Should You Use Coconut Oil for Vaginal Dryness?

Coconut oil is a fantastic moisturizer for your skin, hair, and body. 

It’s also a great cooking option.  

But what’s the story when it comes to your sexual health? 

Is it safe to use coconut oil for vaginal dryness or anywhere near your vagina, for that matter?

Let’s find out. 

Coconut Oil in the Bedroom: Here’s the Low Down 

Opinions are varied, and no study has yielded definitive results yet, but some OBGYNs and healthcare providers recommend pure coconut oil as a lubricant.

In most cases, coconut oil lube is suggested alongside topical estrogen (more on that later) to help with vaginal dryness. 

How do you use coconut oil as lube?

Gently rub a tiny bit onto your vaginal opening or sex toy before doing the deed.

Coconut oil may also be very soothing for some women going through menopause as it relieves vaginal itching, irritation, or burning sensations.

That’s not all.

Pure coconut oil also does wonders at soothing nipple soreness or chaffing and reduces scarring after C-section births.

Let’s now discuss in detail about coconut oil for vaginal dryness. 

6 Benefits Of Coconut Oil for Vaginal Dryness

Here are a few benefits of using coconut oil as a form of vaginal lubrication:

1. It Amps Up Vaginal Stimulation

If you’ve used lube before, you know that silicone or water-based lubricant will get sticky after a little use. Plus, you need to reapply for maximum effect and pleasure. 

Coconut oil is smooth and moisturizing (much like an oil based lubricant) and will keep you in the mood for longer.

Caution:

Don’t use this natural lube with a latex condom, diaphragm, or sex toy. The oil will degrade the material, causing problems. (More on that later.)

2. It Helps Deal with Vulvar Ailments

Suffering from yeast infections, vulvodynia (chronic pain in the vulva), or lichen sclerosis (patchy, thin skin around the vag and anal areas)?

Coconut oil may soothe vaginal itching and burning sensations.

If you have a herpes outbreak or sores like postpartum lacerations, you can apply this natural oil to form a protective skin barrier. 

This will reduce discomfort when your acidic urine hits your skin during urination. 

3. It’s as Organic as it Gets

Coconut oil lube typically contains no added ingredients or possible irritants — it can be a great natural lube! 

So it’s not as likely to cause redness and swelling in areas that are already sensitive.

4. It’s Easily Available

We know you’ve got a jar of coconut oil in your pantry! 

It’s a product readily available at most grocers at very affordable prices. 

Plus, coconut oil has a pretty long shelf-life.

5. It Has Antibacterial and Antimicrobial Properties

Coconut oil has excellent antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. 

So it could be a good countermeasure for a fungal infection like a yeast infection. 

It can also fight urinary tract infections (UTI) and some drug-resistant infections like C. difficile (a germ that causes diarrhea and colitis).

6. It’s a Proven Moisturizer

Coconut oil is a good skin moisturizer. 

A study on the effect of coconut oil on skin moisture in children with atopic dermatitis concluded that coconut oil was fantastic at treating dryness. 

What other products can ease vaginal dryness?

4 Other Remedies For Vaginal Dryness

Coconut oil can work wonders to lubricate your vagina and reduce your symptoms.

But it’s not the only option you have.

Aside from coconut oil, here are a few remedies that may help you combat vaginal dryness:

1. Vaginal Moisturizer

Ready to bring vaginal moisture back?

Vulva and vaginal moisturizers are non-hormonal remedies that can help moisturize and improve the quality of your vaginal wall. 

How do you use a vaginal moisturizer?

You apply it topically inside your vagina, and it reduces dryness and pain for long periods. 

Put it on daily and anytime you want to — even before or after any sexual play. Just ensure to use a sex lubricant as well during sexy time.

2. Low-Dose Vaginal Estrogen

Low-dose vaginal estrogen therapy is hormone therapy your gynecologist or medical expert may recommend. 

It serves as a replacement for estrogen since your body no longer makes it in copious amounts. 

So how can you actually use this?

Vaginal estrogen therapy comes in a vaginal cream, tablet, ring, and suppository — you apply or insert it into your vagina. 

These improve the blood flow to your vagina, ease dryness, and restore its elasticity and thickness.

3. Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is a natural composite in your body’s skin and connective tissues. 

Studies show this wonder product provides sufficient vaginal estrogen levels to ease vaginal dryness. 

Another study comparing a hyaluronic acid vaginal gel to vaginal estrogen cream showed equal effectiveness at combating vaginal dryness.

4. Vaginal Lubricants 

Painful sex bringing you down?

Try vaginal lubricant (or sex lube)!

It offers comfort, reduces vaginal irritation, boosts pleasure, and lowers any pain resulting from vaginal dryness. 

But before diving under the sheets, keep these golden lubricant rules in mind:

• Watch out for harmful additives: Avoid vaginal lubricants with ingredients like glycerin, chlorhexidine, propylene glycol, and colored, flavored, or warming elements.
  
  
• Ditch questionable household ingredients as lube: Steer clear of products like vegetable oil, body lotion, petroleum jelly, and baby oil. These can irritate your skin and increase your chances of catching a vaginal infection.
  
  
• Avoid mismatching your condom and lube: Use a latex condom or polyisoprene condom with either a water based lubricant or silicone based lube (an oil based lubricant breaks down the latex).
  
  S.O. sliding on a polyurethane condom? It works great with all types of lube.
  
  
• Check for allergic reactions: Always do a patch test of the lube. (More on that later.) You don’t want any nasty surprises during sexual intercourse, right?

3 Must-Try Types of Lube

There are three main types of lube to banish dryness and painful sex:

• Oil based lubricant: If you’re planning an extended bedroom session, then an oil based lubricant is a great option. You can also use it with oral sex, masturbation, and water play. 
  
  Slather on the Coconu Oil Based Personal Lubricant. It’s long-lasting and moisturizes dry and sensitive tissues. 
  
  The coconut oil formula is USDA-certified organic. It’s also cruelty-free, completely edible, and free from harmful ingredients.

• Silicone based lubricant: This doesn’t contain water and lasts longer when compared to water based lubricant. 
  
  It’s thick and doesn’t absorb quickly into the skin, making it ideal for long, steamy sessions.

• Water based lubricant: It’s water-soluble, retains moisture and isn’t easily contaminated. It also cleans up easily. 

Should You Use Coconut Oil For Vaginal Dryness and as a Lube?

Many gynecologists report positive experiences from patients after recommending coconut oil. 

But, before you jump into the deep end, do your vaginal health a favor and ensure you check all the lube boxes:

1. Patch Test 

Before applying coconut oil to your vagina, do a patch test. 

• Apply a little coconut oil onto a small area of your inner arm.
• Cover it with a bandage for 24 hours.
• Remove the bandage to check if any reaction has taken place. If there’s none, you’re good to go.

If you experience one of the symptoms below, discontinue right away:

• Flushing
• Scratching
• Swelling
• Discomfort

2. Contraception, Pregnancy, and STIs

Not trying to get pregnant? 

Avoid using coconut oil with a latex condom if it’s your primary birth control method.

Why?

Latex can disintegrate and break during sexual activity. 

Not only do you run the risk of getting pregnant, you also can catch a sexually transmitted infection or bacterial vaginosis. 

3. Vaginal pH balance

Your vagina has something called vaginal flora — the bacteria that live inside your vagina. Vaginal flora ensures your vaginal health remains optimal and protects against infection.

So when something touches your vagina or vulva, your pH levels get affected.

What can set your vaginal flora off?

Things like changing hormones, medications, tampons, penis, tongue, or finger can affect pH levels. 

Coconut oil lube, too, can be another such instance. So if coconut oil doesn’t sit well with your own pH, try something else.   

4. Allergies

It should go without saying, but if you’re allergic to coconut, don’t apply or consume coconut oil. 

If you’re not, only purchase high-quality organic coconut oil with no artificial perfumes. 

Make sure the label says virgin coconut oil, extra virgin coconut oil, or states it’s unrefined. 

Why?

Refined coconut oil undergoes a bleaching process and contains a lot of chemicals.

The jar should also be made of glass or plastic-free to dodge more unwanted additives. 

2 FAQs About Vaginal Dryness

Have some questions about vaginal dryness?

We got you covered.

1. What is Vaginal Dryness?

Your body slowly stops producing the hormone estrogen as you age. 

Estrogen helps develop and maintain female characteristics (breasts, pubic hair etc.) and the reproductive system (i.e. providing blood flow and elasticity to the vagina).

When you go through menopause, your vulvar experiences vaginal tissue changes. 

And when estrogen levels drop, you’ll experience a symptom like dryness in the vagina (a.k.a vaginal atrophy or atrophic vaginitis). This causes inflammation and irritation of the vaginal wall. 

So what really happens?

Here’s what women experience:

• Your vaginal tissue gets thinner, dryer, and less stretchy.
• You produce less vaginal discharge. 
• Your vaginal opening gets narrower, and eventually shrinks. 

Vaginal dryness nearly always leads to painful sexual activity.

2. Who Gets Vaginal Dryness?

Women of all ages can get vaginal dryness for various reasons. But, it’s especially prevalent with women going through menopause. 

It affects about half of postmenopausal women. 90% of women don’t seek treatment for any menopausal symptoms.

You can also experience vaginal atrophy due to congestion from medicines that have antihistamines and decongestants present. 

How?

These medicines drop mucus levels in the body by reducing the moisture your body produces. 

And you know what that means?

Reduced moisture means dry skin and a dry vagina. 

Some other menopausal symptoms include: 

• Burning sensations 
• Urinary tract infections 
• Yeast infection (due to vaginal dryness)

Ready to Bring Wetness Back?

We get it: 

Vaginal dryness can negatively impact your sex life and dampen your self-confidence.

But having optimal vaginal moisture levels is within reach. 

Coconut oil may be a great option to banish vaginal irritation, pain, and discomfort. 

Prefer to try coconut oil in a store-bought lube? 

Do your sexual health a favor and try Coconu’s organic coconut oil lube. Use it pre-sex and during sex for your most toe-curling experience yet!