Women's Health Supplements I Never Knew I Needed

All Good Clean Love and Love Wellness products mentioned in this post were purchased with my own money. The Momotaro Apotheca Salve was sent as a sample with a product order.

Georgia O'Keeffe

 

    I went back and forth about writing this post. While I was writing it, I couldn't decide if I would post it or not. This is nothing like typing into the thread of anonymous posts on the Flo app. Nothing like the privacy of my GYN's office. My first name and face are on the home page. My friends, and possibly some of my family members, read this blog. I was so afraid that anyone would know I made purchases from these brands. I was even more afraid of them knowing what they are. But I kept writing because I asked myself: Why?

    I wanted to go to medical school when I was in undergrad, hoping to be either a pathologist or gynecologist. I am passionate about women's health and have frequent, open conversations with my friends about things like IUD insertion, birth control, and periods. I have even explained to my boyfriend the difference between menstruation and ovulation, and tried to explain the anatomy of the uterus. One of our mutual friends is a PharmD student and she and I can sit and talk for almost hours about reproductive health. I have these complicated, uncomfortable conversations in person, with ease. So why am I feeling so apprehensive about advocating for reproductive wellness on my blog?

    Reproductive health is an under-acknowledged topic by men and women alike. We are made to feel that our bodies are dirty, that these conversations are impolite or shocking. It took me an embarrassing amount of time to be open and honest with my gynecologist about the things that were bothering me. Whether we are male, female, or in between we should not feel embarrassed when asking questions about our bodies, especially with medical professionals. And I was letting society's rules control my dialogue with the doctor. 

    Instead of using the medical terms I know, which btw are taught in anatomy and biology classrooms, I found myself dancing around words like vulva, uterus, cervix, vagina, perineum, and labia. Why was it okay that a gynecologist could say these words to me when explaining about my health, but I could not bring myself use these words to tell her where the discomfort was? These are not dirty words, they are medical terms; the "official names" of these body parts, if you will. 

     Our toxic paradigm has come from labeling these words as "dirty" and the quite frankly laughable reproductive education the majority of young men and women receive in their developmental years. I, like so many others, didn't even receive proper education on my own body. I never knew that vaginal pH was acidic and it could be upset by the pH of menstrual blood. I had no idea the dominant genus of its microbiome is Lactobacilli spp. I had no idea that ovulation and menstruation were separate processes. I knew nothing about birth control methods or how they worked. I had no idea that the pill would make my excruciating periods into milder cramps with less blood loss. 
     In a lot of ways, the paradigm about reproductive health is changing as we become more empowered as individuals. Lately, mostly through serendipity and google, I have discovered brands that are not only empowering women to take their health into their own hands, but that advocate for the open discussion of reproductive health topics. Move over Vagisil and Summer's Eve, because the brands in this post are not your mother's feminine care.

     I discovered all of these products because I have been struggling with pH imbalance and discomfort for a few months now. It can be brought on by just about anything: menstruation, sexual activity, exercise, dryness (the reason I took a break from lexapro), and of course antibiotic use. If the pH does not right itself, it can result in a vicious BV-to-yeast-infection cycle. Let me explain: BV results from prolonged pH imbalance, you treat it with antibiotics. The antibiotics kill not only the pathogen, but some healthy bacteria as well, resulting in a yeast infection. The yeast infection is treated with anti-fungals. Then you end up with BV again, because your healthy flora are so depleted. Wash, rinse, repeat.

      Not only is this making us more at risk for C.difficile infection in our digestive systems, because oral antibiotics will affect your intestinal flora, it is killing off our precious Lactobacilli that maintain the low vaginal pH. It's costing crazy amounts of money from repeated doctor visits and prescriptions. More importantly, it affected the way I viewed myself, which in turn affected my relationships. I knew I needed to shed the weight of the shame about my body, while finding ways to help it return to normal and keep it that way. I found not only behavioral changes like shedding sweaty workout clothes ASAP and showers instead of baths, but products that women like me have used and loved. Enter Love Wellness, Good Clean Love, and Momotaro Apotheca. Exeunt shame, discomfort, and imbalance.

     Love Wellness, Good Clean Love, and Momotaro Apotheca have different product lines, and individually distinct mission statements. However, they can be unified in one general theme: women deserve better. I'm moved by their mission to empower women to not only take hold of their reproductive health, but also to discuss it without the need to tiptoe around anatomical terms like we are about to say the f-word. And no, I don't mean fallopian tube. 

    They create products designed to maintain women's health in ways we have never thought possible, from probiotics and vitamins for yeast balance to suppositories and salve to remedy discomfort. Conveniently, Good Clean Love is available at Target!

Lactobacillus Probiotics

There are so many brands that I have taken, and the ones I have found to be effective are: repHresh ProB, Jarro-Dophilus Women, and Renew Life Women. 

What you are looking for is a probiotic containing Lactobacilli  in abundance. At least 1 billion CFU to help restore your Lactobacillus population. The ones I have mentioned here are blends containing no other bacterial genus. Jarro-Dophilus is what I used the first time my population was wiped out by inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics by my first GYN. I have long since changed doctors and my new GYN takes the appropriate approach when prescribing antibiotics: confirm an infection first; and rebuilding the flora when antibiotics are necessary.

from RepHresh website

Cranberry Supplements

I have had enough UTIs to know that I never want another one, if I can help it. So, guided by a urologist, the online community, and some [conflicting] research studies, I take a cranberry supplement every day at bedtime.

I have used, and like: Love Wellness UTI Don't Think So, Azo Cranberry, and Azo Urinary Health Caplets. The last mentioned has cranberry, vitamin C, and a probiotic (Bacillus coagulans). Azo makes one with just cranberry, as does Love Wellness.

from Azo website

pH Balancing Moisture Gels

I would be lying to you if I said some balancing gels didn't tingle/feel warm for awhile after application. But don't worry, the sensation does go away. I have used: repHresh Balancing Gel, and Good Clean Love Restore. 

RepHresh is easy to find at most drugstores. It has no fragrances, flavors, etc. However, much to my dismay, it has parabens. So if you find yourself needing to balance pH often, I would try a boric acid suppository instead (scroll down for info). The research is inconclusive about parabens, but I would rather not take any chances. With all that said, this gel is incredibly effective, recommended by my GYN, and causes zero irritation. It comes in single-use pre-filled applicators, which I like because it avoids a lot of microbial contamination. Simply put, I do recommend RepHresh.

from Walmart.com

I have mixed feelings about the following product, and am including my thoughts to assist those interested in making an informed decision regarding their purchase.

Good Clean Love Restore is aloe based with no parabens and contains only natural ingredients. It is water based, meaning that it is compatible with barrier contraception methods and can be used as a personal lubricant. However, it contains "natural flavor" which is an ingredient I am confused about. Why does a vaginal gel need natural flavor, is someone eating this? 

This product caused noticeable tingling after application and it seemed to encourage yeast growth, so if you have yeast issues this is not the product for you. Whether I am allergic to the ingredients or not, I have yet to determine, and will investigate with a patch test. In respect to the potential yeast problem, it is possible that I contaminated the product with my hands or the applicator. The product only comes with one multi use applicator that you are supposed to properly wash and sanitize. If I'm honest, most days I only cleaned it with warm water. Supplying more than one applicator would be ideal, because I use pH balancing products before bed and often don't feel like cleaning the applicator. As well, it sits out either on the night stand or bathroom counter, exposed to all kinds of microbes. It is just laborious to clean it constantly and there is too much possibility of contamination. First world problem, I know.

Despite being unsure of the product, I will brag on Good Clean Love by saying that they answer questions quickly if you contact them. That is amazing. Their response to my questions about the natural flavor told me one thing: the one in Refresh Gel comes from Apples. But they did not answer why a product like this needed a natural flavor. They did not answer if natural flavors are safe for the vagina. So, all of this in mind, I do not personally recommend their Refresh Gel, because it causes too much irritation and there are too many unanswered questions about the "natural flavor" they use. If you are prone to yeast issues: please consider RepHresh or Boric Acid instead for pH balancing, and look for a fragrance and flavor free personal lubricant.

Vaginal Suppositories

I have used and liked: Good Clean Love BiopHresh Vaginal Homeopathic Suppository, and pHD boric acid suppositories. Both can be considered to be homeopathy or home remedies.

For the longest time I considered any kind of homeopathy to be complete baloney. That was until I had recurring pH imbalance issues from antibiotics I would take when sick. When the discomfort ensues, myself and other women are willing to try anything that seems promising to break the yeast-BV cycle. And once normal again, you will consider doing anything to stay that way. 

from their website

When oral probiotics didn't seem to be enough to re-balance things, I went on the hunt for suppositories. I found both of these. Any suppository is best used at night, and don't cause any discomfort. You can use the pHD boric acid suppositories as you need them (up to twice daily) and I find them especially helpful on days where my workouts have been extra tough and extra sweaty. The Good Clean Love BiopHresh can only be used up to seven days at a time, hence why the pack only contains 10. I haven't used seven days of these, but they don't cause irritation.

from Good Clean Love website

Momotaro Apotheca Salve

I have only tried this product once, as a spot test, because while natural products are potent and effective, I cannot exclude that I could be allergic to one of the ingredients. I have no known allergens; meaning I can be allergic to something and have no clue. So with all natural products, patch test before applying to your lady bits. Just a bit of lady bit advice.

With the patch test completed, I tried the salve on inner thighs and any non-mucosal surface or crevice after a workout. I felt so soothed. What do I mean by non-mucosal? I didn't apply this past the external vulva: aka the skin portion that is dry, may or may not grow hair, and resembles the rest of your body skin. There is something about cooling botanicals that just doesn't mesh well with mucous membranes, and its the same reason you should not put Vick's Vapo Rub up your nose or in your mouth. I would apologize for the anatomy lesson, but I think there are a lot of women who could benefit from knowledge of their own anatomy.

From their website

I want 2020 to be the last year I was ever ashamed of being an advocate for women's reproductive health, the last time I am ever afraid to share my own experience. I hope someone, even just one person, can benefit from this post. There are products out there to help you feel normal again, and research shows that re-balancing pH and taking probiotics in conjunction with conventional medical treatment helps to prevent recurrence of many vaginal issues. Our bodies are not dirty; sometimes they just need some extra TLC.

♥ Kasey

Disclaimer: 

1. When starting any new supplement or suppository check with your doctor to confirm it is safe to use with your other medications, including birth control.
2.  Suppositories and oil-based products are incompatible with barrier methods of birth control. 
3. These products do not protect you from STIs. 
4. This post does not constitute medical advice, it should be taken only as an account of personal experiences.
5.  If you have symptoms lasting longer than seven days please consult your doctor. 
6. While these products are generally considered harmless, there is a risk of sensitivity/allergy when using herbal supplements or homeopathic preparations. 
7. In using the products recommended here, you are personally assuming all associated risks, if any such risks exist.