DHEA Vaginal Cream: Struggling with Dryness? The New Science of Relief for Women 45+

Dr. Laura Kelly, DAOM

Halellujah – those dry days are over.  A 2024 network meta‑analysis (they looked at a lot of published data) showed DHEA equals or outperforms estrogen for symptom relief for dryness/painful sex.  (ScienceDirect).

Here I will tell you why this is so great, and why it works, safely.  And, you do not need a prescription!

In this article you will learn:

• When women experience dryness and lack of libido – younger women from using birth control and older women from menopause – from lack of testosterone.
• DHEA outperforms estrogen because the vulva has a large amount of androgen (testosterone) receptors – the vulva needs testosterone!
• DHEA goes into the cells for them to make the testosterone and estrogen they need, so the rest of your body is not exposed to estrogen
• Your 30 day (and it could be sooner!) vaginal rejuvenation protocol

Who experiences vaginal dryness and why?

On average, bothersome age-related vaginal dryness (and the accompanying issues) starts around 50, but nearly 1 in 5 women feel it by their early 40s—and more than half of us will experience it soon after our 50th birthday if nothing is done.  And this percentage increases with each passing year. 

Even in younger women dryness and loss of libido happens, primarily due to birth control use.  

And for all of us it is for the same reason – the decrease of testosterone in the vulvovaginal tissue.

For us 50+, there is some variation, though a large majority (up to 90% in studies) experience some symptoms of vulvovaginal tissue problems with age – dryness, pain during sex, loss of libido, even leakage.  

Why some women might feel it earlier

• Low‑estrogen states that aren’t menopause (lactation, GnRH analogs, aromatase inhibitors).
• Medications (antihistamines, SSRIs), systemic illness, autoimmune disorders (e.g., Sjögren).
• Lifestyle factors (heavy smoking, extreme endurance exercise) that further suppress estrogen.

Why some women feel it later or not at all

• Topical/systemic HRT started early.
• Genetic variation in estrogen receptor sensitivity.
• Regular sexual activity and adequate foreplay maintain pelvic blood flow and lubrication.

Ok so – why do some studies show DHEA outperforming estrogen?

For a long time science thought that women’s vulvovaginal tissue (the vagina is the canal and the lips and outer area are the vulva) only needed estrogen.  They thought this for so long in fact that even today a lot of doctors do not know that some parts of the vulva have even more testosterone receptors than they do estrogen receptors!

One of the doctors doing this research, Dr. Maria Uloko, is an advisor at Good Vulva, and she confirms that this vulvar tissue requires testosterone to function.

So what does this have to do with DHEA?

DHEA is a hormone precursor made in the reproductive tract during fertile years, and only in the adrenal glands after menopause.   DHEA, when applied topically to the vulva, is taken up by the cells, where each cell makes the sex hormone it needs.  Because the vulva needs so much testosterone, much of the DHEA is made into testosterone in the cell, with a lesser amount of estrogen being made. 

Keep in mind – and this is important – that these hormones are made in the cells!  This means they are not circulating in the system – so are not exposing the rest of the system to estrogen. 

This makes the DHEA choice the safest possible option for health and wellness, and because the vulva NEEDS testosterone and estrogen, it is a complete solution for the tissue, not a partial solution (such as estrogen). 

The benefits of this are that we get not only lubrication – we also get desire!   Testosterone, not estrogen, is what give us desire and improved response.  

But what about progesterone cream?

Unlike the vagina, the outer vulvar tissue doesn’t really ‘listen’ to progesterone—it lacks the receptors. The one spot that still hears a whisper is the thin vestibular mucosa just inside the labia minora, where progesterone receptors flicker on and off through the month, if you are still cycling. That’s why evidence‑based relief for vulvar dryness focuses on DHEA and estrogens, not progesterone creams.

Has this been studied?  What are the clinical results?

We at Good Vulva did our own in-house studies to understand time to effects, relief of symptoms, and to see if estrogen or testosterone entered the system.  There are also external studies on the safety of DHEA.  Those studies are done on DHEA that is put into the vaginal canal, but we can extrapolate that external application, such as what Good Vulva provides, has an even better safety profile.

What we found is that 80% of our users in formal user groups found relief from dryness and from lack of sexual response, with 100% of users feeling some relief.  We also found that there were NO rises in estrogen or testosterone in the body from use of our products. 

The wider science finds that the use of DHEA lowers sex-related pain from 81% to 8% over 20 weeks.   We know from our studies that our products significantly shrink the time it takes to see these results. 

There are no other issues found from using DHEA – no effect on the uterus (endometriosis), no effects anywhere other than improved local tissue health, lowered pain, and increased libido.

How do I get started?

Here is your step-by-step protocol for vulvovaginal rejuvenation, or, how to get your mojo back.

Once you are experiencing age-related dryness it is time to take action.

Start your 30‑day vaginal renewal plan

We have found that topical cream plus a few specific supplements and some sunshine will have you feeling like your old self again.

For those of you who need some extra help there are also devices that can assist with tissue health.

Topical Cream – Nectar

Our Nectar cream is the fastest, safest, and easiest way to vaginal renewal.   Our website is www.goodvulva.com

Follow the directions for use and use it daily for a minimum of two weeks, or until you feel some resolution of symptoms.  

Once you are feeling and seeing the improvement you can find your own rhythm with Nectar.  Some women use it every day, some use it a few times a week.  We have found that it takes a minimum of 2 days/week of use to maintain tissue health.  If you go below that your symptoms will return.

Please check with your doctor if you are being treated for any reproductive cancers before using any herbs or creams.   Although DHEA looks to be generally safe even in ER+ cancers, we encourage thorough discussions with medical professionals if you are at risk.

Supplementation

We recommend finding a supplement/s that contain some or any of:  Yin Yang Huo (aka Epimedium/Horny Goat Weed), Shatavari Root, We Wei Zi (schisandra berry), Tribulus, fenugreek, saffron, ashwagandha, ginseng, ginkgo biloba, rhodiola, curcuma comosa

And please do not use these any of these substances or creams if you are pregnant or breast feeding without consulting a medical professional.

Sun Exposure

Yes this really works.  Sun exposure on skin – UVB, which is generally later morning/early afternoon, and must be enough surface area such as back, though we at GV prefer full body) – gently raises natural estradiol and testosterone by up-shifting sex-steroid signaling.   20 minutes/day without sunscreen, certainly wear a hat to avoid facial exposure, and make sure to use a high-quality antioxidant-rich body lotion as aftercare for sun exposure.   You can work up from 20  minutes to 30 minutes, and as a by-product you will not have to take vitamin D supplements anymore, the sun exposure is the most effective vitamin D supplement you do not have to buy!

If you have high skin cancer risk then speak with your doctor before undertaking daily sun exposure.

Orgasm

Having regular vaginal sex play and reaching orgasm regularly increases local testosterone levels up to 15% for over an hour.  Repeated exposure conditions the androgen (testosterone) receptors and keeps them in place.   If you don’t use it you lose it applies here!

Devices

High intensity focused electromagnetic pulses will work if you have pelvic floor dysfunction, and this can overall improve the function and health of the vulvovaginal tissue.

Fractional lasers, near infra-red, and radio frequency can all contribute to improvement in the vulvovaginal tissue.  

✦ Your 30‑second take‑away

• Dryness and desire share one root cause — local testosterone loss.
  DHEA is the only over‑the‑counter ingredient proven to rebuild the vulva’s own T + E2 right where you need it, without spiking systemic hormones.
• Clinical wins you can feel:
  • Lubrication and comfort in as little as 14 days • Pain slashed 80 → 8 % by week 20 • Desire and orgasm scores climb alongside tissue health.
• Safety first:
  Zero endometrial growth, zero serum hormone surge, zero systemic side‑effects across > 1,500 woman‑years of data.
• Stack it smart:
  Daily Nectar cream + orgasms (your favorite way) + broad‑area UV‑B or red‑light for a gentle nudge. Layer botanical boosters if you want extra lift.

You don’t have to accept dryness, dull sensation, or disappearing libido as the “new normal.” Give your tissue the androgen fuel it’s been craving and let pleasure drive the rest.

Ready to start?
Tap below to launch your 30‑Day Vaginal Renewal Plan and feel the shift for yourself.

Start now → goodvulva.com/nectar

(Always talk with your clinician if you have a hormone‑sensitive cancer, are pregnant, or breast‑feeding.)