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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 13 4:10pm
In reply to @mabfp3 "I feel that exact same way. I am 74 and have this vaginal dryness now for..." + (show)
@mabfp3

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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I haven’t used it inside, but if I needed to, I would. Just like with anything, I would assure that everything I use to put it inside was clean. I put it on the outside right after my shower so everything is clean. I’ve been doing it for a couple of years without issues.

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gravity3 | @gravity3 | Feb 14 2:28am
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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I get mine at Walmart in NC

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susanfalcon52 | @susanfalcon52 | Feb 14 6:40am

Maryanne, I started out using the estrogen cream twice a week and the coconut oil the other days. My body seems to prefer the estrogen cream, so I’ve started using it more often.
I also do the pelvic floor exercises that I was taught at PT. Truthfully, I find these exercises tedious , so I have started using a vibrator some of the time. The pelvic floor PT approved of this saying that it would increase blood flow to the pelvic floor and thus be therapeutic. If I skip a day - no coconut oil or estrogen cream - I have a problem.

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1 reply
kensiejames | @kensiejames | Feb 14 6:49am

Has anyone tried the Mona Lisa laser treatment for severe vaginal atrophy?

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gravity3 | @gravity3 | Feb 14 9:41am

Would like to more. Expensive? Need to repeat treatment?

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aethos | @aethos | Feb 14 12:35pm

My gyn said to use inside and outside. I have a different issue. I had prolapse surgery in FEB 23 and have had chronic vaginal infections ever since….I am 70 years old with an active sex life. My gyn has prescribed many different antibiotics in both pill and vaginal insertion form since then but infection comes right back….two different types. So I also have vaginal pain. I use Premarin cream sometimes but not when I am on antibiotic which is frequent. I need to remember to use coconut oil…it is rather messy so I ditch the underwear at night and put a towel under me.

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susanfalcon52 | @susanfalcon52 | Feb 15 6:41am
In reply to @llynch17056 "Yes. Also, Ingels, Rouses, and, I think, even Walmart. I’ve never had trouble finding it on..." + (show)
@llynch17056

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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Whole Foods, also

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mabfp3 | @mabfp3 | Feb 16 7:14am
In reply to @susanfalcon52 "Maryanne, I started out using the estrogen cream twice a week and the coconut oil the..." + (show)
@susanfalcon52

Maryanne, I started out using the estrogen cream twice a week and the coconut oil the other days. My body seems to prefer the estrogen cream, so I’ve started using it more often.
I also do the pelvic floor exercises that I was taught at PT. Truthfully, I find these exercises tedious , so I have started using a vibrator some of the time. The pelvic floor PT approved of this saying that it would increase blood flow to the pelvic floor and thus be therapeutic. If I skip a day - no coconut oil or estrogen cream - I have a problem.

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Thanks very much!

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celia16 | @celia16 | Mar 19 6:18pm

I’ve been reading here about coconut oil. Doesn’t it cause your crotch to smell like coconuts? Just curious if others would notice it?

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