Please choose to continue your session or sign out now.Vaginal dryness is the inability of the vagina to moisturize itself. This can cause pain during sexual intercourse and general discomfort while walking and performing other physical activity. It can be caused by menopause, use of birth control pills or recent child birth. Vitamin E capsules contain vitamin E oil which can be used to moisturize the vagina, which relieves symptoms of vaginal dryness. Examine a vitamin E capsule to ensure there are no scratches. If there are scratches on the capsule, it might be a cause irritation in your vagina. Insert the capsule into your vagina while lying down or standing with one leg elevated. Slowly push the capsule into your vaginal opening. Your vagina will effectively absorb the casing of the capsule, releasing the oil slowly over time. Pierce one vitamin E capsule with a safety pin, allowing the oil to leak from the hole. Collect some of the oil from the capsule on your hands and fingers.
Rub the oil on the outside of your vaginal wall to lubricate your labia. Because vitamin E is an oil, it may cause condoms to break down during sexual intercourse. Gain 2 pounds per week Gain 1.5 pounds per week Gain 1 pound per week Gain 0.5 pound per week Maintain my current weight Lose 0.5 pound per week Lose 1 pound per week Lose 1.5 pounds per week Lose 2 pounds per week Vitamin E for Vaginal Dryness Are There Vitamins That Help Vaginal Dryness? Benefits of Vitamin E Suppositories Benefits of Vitamin E for Men Can You Eat Certain Foods for Vaginal Dryness? Side Effects of Vitamin E Suppositories Weight Loss and Vitamin E Over the Counter Products to Treat Vaginal Dryness Natural Ways to Diminish Vaginal Dryness Benefits of Vitamin E Oil for Skin How to Improve Vaginal Dryness Home Remedies for Vaginal Dryness How to Use Replens How to Apply Vitamin E From Capsules Directly to the Skin
Herbal Remedies for Vaginal Atrophy How to Treat Vaginal Burning During Urination How to Make Natural Face Moisturizer How to Maintain a Healthy Vaginal pH Balance Vitamins That Help BV Infections Causes of Muscle Spasms in the VaginaBy now, you’ve heard about all kinds of things you shouldn’t put on or in your vagina—baby powder, intimate sprays, and powdered sugar are all on the no-no list. So it’s natural to be a little wary when you hear a recommendation to take something out of your pantry and put it down your pants.Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop newsletter released its first-ever sex issue on Monday and one story in particular suggests that you should apply something to your vagina that you’ve probably never thought of: olive oil and vitamin E.In a Q&A, naturopathic doctor Maggie Ney says it’s a good idea to regularly use olive oil as a lubricant instead of store-bought lubes that, she argues, contain known endocrine disruptors. “Topically, you can apply vitamin E oil or olive oil to the labia to help moisturize and strengthen the vaginal tissue,” she adds.
Ney isn’t the only person to recommend this—the University of Iowa Health Care website says that applying extra virgin olive oil “as often as needed” to your vulva will help “protect the skin” and “decrease skin irritation during your period.”The idea of regularly massaging anything into your labia seems a little weird, but experts say there’s actually something to it.“Both oils can work well as a natural lubricant,” Niki Pearce, a clinical nurse midwife at the Cleveland Clinic, tells SELF. “Women who suffer from painful intercourse or vaginal dryness may also benefit from application of a type of moisturizer daily.”This is great for pregnant women as well, Pearce says. “Studies show that perineal massage with any type of oil decreases the incidence of vaginal tearing” during delivery, she says. “Vitamin E oil as well as olive oil is perfect for this because of its consistency and moisturizing capabilities.”They can also be good for your vulva as a whole, women’s health expert Jennifer Wider, M.D., tells SELF.
“Some doctors recommend small amounts of extra virgin olive oil, zinc oxide, vitamin E, or plain Vaseline to be applied to the vulva to protect the skin,” she says. However, she notes, this is usually recommended more if you’ve been experiencing chafing or some other form of irritation down there.As for the claim it can strengthen vaginal tissue, Brett Worly, M.D., an ob/gyn and female sexual dysfunction expert at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, tells SELF that’s not something most women need to worry about. “Most women have sufficiently strong vaginal tissue that does not need strengthening,” he says, adding that that’s especially true for women who aren’t near menopause yet. Those who are nearing menopause, though, might benefit from vitamin E oil because the vaginal tissue can get thin from the related drop in hormones. “Vitamin E helps dry or thin skin in other places, so it may be helpful for vaginal tissues as well,” Worly explains.Jason James, M.D., medical director at Miami's FemCare Ob-Gyn, agrees that this is more of an issue for women as they age.
“Natural lubricants like vitamin E or olive oil certainly can help with the lubrication issue,” he tells SELF. “By increasing lubrication, you may be helping with the hydration and elasticity of the vaginal and vulvar tissues.”Before you start regularly applying olive oil to your labia, there are a few things to keep in mind. Pearce notes that women who are already prone to yeast or bacterial infections should be wary of this remedy since it may increase their risk of future infections. James also says it’s important to apply the oils in moderation since using too much may irritate things down there or increase vaginal discharge.Finally, Wider strongly cautions against using oils with condoms: “Any oil, oil-based product, or lubricant can break down the integrity of a condom and should never be used together.” Many couples need/prefer lube during sex. However, many commercial lubricants can be irritating (or just aren’t quite right). Ingredients that many women find irritating are alcohol (most gel based lubricants) and glycerin and paraben (most water based lubes), never mind the stuff they add for smell and taste.
A great option for those who find commercial lubes irritating or are troubled by the fact than many of the ingredients remain unpronounceable to everyone but organic chemists is coconut oil. Yes, the stuff you use for cooking. You can buy it at most drug stores and at Safeway prices of $9 for a massive jar it is also a lot cheaper than that tiny little bottle of Slippery Stuff. Coconut oil is a solid at room temperature, but as soon as you glop a bit on your hands it starts to melt. If you rub a bit quickly in your hands for a few seconds you immediately have a liquid. Oil based lubricants provide a lot of staying power (they cling well to the tissues), so reapplication in all but the most, uh, robust sessions is generally not needed (although, not that it matters, if you need/prefer more lube, so be it!). Also, because the oil provides a thicker coating than silicone, water, or gel based lubricants it is often preferred by post menopausal women who are not using estrogen or women with increased vulvovaginal sensitivities (such as women with vulvodynia, a vulvar pain syndrome).