Actually....this really does work ....the vagina does regain elasticity with estoderm v.....it's amazing and me and 3 others I know are testimony to it....the estrogen is lost during menopause and you are simply replacing it...the progesterone protects you for adverse affects of estrogen therefore it works long-term....as I say I only use it two times a week on labia area before bedtime......and penetration is back to normal....you can get estoderm v on Dr Helen pensanti website

To chime in on what mbhs21 said, my wife is 69, and she has been using the estriol hydration cubes for a while, and they work well for her.

There's also something on Dr Helen pensanti website for people who have had breast cancer to keep hydration also the hydration cubes are safe

I am a breast cancer survivor for 10 years and am 49 years old I was cured of the cancer by having bilateral mastectomies with reconstruction. On January 30 2018 I had a hysterectomy, ovaries removed along with my cervix. Before surgery I was post menopausal and experiencing UTI's almost constantly for the last three months I thought surgery would help but as I write this I have another UTI :( I Just had my post op visit and the obgyn diagnosed me with atrophy of the bladder, urethra and vagina. I cannot have Hormone therapy because my breast cancer was ER/PR receptor positive meaning the cancer fed off of estrogen and progesterone. Tired of feeling like my lady parts are full of razor blades. Open to all suggestions, thanks in advance:)

It has been over eight years now that my wife's vagina stopped working and gave her only pain. We are both doing fine. Do as Marcia says in the post above if you are in the same situation. We are both very happy. Since she had a complete hysterectomy and her ovaries were removed, she has no libido. As I said before, I learned how to give her full body massages and give her even more affection than before. We go dancing a lot and go on a lot of cruises. She has learned to use her mouth on me and we do very well. I am just saying this to let you know life can go on and you can still be a very happy couple.

Just a side note: An estimated 10 percent of women will be damaged by significant progesterone use. It poisons testosterone receptors. DHEA and testosterone are the friends of these women. Also, birth control pills reduces hormone production in women (prolly too late for this crowd!) long term.

as has been noted here before, DHEA might be the hormonal treatment that does not feed cancer. Julva is a cream that includes this. Or make your own.

Regarding DHEA, several years ago Bezwecken discontinued their E3 Vaginal Suppositories. I was really disappointed, because in my mind, that was the only reason my wife and I were able to have intercourse. So, to me, this was very serious.

Well, I asked around on the web, and did some research, and discovered that people much smarter than me were saying that when a woman is given DHEA (i.e., via vaginal suppositories) that the body takes it and makes whatever is needed. In other words, they said, DHEA is a precursor. If the body needs estrogen, then the DHEA is converted into estrogen. Or, the same with testosterone; if the body is short on testosterone, then it converts the DHEA into testosterone.

Well, I was all excited for my wife to try this. But as I documented elsewhere in here, it just so happened that the on-line pharmacy I bought some DHEA vaginal suppositories from used glycol as a “delivery method” (maybe even ethylene glycol, I forgot) which is an ingredient in antifreeze. Turned out that my wife had a bad reaction to it, and got a rash. So our attempt to try DHEA didn’t go so well. But that had absolutely nothing to do with DHEA. The problem was the delivery method.

Sometime later the estriol hydration cubes came out, and we tried them. They worked, so we never got to find out if DHEA (with a more gentle, natural delivery method) would help. So, just do your research, and if you’re going for the DHEA vaginal suppositories, I might recommend you stay away from pharmacies that use something harsh like ethylene glycol as a delivery method. Either way, all the best!

Good to know. As someone else said, you can powder a chip of DHEA pill and insert it with or without oil. Or you can buy a DHEA cream like Julva. As Dr. Andrew Goldstein said: "We use topical hormonal treatments that a lot of people don’t. And
again, we use topical estrogen and testosterone as opposed to just
estrogen because the glands of the vestibule are testosterone-dependent
glands." I think he prescribes an estriol-testosterone cream. DHEA leans to testosterone. (James, it's great that you are helping. This problem can be demoralizing for women.)

Well I had full hysterectomy at age 27 because severe endometriosis an over 100 chocolate cysts just cysts filled with old blood . Anyway sex was normal for years after ,I didn't do hormones none helped an they cause cancer,but now for about 5 to 8yrs now the pain starts at insertion it's like the fist time again . An when hubby gets in after me moaning an ow ow hurts so bad, poor hubby ,the pain when in is like knife stabbing me over an over ,having a baby was easier pain wise. It's so bad I quit sex totally I let hubby have 3mins 1 time every few months . It's sad I've even gave him the option of finding sex else where (sad) he refuses . Anyway went to gyno she set up appt with a vaginal physical therapy dr. I researched an found you pay specialist copay an the dr inserts a glass like sex toy not dildo it's smaller an curved a little anyway she will just technically masturbate you for 30 mins with it an it's suppose to stretch out vaginal walls an so on . Well no way wasn't doing it period . So I googled doc an what it's called the tool they use . I found on Amazon cheap so I can do at home maybe hubby can help I haven't ordered yet . Doc wanted me on hormones I'm post menopausal at age 33 I was in 43 now . I will not take it again I took for 1 1/2 months an omg I was so angry,discharging, an didn't do anything different for me. Anyway try the glass one.is called THE CRYSTAL WAND ,THEN THERE IS ONE with great reviews but has pain with it for some called TRIGGER POINT MASSAGER. Videos all over you tube about them . https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rR7RYik-KPE. RESERCH an posts on blogs I've read say it hasn't changed the painful sex even after using dr. An wand at home an been 3 plus years . So don't get hopes up . Just find other sexual ways to please hubby . Save 5,000 $ an buy him the sex doll it's freaking amazing what it does it's almost real human . Hahaha good luck y'all

Carol4468 I used the estrogen pills u insert in vagina ,but my friend got some.new kind it's injected in butt cheek under skin with needle an lasts for like 6months an she is a new person after 1month she looks younger she has energy feels you ng again she swears by it ... Estrogen pellets

The vagina has DHEA and estrogen receptors. Vaginal estrogen on its own did nothing for me. I needed both hormones, in a compounding cream inserted with a thin syringe.

Also womens probiotics are recommended as a treatment for vaginal atrophy. (as well as infection prevention of the urethra)

heather, do you mean oral probiotics, or are they part of the compounded cream recipe, to be inserted?

oral probiotics. Ones for women have around 8 strains with high levels of lactobacillius. I take shelf-stable Flora Women's Care 75 bill cells. $AU24 30 days supply from iherb.

thank you heather!

Hi all. I just wanted to chime in as well. Bezwecken has saved my life! Thank you to @James and this thread for informing me about this brand! I went to a naturopath that was familiar with Bezwecken products over a year ago (thanks to you guys). She tested me and put me on their liquid formula called PhytoB-L 4x for menopausal symptoms. This can be used topically but my Dr says to use it orally. I put 4 drops on the back of my hand and lick it, twice daily. It is bitter.. but I am happy that their are no synthetic ingredients and flavors. I drink coffee or OJ after to clear the taste. I have no more menopause symptoms. I am sleeping better, no hot flashes, etc... Regarding hormone levels as some people commented, she tests me twice a year. If a hormone is too high or low, she will readjust. Everyone should test their hormones who plan on taking hormones.

Then she recommended the Hydration Cubes 2x PLUS (this is PLUS DHEA 3.25mg). She said I am not estrogen dominate so it is safe for me to supplement with natural estriol. For those that have had breast cancer or are estrogen dominant, she would recommend an only DHEA suppository for your vaginal dryness in menopause.

It has been a MIRACLE for me and my husband. I am now pain free with intercourse. It took about 2 months before I noticed a major difference. I inserted 1 cube daily for 2 weeks then went to using it 3-4 times a week. I put it on my bedside table because I tend to forget it.

I did find out some things from my naturopath that might be helpful to you all. Bezwecken has many cube suppository products that can be used vaginally or topically. There are:

Hydration Cubes 1x which has 1mg of estriol

Hydration Cubes 1x PLUS which has 1mg of estriol and 3.25mg DHEA

Hydration Cubes 2x which has 2mg of estriol

Hydration Cubes 2x PLUS which has 2mg of estriol and 3.25mg DHEA

DHEA Cubes which has 13mg of DHEA

EP Cubes which has 1mg of estriol and 20mg of progesterone

EP Cubes Plus which has 1mg of estriol, 20mg of progesterone and 3.25mg of DHEA

PG Cubes has just 20 mg of progesterone

Hydration Pearls is Bezwecken's vaginal lubricant which has cocoa butter, vitamin E and beeswax. No synthetics! This is great as an immediate natural lubricant. I used it in the beginning when I was really dry but now I don't even need it anymore after being on the Hydration Cubes 2x Plus. Seriously a game changer! I hope you all find the relief you are looking for!

Hey jennifer2711, I’m thrilled that you and your husband were helped by the Bezwecken products. My wife and I were fortunate to have happened upon a Naturopath who was recommended by a friend, and the suppositories worked wonders for her. Way to go sharing all that info! I must say you’re more informed than me. All the best to you and your husband.

Age 62. After vagifem (estradiol) didn't work at all for VA, I tried vaginal compounding cream containing DHEA 2%, estradiol .5%, and progesterone 2%. After 5.5 weeks I experienced much improved VA, but estrogen dominance..painful breast cell proliferation. The estradiol (E2) was then halved, with same DHEA & progn, for 8 weeks. Breasts settled down, but blood estradiol went even higher. Doc couldn't figure out why.

I then went to Dr Ruth Quinney on the Gold Coast, (as previous doc's fees were too expensive) and she prescribed estriol (E3, what's in Ovestin) .1%, DHEA 4%, progesterone 4%.) E3 vaginally does not raise estrogen blood levels. Women who've had breast cancer can use E3 vaginally. When stopping the E2, before I saw Dr Q, my hot flashes returned day and night. Dr Q said E3 won't help the hot flashes and recommended sage tea, 5 cups/day. H Fs went after 2 weeks, but I'm going to take a break and see if they return, because I actually read E3 CAN treat hot flashes. I've had no estr dominance symptoms in 6.5 wks while on E3/DHEA/progn, and sage. VA is 80% improved, but after next blood tests in a few weeks, might see if doc can make any adjustments to get me to 100%.

heather, I assume that you're done with menopause at 62; so, what is the source of the hot flashes?

thanks for sharing your protocol and how it worked for you. Jean

seasideroses, I was menopausal at 53. Yes!, we're told hot flashes finish after menopause. Mine stopped a few years ago, then out of the blue returned last year, aged 61. From researching, have learnt hot flashes can continue for 10 years, and even longer, in some women. I even read about one doctor's patient who was having them at 92!!!! With me, maybe my adrenals aren't producing adequate estrogen, which is what they're supposed to do after menopause, when the ovaries shut down. When not on estrogen replacement, my blood levels just say <37. Menopausal range is <200. Dr says my results basically mean my estrogen is undetectable.

Sage Update: After stopping sage, I'm hot flashing during the night. They haven't returned in the day, so far. Am back on 3 tsp, steeped in 1/2 cup hot water, before bed. (Results takes about 14 days)

thanks, Heather; that would explain why I still get them as well occasionally, at age 65! I'm going to ask my dr about E3, as the herbs I take barely keep v.a. at bay for me.

Can anyone tell me if just inserting a vitamin E supplement into the vagina would help with VA, pain with intercourse and thinning of the vaginal walls?

UPDATE: Age 62. Recent blood test 13 weeks after starting vaginal cream containing 1% E3 (which is estriol, what's in Ovestin) plus DHEA 4% and progesterone 4%) has not raised my blood estrogen, which proves it stays in vaginal tissue and doesn't spread systemically and have a breast cancer risk. ($39 Acpharm compounding).

I've had a huge improvement, without any estrogen dominance symptoms, but still a little bit of soreness during the beginning of intercourse, so my doc suggested 1-2 extra doses of cream per week. She was right about it not stopping hot flushes.

Before treatment, I'd feel like crying during sex because I was hating it. Even tried Mona Lisa 3x, ($950!!!), didn't work.

BTW ..I've looked at the Bezwecken website. The business is in Oregon USA. No practitioners in Aust.

heather999australia, I did a search for naturopath in Australia, and found this:

https://anpa.asn.au/find-a-practitioner/

It's the Australian Naturopathic Practitioners Asssociation. I don't think the Naturopath my wife went to see was registered with or directly associated with Bezwecken either. But she was very familiar with their product(s), and so recommended she give it a try. Hope that helps. Good luck.

James, glad I could read your post, (don't know what happened to HU984163470's, it sounded interesting) So not all naturopaths who prescribe the cubes are registered with Bezwecken. Will do a phone around.

heather999australia, this may sound corny, but it kinda feels like everyone on this forum is in a club...where we've all been impacted by this...and if we've found something that works, we're all so eager to share it or suggest it to newcomers to the group...so they can hopefully find relief as well. It just so happened that for my wife, going to see a naturopath was key to her finding something that worked. Hope you find a naturopath that's convenient.

By the way, not sure how things might differ in Australia, but here in the U.S., I’ve been able to order the Bezwecken Hydration Cubes for my wife from Amazon, The Natural, and the Professional Supplement Center, without any kind of prescription.

James, it is so cool that you searched out and found a solution for your wife. To all the folks using hormone creams/inserts: Why include progesterone? I would think that would undermine the estriol and DHEA. (And remember that you can make your own DHEA cream with crushed DHEA pill. A woman explained what she does on one of the earliest posts on this thread.)

eco_chick, what do they say? Necessity is the mother of invention? I didn’t have much choice, lol. But in answer to your question, my wife still uses progesterone cream every day, and then takes a 5 day break every month. She would probably tell you it’s to ensure she stays in balance. We both listened to many recordings and watched numerous videos by Dr. John Lee, years ago. He actually recommended that a woman do a saliva assay (not a blood test), to discover what her levels are.

Progesterone damages testosterone receptors in a portion of the female population. But a little is OK. Just beware!

Interesting, I hadn’t heard that. After my wife first started using Natural Progesterone Cream, and it worked so well for her, I acted like I was a paid spokesperson! lol I’d tell any woman old enough to care, all about it. And maybe 10 to 15 women tried it. They and my wife were lucky, it sounds like, that it didn’t adversely affect them. That’s what’s so good about this group - lots of opportunity to learn from others.

eco chick. So how would one know if they could be affected when taking progesterone? Would testing show low testosterone?

Yes, it works well to counter estrogen dominance. But it can poison testosterone receptors in a portion of the population that has a certain receptor shape. Dr. Andrew Goldstein in Washington DC describes this phenomenon. It's why some women on birth control pills have vaginal pain and also do not retain muscle as well as others. And women who used birth control pills extensively during their lives produce less hormone later in life. Use only bio progesterone cream from over the counter (it's not too strong) and only on wrists, arms, etc. I would not put it on an organ that you are trying to revive. Also, about your wife staying in balance: Balance the estrogen. But if she's on estrogen blockers or over a certain age, she doesn't need a lot of progesterone. Progesterone also can build up in the fat. She might take a hormone saliva test to see where she's at.

Anyone have any recommendations for improving a woman's libido? I read a summary of a study that had been done which suggested that maca helped. But I was hoping to get some feedback in here. Thanks.

Dr Anna Cabeca a cream that works mircles called Julva. Go to www.dranncabeca.com

Thanks, I'll check into it.

James, what happened with the "cubes"? Isn't that working anymore?

The cubes work great for dryness. Now she’s trying to address low libido. Different issue.

There has been a little discussion in this thread about DHEA. Has she tried it? I could give you my recipe for homemade vaginal DHEA suppositories, if you like.

She did try some DHEA suppositories a while back, but unfortunately (if I remember correctly) they were in a base which contained glycol…which is in antifreeze. Maybe some women can tolerate that, but it certainly didn't agree with my wife. So she had to discontinue using it. Before we could find some other DHEA suppositories that didn't irritate her down there, we found the Bezwecken Hydration Cubes (I think they're calling them Ovals now.) She has been using a couple of those a week, and then a Carlson Key E Suppository a few minutes before we have sex. That has taken care of any dryness issue whatsoever, but she still complains of lack of desire. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that as per Dr. John Lee, she has still been using the natural progesterone cream for like 25 days a month.

My wife has been really patient with me over the years, and pretty open minded, as I have researched different alternatives. This time around though, she wanted to go see a doctor. So she has already been to see an OB/GYN, and they're working on a course of action. So we'll see what happens.

By the way, let me tell you how I found this OB/GYN. Somewhere I read that one way to find a doctor who is friendly to bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, is to find several compounding pharmacies and call them, and ask for the names of the top two or three prescribing doctors. That approach makes total sense, but for some reason I had never thought of it. Anyway, thought I would pass on how I found this OB/GYN that my wife is seeing now.

I really appreciate the offer though.

Good luck with the new coarse of action. Be careful with the bioidentical hormones, though. My alternative doc passed away from breast cancer after using that long term. No one knows conclusively about the long term use of DHEA, but I feel better about the idea of my body making it's own estrogen from the "building blocks". I know it does work for me (age 61). If I don't severely restrict the amount I use, I can make myself sexually inappropriate in less than a week.

My alternative doc said bioidenticals, or HRT, don't cause cancer, but can make tumors grow if already present. To avoid me sueing him if I got cancer following HRT, he told me I'd have to get a mammogram (I chose to get an ultrasound) before he could prescribe me DHEA and estriol. My results were neg.

Some compounding chemist websites have a Find a Doctor page.

Thanks for the well wishes, HU-536588320. Sorry to hear about your alternative doc. My wife had a scare years ago, while she was using Prempro (or Premarin - forgot which.) Doc said she had a non-atypical hyperplasia in one of her breasts. Scared the crap out of us both. She then discovered Dr. John Lee's books, and that's why she started using natural progesterone cream. We learned about terms like unopposed estrogen, etc. Quite a journey that launched us both onto. I think you're right about DHEA being like a building block. I think some of the books we read called it a precursor...so instead of a woman deciding that her body needs more estriol, or estrone, or estradiol, or progesterone...if she supplements with some DHEA...then the body will turn that into whatever it needs.

That's why I was so eager for my wife to try it some time ago. So, I was bummed to find out that she didn't respond well to it. It's been a while, but I think it irritated her tissue. I did some research, and turned out the provider or manufacturer of this particular DHEA suppository used a base that contained glycol (maybe even ethelyne glycol - been too long ago.) Well duh - that's what's in antifreeze! So the questions I asked and reading I did seemed to suggest it wasn't the DHEA my wife had a reaction to - it was the base they used.

Not long afterwards, my wife came across the bezwecken cubes. They didn't bother her. So I read up on it a bit, trying to understand why she reacted favorably to that, but not the DHEA suppositories. Well surprise, surprise - the base used by the hydration cubes was kinder or more gentle - didn't contain that crap glycol chemical, lol. I wondered if we kept looking, and just tried a different supplier or manufacturer of DHEA suppositories...that also used a kinder or more gentle base...how would she respond to it? But since the hydration cubes did the trick...I guess we never pursued it any further.

Wow - thanks for passing on the tip that, the DHEA does exactly for you what my wife and I are looking for. :-) Maybe I should get that recipe from you for the DHEA after all! :-) You know, you can spend a lot of time studying and researching all this stuff...but the human body is so complex and interesting...it still surprises you.

It remains to be seen what kind of approach this OB/GYN will come up with. The first step was for my wife to get an ultrasound. I think that's in like a couple of weeks.

heather999australia, interesting what you said. My wife was recently told she had a uterine fibroid. I forget who told her that, but it was before she went to see this OB/GYN. And I think that's why she asked her to get an ultrasound.

And that tip about some compounding pharmacists or chemists having a find a doctor page sounds very helpful!

What a relief to find this forum. I am in my perimeno phased. My last period was july 2019 and i'm 49. I have been using Emerita Progest for ove a year now due to my hot flash.

Had sex with my other half few days ago and it was so excruciating painful - i literaly cry and just like the others are saying sharp like a razor blade. He didnt even push in that deep and i was in pain. And the pain when peeing was so devastating that it tramautised me to have sex ever again. I could feel the cut near the perinium. He is very patient . We live in the middle east and its hard to get these supplements that are mentioned in this forum. We did manage to order online julva for dhea, and Key Carlson Vit. E...getting these through Amazon is a huge amount to pay but we will do anything to relief the pain and dryness. Do you think these items will be enough to help with the pain and dryness?

I am also considering doing dipping the Key Carlson Vit E with DHEA powder however it is impossible to get it delivered here.... will this pain ever go away

Zee Ism, this won't help you if you can't get DHEA, but maybe someone else. This is my recipe for vaginal suppositories. I emphasize MY RECIPE, because I had to tweek a little to customize it, from someone else's recipe.

It starts with a dozen molds. I bought a box of 12 lamb/kid nipples (like you would put over the opening of a bottle) and used a tiny dab of silicon caulk to close the slit. Then you will need some way to keep them upright. I use disposable plastic shot glasses. I bought a huge package of them at the dollar store. You might try an ice cube tray with a couple of the nipples in each compartment. You will also need an eye dropper to fill them, and a small heat-proof container to combine the ingredients into (glass custard cup or shot glass).

Ingredients:

2½ to 3 tablespoons coco butter

30 mg DHEA powder (from capsules)

½ teaspoon boric acid (yes, roach powder without additives)

1200 i.u. Vitamin E (squeeze from gel caps)

Melt the coco butter at a low temperature, such as on the warming burner of an electric stove, or perhaps even in strong sunlight. Mix in the other ingredients. Distribute into 12 molds and refrigerate. The suppositories are easy to remove when cold, just roll the mold in your hands a bit to loosen them up. Store in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.

Sometimes I double the ingredients into the 2½ to 3 tablespoons of coco butter, then cut the suppositories in half for less nighttime leakage. I have also traveled up to 2 weeks with these in my checked baggage by freezing small gel packs and putting them in an insulated lunch bag. When at my destination, I would re-freeze the gel packs.

Someone will wonder if the boric acid is necessary. In my opinion it is essential, because it keeps the pH correct and keeps away the yeast infections (which can also be cured with it). Just make sure it is pure boric acid without additives.

Happy compounding.

Thanks HU-536588320 for the recipe. I've ordered DHEA from Swanson and hope to give it a try. Appreciate your feedback! :-*

HU-536588320, nice of you to share that! Pretty cool.