Vulva and Vaginal Dryness
What is Vulva and Vaginal Dryness, and how does it affect you?
The vulva and vagina are skin. The vulva refers to external skin and the vagina refers to internal skin. Like all skin, vulva and vaginal tissue have an important role to play in our health. It helps us sit, move and exercise comfortably. It helps us enjoy penetrative sex comfortably¹ (if you choose). Healthy vulva and vaginal skin supports a wide range of activities needed to enjoying a healthy lifestyle.
What is Vulva and Vaginal Dryness, and how does it affect you?
Are you experiencing vulva and vaginal dryness?
The vulva and vagina are skin. The vulva refers to external skin and the vagina refers to internal skin. Like all skin, vulva and vaginal tissue have an important role to play in our health. It helps us sit, move and exercise comfortably. It helps us enjoy penetrative sex comfortably¹ (if you choose). Healthy vulva and vaginal skin supports a wide range of activities needed to enjoying a healthy lifestyle.
Vulva and vaginal dryness is an issue that will affect most women at some point in their life. Are you or someone you know of experiencing dryness? If so, what treatment options are available to help you? If you can’t think of many, you are not alone. Despite how important vulva and vaginal health is to our quality of life, most women have not been informed of the options available to them and how they work.
What causes vulva and vaginal dryness, and why is it important to treat?
Vulva and vaginal dryness often occurs because of declining hyaluronic acid and estrogen production. This is often but not always caused by increasing age. Hyaluronic acid helps retain moisture in skin, and is naturally produced by your body. Decreased levels can lead to dryness. Estrogen is a hormone produced by the ovaries when cycles are regular and helps maintain vulva and vaginal health. Decreased production can lead to atrophy and dryness.
Vulva and vaginal dryness can lead to discomfort, irritation and itching. In more severe cases of dryness, it can result in a burning sensation as the barrier integrity of skin becomes compromised.
Addressing these discomforts may not seem urgent at first. Yet gradually, it can chip away at our quality of life. This is why it is important to seek treatment for vulva and vaginal dryness, and the first step is to be informed about the different options available to help you.
Read on to learn about how you can take control of your vulva and vaginal health today!
¹Waetjen L.E., Crawford S.L., Chang P.Y., Reed B.D, Hess R., Avis N.E., Harlow S.D., Greendale G.A., Dugan S.A., Gold, E.B. (2018, October). Factors associated with developing vaginal dryness symptoms in women transitioning through menopause: a longitudinal study. Menopause. 25(10): 1094-1104
What are common causes of Vulva and Vaginal Dryness?
Causes of Vulva and Vaginal dryness include:
- Declining production of hyaluronic acid which begins in the 30s and 40s
- Fluctuating hormones during perimenopause
- A steep decline of estrogen production postmenopause
- The use of certain medications such as oral contraceptives
- Postpartum
- Certain cancer treatments
- The overuse of pantyliners & paper-based absorbent pads
Declining hyaluronic acid and estrogen are often the culprits behind vulva and vaginal dryness. What are these, and how do they function?
Hyaluronic acid is a molecule that plays an important role in moisture retention. It is found abundantly in body tissues such as the eyes and skin, including vulva and vaginal skin. Each molecule can hold up to one thousand times its own weight in water! As we age, hyaluronic acid production permanently decreases. This can lead to vulva and vaginal dryness, irritation and inflammation which will not resolve without treatment. Some treatment options use hyaluronic acid to restore moisture to the vulva and vagina.
Estrogen is a hormone produced mostly in the ovaries during the reproductive years, which is critical for keeping the vulva and vagina healthy and elastic. Its steep decline postmenopause may lead to vulva and vaginal atrophy, which can result in dryness and discomfort. This will not resolve without treatment. Some treatment options use estrogen applied topically or vaginally to improve vulva and vaginal health.
It is equally important to seek treatment for vulva and vaginal dryness whether you are in postmenopause or in your 30s
Dryness can affect you whether you are in postmenopause or in your 30s. Left untreated, it can have a wide-ranging impact on your quality of life, including discomfort during work, play and penetrative sex.
Why is prioritizing Vulva & Vaginal health important?
84% of women experience vulva & vaginal dryness within the first six years of postmenopause.
Less than 4% of women have been offered an easy, viable solution.
We have a lot of work to do. Prioritizing prevention and treatment of vulva & vaginal dryness continues to be one of the largest unmet needs in women’s health.
Consider your options for improving Vulva and Vaginal Health
The following are commonly recommended solutions for vulva and vaginal dryness:
Prescription Options
Hormone therapy: Vulva and vaginal dryness is often a symptom resulting from a decline in estrogen levels, due to postmenopause or other causes. Therefore, estrogen administered topically or vaginally is one treatment option. This is a prescription treatment that raises estrogen levels that aid the vulva and vaginal tissue in restoring moisture and elasticity. An informed discussion with your healthcare team is needed to understand if this approach is right for you.
Non-prescription options
Vulva and Vaginal moisturizers: These are non-prescription products that can be used to moisturize the vulva and vaginal tissue and relieve dryness. They are typically applied regularly - daily, every few days, or as needed, and can help to maintain vulva and vaginal moisture. Moisturizers can promote long-term health of the vulva and vagina. It may be used alone or in conjunction with hormone therapy. Hormone therapy that is only applied vaginally does not treat the vulva, therefore a product that also moisturizes the vulva can address this gap.
Additional ways to Promote Vulva and Vaginal Health
Consult with a pelvic floor physiotherapist – sessions may aid in prevention and treatment of incontinence, prolapse, pain, and dryness.
¹Faubion S., Kingsberg S., Shifren J., Mitchell C., Kaunitz A., Larkin L., Kellogg Spadt S., Clark A., Simon J., (2020, May). The 2020 genitourinary syndrome of menopause position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society 27(9): 976-992
Introducing VVM Vulva and Vaginal Moisturizer – A Solution Tailored to You!
What is VVM Vulva and Vaginal M Vulva and V
VVM Vulva and Vaginal Moisturizer is a non-prescription product containing hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, in a base formulated for safety, flexibility and optimized delivery of the active ingredients. It is designed for preventing and treating vulva and vaginal dryness.
Hyaluronic acid is very effective at promoting moisture retention and correcting dryness with consistent use. Vitamin E helps repair dry, damaged and inflamed skin. It also promotes skin healing through its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties.
What is VVM‘s role in the prevention and treatment of vulva and vaginal dryness?
VVM Vulva and Vaginal Moisturizer is a non-prescription product that does not contain hormones. You do not require a doctor's visit to get started, so you can easily trial this product and determine if a moisturizer alone is able to treat and prevent vulva and vaginal dryness. In cases where dryness is not related to declining hormone levels, or where hormone therapy is contraindicated, VVM may be sufficient to correct and prevent dryness.
If you and your doctor determine that hormone therapy is appropriate, VVM can be used in conjunction with this option. As both estrogen and hyaluronic acid production drop with age, both VVM and hormone therapy can be combined to address these two primary causes of dryness.
Research shows that using hyaluronic acid can be considered for vulva and vaginal dryness from any cause, and may be as effective for alleviating dryness as hormone options.
What did we consider when developing VVM?
We are addressing and closing a very real, and very glaring gap in women’s health. We understand that everyone is unique and may have different reasons for experiencing vulva and vaginal dryness. So we designed VVM to be a non-prescription option that can be used first-line for any cause of vulva and vaginal dryness.
As an accessible option, VVM does not require a prescription. It can be easily trialed to see if a moisturizer alone is sufficient to correct vulva and vaginal dryness. If that is the case, there is no need for repeated doctor visits and pharmacy wait times. We understand that accessibility can help you take charge of your vulva and vaginal health.
As a flexible option, VVM can be used alone, or alongside hormone therapy. It can be applied both externally to the vulva or internally to the vagina. For some, the hyaluronic acid in VVM will be sufficient to prevent and correct dryness. For others, both hyaluronic acid and hormone therapy are needed. VVM can be used in either scenarios.
VVM is an accessible and flexible option to help you take charge of your vulva and vaginal health
¹Stute, P. (2013, December). Is vaginal hyaluronic acid as effective as vaginal estriol for vaginal dryness relief? Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 288(6):1199-201.
The VVM Formula
Replete™ has created VVM as a non-prescription, first-line option for preventing and treating vulva and vaginal dryness.
The Active Ingredients
Hyaluronic acid - a naturally occurring substance produced by our bodies which moisturizes tissue through its excellent water retention ability. The molecule works to retain water through its unique structure and chemical properties, which includes numerous hydrophilic (water-loving) groups. This keeps the skin elastic and healthy, and effectively restores moisture to dry, irritated vulva and vaginal tissue.
Studies have demonstrated that hyaluronic acid may be as effective as estrogen-based treatments in relieving the symptoms of vulva and vaginal dryness.¹ ²
Vitamin E - a vitamin that helps repair dry, damaged and inflamed skin and promotes healing through its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties.
The VVM Base
Safety - to optimize safety, we formulated the VVM base without the use of dyes, ethanol, parabens and propylene glycol. VVM is suitable for those with hypersensitivities to these ingredients.
Flexibility- VVM can be conveniently applied with your fingers rather than a vaginal applicator. By using the fingers, both the vulva (external skin) and vagina (internal skin) can be moisturized. This is in contrast to using an applicator which is designed to only moisturize the vagina internally. VVM promotes flexibility and comfort by addressing dryness both externally and internally.
Delivery - for optimal delivery, VVM’s base was formulated to increase contact time between the active ingredients with the vulva and vaginal tissue, to effectively restore moisture and sooth irritated, inflamed skin.
¹Chen J., Geng L., Song X., Li H., Giordan N., Liao Q. (2013, April). Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of Hyaluronic Acid Vaginal Gel to Ease Vaginal Dryness: A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled, Open‐Label, Parallel‐Group, Clinical Trial. The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 10(6):1575-1584
²Stute, P. (2013, December). Is vaginal hyaluronic acid as effective as vaginal estriol for vaginal dryness relief? Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 288(6):1199-201.
How do I use VVM
Vulva and Vaginal Moisturizer?
Directions for use
With our vacuum-sealed pump bottles, each pump is precisely 0.5 mL.
Using your finger, apply 2 pumps of gel (1 mL) into the vagina and/or to the vulva once daily as needed.
VVM Vulva and Vaginal Moisturizer is not intended for use as a lubricant. For optimal results, separate from penetrative sex by at least 2 hours.
Consult a healthcare practitioner if you will be using another product for vaginal application alongside VVM.
How long until I feel better?
It is recommended to use VVM Vulva and Vaginal Moisturizer once daily for least 2 weeks to achieve beneficial results and restore moisture to dry, irritated vulva and vaginal tissue. Long-term prevention may be needed in cases where hyaluronic acid production has been permanently reduced past a certain age, or where the ovaries have stopped producing estrogen due to postmenopause, in order to prevent future dryness.
Product sizes
VVM Vulva and Vaginal Moisturizer is available in three sizes. The recommended dose is 2 pumps (1mL) daily. Consult the following chart for the expected days supply:
Storage and Stability
For optimal shelf-life, store at room temperature between 15-30°C, keeping the cap on the pump when not in use to avoid drying out and blocking the pump dispenser.
VVM Vulva and Vaginal Moisturizer: FAQs
Why do I need to moisturize my vulva & vagina?
The vulva and vagina are skin, skin that needs moisturizing-just like our face, hands, elbows and feet. Moisturizing the vulva & vagina (i.e. restoring the natural moisture) is important for sitting, moving, dancing, exercising and enjoying penetrative sex comfortably. Also, a healthy vulva, vagina, urethra & pelvic floor helps to prevent incontinence and organ prolapse.
What is hyaluronic acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a molecule produced naturally by our bodies. It begins to decline in our 30s and then by about 10% per decade, followed by a steep decline postmenopause. Hyaluronic acid has been included in beauty products since 2008. In 2013, it was studied as an effective protocol for the prevention and treatment of vulva and vaginal dryness.
Does VVM Vulva & Vaginal Moisturizer require a prescription?
No. It can be used alone or in conjunction with prescription options.
What is the recommended dose?
Although we recommend dosage instructions of 2 pumps (1mL) applied to the vagina and /or vulva once daily, feel free to apply according to your unique needs. Some use it 1 mL every other day. Some use it every day and others use it 2-3 times per day to start, knowing they can taper back to once-per-day dosing as dryness improves.
How do I apply VVM Vulva & Vaginal Moisturizer?
We recommend applying it by finger. This ensures that the product benefits both the skin cells of the vagina (internally) as well as the vulva (externally). Other vaginal products on the market tend to ignore the vulva.
My doctor prescribed vaginal hormone therapy but I’m not yet feeling amazing. Can I moisturize too?
100%! Many use both hyaluronic acid and vaginal hormone therapy because i) the moisturizer benefits both the vulva and the vagina ii) hormone therapy can take a few months to achieve desired results (depending on age and stage of dryness/how long it has been since menopause). Moisturizing with hyaluronic acid can accelerate desired results.
More questions? Visit RepleteLabs.com
VVM – Our Mission
VVM Vulva and Vaginal Moisturizer addresses a very important need in women’s health. We invite you to join us on this wellness journey. Experience it for yourself and discover the comfort and confidence it can instill. Step into a new world of wellbeing today!
Essential information about vulva and vaginal health is frequently missed, while countless women seek tangible, effective solutions. Empower yourself, bridge this gap, and take charge of your vulva and vaginal health today! Together, we can revolutionize the narrative around women's health.
Stay updated and engaged by joining our vibrant community on social media. We look forward to connecting with you!
Cautions and warnings
Slight discomfort may occur on initial application, particularly in cases of severe dryness. Usually, this discomfort subsides within two weeks of regular use. Discontinue use and contact a healthcare practitioner if discomfort worsens or persists beyond two weeks, or if you experience significant pain, burning, vaginal discharge with odour, or in the event of hypersensitivity or allergy.