Although it’s a common menopause symptom, vaginal dryness can occur to any woman at any age. Replens is a popular care brand providing vaginal moisturizers and personal lubricants to ease the symptoms of vaginal dryness. Despite their efficacy for many, however, some vagina owners experience irritating side effects due to synthetic ingredients used in Replens products. 

This article covers the causes and symptoms of vaginal dryness, why the ingredients of vaginal care products matter, how important osmolality is for personal lubricants, and why vaginal moisturizers and lubricants made with natural ingredients are much safer alternatives for easing vaginal dryness.  

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Why Ingredients Matter with Vaginal Care?

Vaginal moisturizers are used to ease vaginal and vulvar dryness, irritation, and itching while personal lubricants are recommended to alleviate vaginal dryness and friction during sex. That being said, not all vaginal moisturizers and lubricants are considered safe or ideal for vaginal health. 

The vagina is super sensitive to artificial ingredients, preservatives, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that are used in some vaginal care products. EDCs can negatively impact estrogen signaling and upset the vaginal environment while chemical or synthetic ingredients can further dry, harm, and irritate sensitive genital skin. 

Disappointingly, due to a lack of regulation, many brands continue to include EDCs such as parabens and phthalates (preservatives) in their vaginal moisturizers and personal lubricants, as well as harmful ingredients like animal based glycerin, sodium hydroxide, and petrochemicals.  

However, each woman’s vaginal environment is unique and what could harm one, might not harm another, which explains why some can tolerate synthetically-made vaginal health products while others can’t.

Unfortunately, many women don’t know what their vagina can and cannot tolerate before using a product that includes chemical ingredients, which is why vaginal care products made with natural ingredients are always recommended. 

What Is Replens?

Replens is a UK-based feminine hygiene brand that sells over-the-counter vaginal moisturizer and silicone-based personal lubricant to ease the symptoms of vaginal dryness. 

Although Replens products provide relief for many, some women experience an escalation of genital skin irritation, yeast infections, and UTIs after using their vaginal moisturizer or lubricant to ease vaginal dryness. This is mainly due to ingredients that disrupt the vaginal pH and further dehydrate already dry skin. 

Why Replens Vaginal Moisturizer is Harmful for Some

Replens Vaginal Moisturizer contains mineral oil, glycerin, and sodium hydroxide and although these ingredients may not result in adverse symptoms for every woman, they can worsen vaginal health for some. 

Mineral oil is a petroleum by-product that can cause skin irritation, glycerin is known to contribute to dry skin and increase the likelihood of yeast infections, and sodium hydroxide is a corrosive chemical considered unsafe for use in intimate care products. 

A Natural and Safer Alternative to Replens Vaginal Moisturizer

Enchanted Rose Natural Vaginal Moisturizer & Organic Vulvar Balm is 100% natural with no chemicals, artificial dyes, parabens, phthalates, or glycerin, mineral oil, or sodium hydroxide. 

Using a unique blend of natural and organic ingredients, this daily vaginal and vulvar moisturizer quickly soothes, rehydrates, and rejuvenates dry or sensitive vaginal skin without upsetting the vaginal pH or causing additional symptoms.  

Developed by pelvic health rehabilitation specialist, Dr. Amanda Olson, customer reviews praise it for its comforting organic ingredients, non-stickiness, soothing impact, and fast relief. 

Replens Personal Lubricant and Why it Can Cause Further Vaginal Dryness

Osmosis describes the movement of moisture (water) between cells and tissues, and the osmolality of body tissues can differ in various parts of the body. Because the vaginal epithelium is more porous than the skin around the body, personal lubricants with low osmolality (hypoosmolar lubricants) enable the vaginal tissues to retain moisture and rehydrate. 

On the other hand, personal lubricants with high osmolality (hyperosmolar lubricants) can temporarily lubricate but also pull moisture from vaginal tissues in the long term, resulting in prolonged dryness and additional irritation over time. 

Following several research studies, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends using a lubricant with an osmolality of 1200 mOsm/kg or lower, similar to the osmolality of normal vaginal secretions. 

Replens Silky Smooth lubricant is a hyperosmolar silicone lubricant with osmolality measuring 2143 mOsm/kg, and it’s not alone. Several well-established and popular silicone personal lubricants are hyperosmolar, and while relief is temporarily felt during sex, their continued use is detrimental to vaginal health.   

That said, not all silicone lubricants are hyperosmolar or contain harmful ingredients, and they do provide longer-lasting lubrication, but they are not considered natural due to the ingredients used. 

Natural Lubricant Alternatives with Low Osmolality

For a natural personal lubricant with low osmolality (316 mOsm/kg) more akin to natural vaginal secretions, and no synthetic or harmful ingredients, Serenity Water-Based Lubricant is a list topper. Made in the USA and FDA cleared, it’s glycerin-free, paraben-free, scent-free, doesn’t contain petrochemicals, and adheres to the WHO’s guidelines on personal lubricant osmolality.

Although water-based lubes do not last as long as silicone lubricants, Serenity Water-Based Lubricant is more enduring than most. It’s also safe to use with latex condoms and silicone toys or pelvic tools, and is easily cleaned from the skin or bedsheets. 

Vaginal Dryness: What Causes It? 

Vaginal health and moisture are maintained with the help of the hormone estrogen, as well as naturally-produced vaginal lubrication, a mildly acidic vaginal pH, and a perfectly balanced vaginal microbiome. 

Estrogen & Lubrication

Estrogen plays a substantial role in maintaining adequate vaginal lubrication, so when estrogen production declines after childbirth, during breastfeeding, or menopause, natural vaginal lubrication typically decreases too. 

This can result in the vaginal tissues becoming dry, thin, under-moisturized, and less elastic, often leading to vulvar discomfort and pain during sex. Unfortunately, thinner and dryer vaginal tissues (particularly during menopause) are also more prone to yeast infections and UTIs.   

Women who have undergone an oophorectomy to have the ovaries removed can also experience vaginal dryness. This is because the ovaries are the main producers of estrogen.

Feminine Hygiene Products

Similar to estrogen and natural lubrication, the vaginal microbiome and vaginal pH also work together to sustain a healthy vaginal environment. 

The microbiome perfectly balances friendly and unfriendly bacteria, fungi, and parasites to prevent the overgrowth of harmful microbes and the consequential onset of yeast infections, STIs, and UTIs. 

The vaginal pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline the vaginal environment is. Ideally, it remains mildly acidic between 3.8 and 4.5, and is maintained by a balanced microbiome. However, if harmful ingredients in feminine hygiene or vaginal care products upset the vaginal pH, the microbiome becomes unbalanced, and harmful microbes can thrive. 

When this happens, infections can set in, causing symptoms that include vaginal dryness, itching, irritation, a burning sensation when peeing, and an unusual vaginal discharge. For women already experiencing vaginal atrophy, yeast infections, STIs, and UTIs can worsen genital dryness. 

It’s, therefore, important to understand that vaginal moisturizers and personal lubricants containing harmful ingredients (more on that below) or synthetic scents or flavors can have the same effect.  

It’s also worth noting that douching is not necessary to clean the vagina. The vagina is a self-cleaning organ and washing it from the inside will only disrupt the vaginal pH, leaving the vagina owner open to infections and increased vaginal dryness. 

Other Causes of Vaginal Dryness

Vaginal dryness during sex is sometimes caused by a lack of arousal and easily relieved with a safe personal lubricant and some foreplay. 

More acute cases of vaginal dryness can arise after cancer treatment, when taking hormonal birth control, or certain medications such as antidepressants, antihistamines, or anti-estrogen medications. Diabetes and Sjögren’s syndrome are also known to contribute to vaginal dryness.  

Vaginal Dryness Symptoms

Almost 20% of women experience symptoms of vaginal dryness before the age of 50 and more than 50% of women after menopause. Despite relief being easily found, many never seek treatment due to embarrassment. 

Symptoms of vaginal dryness, also known as vaginal atrophy can include: 

  • Vaginal & vulvar itching & irritation
  • A sensation of vaginal burning
  • Pain during sex (dyspareunia)
  • Bleeding after sex (due to friction and micro-tearing)
  • Increased urge to urinate
  • Recurring yeast infections
  • More frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Conclusion 

While Replens Long Lasting Vaginal Moisturizer and Replens Silicone Lubricant can alleviate vaginal dryness and pain during sex for some women, their chemical ingredients and high osmolality often cause more harm than good. 

To avoid harmful side effects from vaginal care products, always choose natural alternatives that use organic ingredients, are pH balanced for vaginal health, and adhere to the WHO’s osmolality guidelines.

Enchanted Rose Natural Vaginal Moisturizer & Organic Vulvar Balm and Serenity Water-Based Lubricant are fast-relieving, 100% natural alternatives for more comfort vaginal comfort during the day and enhanced lubrication and pleasure with intercourse.   

References 

Cleveland Clinic – Vaginal Dryness - https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21027-vaginal-dryness

National Library of Medicine - Lactobacilli Dominance and Vaginal pH: Why Is the Human Vaginal Microbiome Unique? - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5143676/

National Library of Medicine - A Question for Women's Health: Chemicals in Feminine Hygiene Products and Personal Lubricants – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3948026/

National Library of Medicine - Hyperosmolal vaginal lubricants markedly reduce epithelial barrier properties in a three-dimensional vaginal epithelium model - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29854584/

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