1. < Aging Well

Vaginal atrophy

Posted by HomeAgainLA @llynch17056, Sep 21, 2023

TO THE LADIES ONLY: As I got older I started developing vaginal atrophy. Then I started developing open splits on my labia that were extremely painful. I went to urgent care one weekend and was prescribed vaginal estrogen medicine. It did the trick but I didn’t want to use estrogen. I went to a GYN that recommending organic coconut oil to use externally only. This was a few years ago and it has worked perfectly. I have never had another problem. At all. I wanted to pass along a natural inexpensive solution to vaginal atrophy.

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HomeAgainLA | @llynch17056 | Feb 12 3:30pm
In reply to @cstevens "Thank you for all of your helpful posts. I completely relate to the painful feeling of..." + (show)
@cstevens

Thank you for all of your helpful posts. I completely relate to the painful feeling of knives, or an open cut feeling. I am 67 and dread the intense pain that I feel when even having a papsmear. I have an awesome female OBGYN who couldn't be more understanding and gentle during my annual appointments. She had me try a conservative amount of estrogen cream two different times to help with my extreme dryness and pain. Only a minuscule amount every evening for the first week, then the same amount only twice per week. I was hopeful this would work, but after only 2 days of using it during my first week, the pain and intense pressure in my lower bladder forced me to stop taking it. It saddens me that this has happened since I was very optimistic that this would alleviate my pain.

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I understand! If I skip two days of applying coconut oil my discomfort starts to come back. When I tried the estrogen cream it worked, but only if I used it everyday. Anyway, about ten years of clear paps after I had my complete hysterectomy (I have no cervix, uterus or ovaries), I quit pap smears at the suggestion of my doctor (ask your doctor), but before I stopped I had my doctor use a child sized speculum because of the pain when he used an adult one. That helped.

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gravity3 | @gravity3 | Feb 13 4:37am
In reply to @llynch17056 "Just melt a small dab in your hand. It melts quickly. Only use on the outside." + (show)
@llynch17056

Just melt a small dab in your hand. It melts quickly. Only use on the outside.

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So, let's get down to the big question. Are you saying that it's applied only to the labia or is it inserted into the vaginal opening or...?

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1 reply
gravity3 | @gravity3 | Feb 13 9:16am
In reply to @llynch17056 "I take a shower every night and apply it after I dry off. That’s it." + (show)
@llynch17056

I take a shower every night and apply it after I dry off. That’s it.

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I am trying to find out where to apply it

The labia or is it for the vaginal dryness too?

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1 reply
HomeAgainLA | @llynch17056 | Feb 13 9:18am
In reply to @gravity3 "So, let's get down to the big question. Are you saying that it's applied only to..." + (show)
@gravity3

So, let's get down to the big question. Are you saying that it's applied only to the labia or is it inserted into the vaginal opening or...?

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I only apply it to the labia. That’s where my problem was.

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HomeAgainLA | @llynch17056 | Feb 13 9:21am
In reply to @gravity3 "I am trying to find out where to apply it The labia or is it for..." + (show)
@gravity3

I am trying to find out where to apply it

The labia or is it for the vaginal dryness too?

Jump to this post

I am no longer sexually active so I only apply it to the labia. If I were sexually active I would check with my GYN. I think she would tell me I could use it also as a lubricant for sexual insertion.

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HomeAgainLA | @llynch17056 | Feb 13 9:29am
In reply to @llynch17056 "I agree that the risk is lower than oral estrogen. Sometimes we just take the risk...." + (show)
@llynch17056

I agree that the risk is lower than oral estrogen. Sometimes we just take the risk. I was in so much pain that if the coconut oil had not worked I would have used the cream, too. I am not against drugs, I just look for safer alternatives if such exists. I am so happy you have never had any problems with it, but someone else might be the person that gets cancer from it.

This from the Mayo Clinic:
Elderly women greater than 65 years of age may have an increased risk of certain side effects during treatment, especially stroke, invasive breast cancer, and memory problems.

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To the Mayo Clinic: thank you. That is why I posted this originally. My painful atrophy wasn’t a temporary condition. It requires regular care. I did not want to use estrogen indefinitely, so I was thrilled that coconut oil worked. It really frustrates me that doctors stick with the estrogen solution with all its attached risks when such a simple inexpensive healthy solution exists that works.
PS I am not “elderly” even though I am 76. I am a “senior.” 😊😊😊

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AZ | @equanimous | Feb 13 11:48am
In reply to @jalo "No many grocers have organic coconut oil." + (show)
@jalo

No many grocers have organic coconut oil.

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Trader Joe's does carry organic coconut oil. At least they do, here in Los Angeles.

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2 replies
HomeAgainLA | @llynch17056 | Feb 13 12:14pm
In reply to @equanimous "Trader Joe's does carry organic coconut oil. At least they do, here in Los Angeles." + (show)
@equanimous

Trader Joe's does carry organic coconut oil. At least they do, here in Los Angeles.

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Yes. Also, Ingels, Rouses, and, I think, even Walmart. I’ve never had trouble finding it on my regular grocery shopping.

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1 reply
aethos | @aethos | Feb 13 3:24pm

And Costco. I also use it for baking.

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mabfp3 | @mabfp3 | Feb 13 4:02pm
In reply to @cstevens "Thank you for all of your helpful posts. I completely relate to the painful feeling of..." + (show)
@cstevens

Thank you for all of your helpful posts. I completely relate to the painful feeling of knives, or an open cut feeling. I am 67 and dread the intense pain that I feel when even having a papsmear. I have an awesome female OBGYN who couldn't be more understanding and gentle during my annual appointments. She had me try a conservative amount of estrogen cream two different times to help with my extreme dryness and pain. Only a minuscule amount every evening for the first week, then the same amount only twice per week. I was hopeful this would work, but after only 2 days of using it during my first week, the pain and intense pressure in my lower bladder forced me to stop taking it. It saddens me that this has happened since I was very optimistic that this would alleviate my pain.

Jump to this post

I feel that exact same way. I am 74 and have this vaginal dryness now for four or five years. I can tell that there is also atrophy there too. My GYN gave me the estrogen cream and it was helpful for several years but now I have noticed that the twice a week use doesn’t seem to be enough. I would be interested in trying the coconut oil. It sounds from the comments that it comes in a solid form. Can it go inside (where it is so, so dry!) or only on the outside. If used only on the outside, how does it help the dryness inside? You are so right in that it feels like open cuts! My GYN compared the feeling to tissue paper having little tears. I am glad to see this being discussed on this site. I think many post-menopausal women have this problem. Thanks to all for their input. MaryAnn from MA

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