Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: linfit on June 12, 2017, 10:50:15 AM
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Hi
I suffer with Vaginal Atrophy, came across this product developed by a gynaecologist in the US, Wondered if anyone knows of it or has experience of using it?
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Have you tried topical oestrogen?
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Hi linfit
I have ordered the sample of the Julva, not received it yet... I'm curious if you have used this product and if it worked for you?
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Just looked this up. EXPENSIVE :o :o :o and I doubt very much it does anything more than Vagifem or any of the oestrogen creams you can get on proscription from the GP. Vaginal moisturisers e.g.SYLK or the YES products, are better and safer to use well.
Do beware of anything that offers such claims - if there was appropriate research done and it was proved to work well, then this stuff would be available through our doctors. DG x
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Hi Dancing girl,
Yes it is expensive but I have yet to hear of anything else (estrogen/vagifem) that can be used in the vulva area only and not be inserted. If I can find a more natural approach to this without all the horrible side effects, then Im all for it.
Got my fingers crossed this will be the cure/fix for me.
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Joy55 - are you unable to use Ovestin cream? - this is good for external area eg vulva.
Actually simple things like coconut oil can also be good around our ‘lady bits'.
It tends to be the fillers in any creams that cause irritation on our delicate bits. DG x
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Dancing girl,
Ovestin cream is a type of estrogen, my body is very sensitive to estrogen. I just now read up Ovestin cream and no where did it say it could be used in the vulva area only.
I agree fillers in any creams can cause irritation on our delicate parts.
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You can use Ovestin on the outer bits only, I was prescribed it to use it in that way by meno specialist.
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Hi Tinkerbell.
To be honest I dont even know if Ovestin cream is offered here in the states. I will call my gyn today and ask.
Side effects???
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There will be similar oestrogen creams available in the US.
You didn't say what reaction you get from topical oestrogen? It is very rare to have problems with oestrogen . progesterine can be problematic for many women and some find taking HRT orally isn't good but there are transdermal options. DG x
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linfit - it does sound typical of the sort of expensive gimmicky thing that is produced in US because of their different healthcare system. ::)
In fact that cream contains DHEA which is a precursor hormone to oestrogen and testosterone. This is actually approved by FDA in US as a treatment for GSM (or VVA!) - as vaginal capsules "Intrarosa" - which, if you're in US, should be available from your regular doc - whoever you see. They are not approved here in UK yet. I can't download the actual paper about the trials but as reported the DHEA is converted to oestrogen locally in the cells and after 12 weeks the systemic levels of oestrogen are maintained within post-menopausal levels. However this is also true of vagifem and the other creams.
It (Intrarosa) has received recommendation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) so I imagine we are likely to see it being available here sometime in the near future ( (I don't know how long these things take...)
I would get hold of the currently available moisturisers (of which there are many) in conjuction with either Vagfiem and an estriol cream. In UK we have generic estriol cream at a concentration of 0.01% as well as Ovestin (which is 10 times stronger at 0.1%) which maybe more suitable for rubbing in more liberally over external parts. I am sure there must be similar in US.
There are unlikely to be any side effects unless you are allergic to any of the fillers. Estriol is a very weak oestrogen but works well in the vaginal area as it binds preferentially to a particular oestrogen receptor found in this region of the body.
Hurdity x
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Hi everyone I joined this forum specifically to help by giving feedback on Julva for vaginal atrophy, soreness, dryness etc. I hope you still get to see this message as I am a newby at anything to do with online forums and how they work. Anyway I have used Julva for a few years now continually. I use it for my own benefit not as a sexual arousal aid, though it most definitely has brought sexual feeling back into my vulval area. but I bought it because I was in such pain after menopause that it was affecting my mental health. I dont know if it has helped deeper inside my womb pain, but I highly recommend it and despite its price, I will continue to purchase as, for me, it is unlike anything else I have tried. Releasing myself from the soreness and dryness and everyday hurt has helped me take my think away from it and allowed me to focus on building positives for myself in life and continuing to help others as a therapist and healer. It has active ingredients and isnt just a lubricant. I benefited so much I would sell it to others here in the UK if I could. It is not currently available from the US anymore but this company sell it ketosupplements.co.uk much love and healing to those of you who need it :-) and I hope you have as much success as I have had from using Julva x
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Hi Gaia - I've recently re-started using Intrarosa, which also contains DHEA, and I'd forgotten the effects in terms of sexual sensitivity - if Julva is anything like this, it's worth the money! Intrarosa also contains coconut oil which is incredibly soothing and moisturising and has no irritating side effects for me. Not sure how readily available Julva is in the UK, but if women are interested, then Intrarosa sounds very similar.
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I got samples of Julva last year. They were free but the shipping wasn't - I think that was about $15.
I got a sensitivity reaction to it last year (burning sensation) and was advised to put a smaller amount at the top of the thigh/groin instead of on the vulva. That surprised me as it is not chock full of the worst preservatives. Then again I may have reacted to the DHEA for all I know.
I didn't persist with it tbh but good to hear it's worked for others.
There is another US brand called Bezwecken that offer DHEA suppositories in a very clean base of cocoa butter, beeswax and Vitamin E. There are some international ebay sellers offering their products. I'm not sure how well they would survive the time it takes to ship them over to the UK?