cut it in half. Perfect for me. I have moisture and plumpness and a sex drive. I can't believe it has taken me this long to find something natural that works. I don't find it messy and it didn't keep me up at night. Good Luck Ladies

Estriol Cream Seems to be Helping Vaginal Atrophy

Lisa (Los Angeles, California) on 01/25/2015
5 out of 5 stars

I'm so happy to find this site. I'm in menopause and just turned 50. I'm also a newlywed. On our wedding night I experienced painful sex for the first time ever! We abstained from sex for a month before our wedding. Nobody ever told me that could bring on vaginal atrophy! I never even heard of this term! I didn't realize I had vaginal dryness. I saw my Gyno and she told me this. I just started using bio identical Estradol cream. I'm on day 4 and I can tell it's helping. I'm hopeful it will reverse the atrophy and I can have sex with my new husband soon without any pain. It's crazy that this issue hasn't been talked about more! None of my friends had heard about what could happen as we age either.

Re: Vaginal Atrophy And DHEA Suppositories

Deanna (Michigan, US) on 08/07/2014
5 out of 5 stars

After much research, incredible stress and absolutely no help from traditional MD gynecologists, I found a compounding pharmacy that makes DHEA 3.25mg suppositories in a solid oil type base. I have used them for 1 year now and they have worked wonders for me! My only complaint is that they can be messy since the oil melts at body temperature and will leak out a little. But that is nothing compared to what I was going through before I used them.

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.

Re: DHEA Suppositories

Gettingoldsucks (Huntsville, Alabama) on 07/22/2014

I understand DHEA vaginal suppositories have yet to be approved by FDA (in third phase trial study). Those who have been using DHEA vaginal suppositories...can you tell me if you have experienced any side effects? Also, where do you purchase them if the product has not been approved?

DHEA for Vaginal Atrophy

Patricia (Denver, Co) on 04/28/2014
5 out of 5 stars

I had vaginal atrophy so bad sex became out of the question. I tried everything. Even forced myself to use hormone creams they made me feel terrible. They made me feel extremely grouchy. I even tried using progesterone cream vaginally. My husband was supportive, but it still felt painful. I read about using dhea in the suppository. So I tried it. This is what I do. I use the Carlson suppositories and cut them in half and and hollow a little spot out for 1/3 of a 5 mg tablet. I started with a half and it was too strong- I am pretty sensitive. I insert this every other morning. I wish I could do it at night, but the dhea keeps me awake. On the days I do not do this I use 1/2 suppository at night - just helps keep things moisturized. I have been doing this for six months and I am amazed sometimes I do not even need to use a suppository prior to intercourse. I would have never even tried it before. This is the answer for me. I normally don't write about this, but I hope it helps someone.