New Guidelines to Help Postmenopausal Women Deal with Dryness and Painful Sex

Postmenopausal women can improve sexual health and quality of life with hormone-free Replens Long-Lasting Vaginal Moisturizer

CEDAR RAPIDS (October 10, 2013): Thin dry vaginal and vulvar tissues, medically termed vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA), can be a major cause of the painful intercourse challenges that affect at least 40 percent of postmenopausal women. Until now, women suffering this condition have received little medical guidance on how best to address it. The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) has released new guidelines for treating VVA titled "Management of Vulvovaginal Atrophy" published in the September issue of Menopause which states, "Non-hormonal vaginal lubricants with intercourse and regular use of long-acting vaginal moisturizers, if indicated, are first-line therapies" to combat this health problem.

"The right vaginal lubricant is an essential ingredient for turning ‘sandpaper sex’ into slippery sex," says Dr. Lauren Streicher, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University’s medical school and Certified Menopause Practitioner of The North American Menopause Society. "Women can find relief in a dizzying array of over-the-counter solutions, but almost all are water-based and contain potentially irritating preservatives. A long acting moisturizer, on the other hand, is intended to change the water content of and moisturize vaginal tissue, making them more elastic, thicker, and with enhanced ability to maintain fluid, that will in turn reduce friction. Replens is the only long acting moisturizer that has been shown in clinical studies to actually replenish moisture in vaginal tissue and decrease painful intercourse."

Replens Long-Lasting Vaginal Moisturizer is medically recognized as one of the most effective ways to address vaginal dryness issues that are major sexual health and comfort concerns for many postmenopausal women. Clinical research has found Replens to be an effective alternative to hormone therapy using estrogen and progestin, about which so many health questions have been raised.

A 2013 study in the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s clinical journal SRM: Sexuality, Reproduction & Menopause called Replens a "nonhormonal alternative for vaginal atrophy [that] has been shown to decrease dyspareunia [painful intercourse, and] improve vaginal dryness … when used regularly." The composition of Replens, the study continued, "binds directly to the vaginal epithelium. The hydrating property restores the vaginal pH … and reduces the incidence of vaginal dryness, itching, and irritation." And an earlier study in The New England Journal of Medicine stated that Replens™ "provided relief of vaginal dryness symptoms that was equivalent to that of vaginal estrogen…"

For every woman, the choice of treatment for VVA depends on her preferences, needs, understanding of potential risks, and consultation with her physician. A long-lasting, hormone-free vaginal lubricant like Replens can do much as a first-line therapy to enhance postmenopausal women’s quality of life in a safe and effective way.

Replens is available at most drug and discount stores. For more information on Replens® Long-Lasting Vaginal Moisturizer, including product information, clinical study results and frequently asked questions, please visit www.Replens.com,www.Facebook.com/Replens, or call 1-800-524-1328. Church & Dwight Co., Inc. is responsible for the production, sales and distribution of innovative consumer healthcare products worldwide including: Replens™ Long-Lasting Vaginal Moisturizer, RepHresh™ Vaginal Gel, RepHresh® Pro-B and RepHresh® Clean Balance™ among others.

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