By Womaness Editors 3-Minute Read
Some people put coconut oil on, well, everything. But what is it, and why is everyone so obsessed? Coconut oil is extracted from the coconut fruit and has been a part of traditional medicine for thousands of years. It can be used in various ways, both internally and externally.
Because it’s so soothing, many women discovered on their own that coconut oil works wonders as an all-natural vaginal moisturizer and lube. We talked to one gynecologist who told us her patients used coconut oil they bought at Costco as a personal moisturizer! Now she recommends coconut oil to her patients all the time.
So we set out to answer the question, “Is coconut oil okay to use vaginally? Is it safe and effective?”
Short answer? Yep. Here are the details on what we found out.
Coconut Oil: Lube It Up or Leave It Out?
Clearly, we aren't the first women to discover that coconut oil feels fantastic down there—especially as a vaginal moisturizer or natural lubricant to help with vaginal dryness. But there's still some debate around whether or not it's as good for your vagina as it feels. We've seen claims floating around the internet that coconut oil can increase your risk for infection by changing your vagina's flora, but these claims are unsupported by any scientific research. While research has shown us is that there definitely are lubricants that can increase your risk of infection—namely petroleum jelly—coconut oil is not one of the culprits.
Since there wasn't good evidence, we decided to do our own study before launching Coco Bliss, our coconut oil-based vaginal moisturizer that helps with the vaginal dryness of menopause (and perimenopause) and preps you for intimacy. Here's what we found in our 28-day, third-party clinical study:
Clinical Results
● 95% said Coco Bliss reduces vaginal dryness
● 95% said it helps skin retain moisture
● 86% found it suitable as a massage oil
● 100% had no negative reactions
One word of caution: The only time we don’t recommend coconut oil as a lubricant is when using latex-based condoms with your partner(s). Oil-based lubricants have been shown to weaken condoms and increase breakage in the bedroom. The same science extends to plastic sex toys; oil can break them down. That’s one reason we recommend silicone sex toys, which are also safer for your body.
“We remember moisturizer for our face, hands, and feet. But a lot of women forget about moisturizing sensitive parts like the vagina and vulva.” - Dr. Somi Javaid
How Coconut Oil Relieves Vaginal Dryness
Coconut oil is rich in fatty acids and is anti-inflammatory, which means it's ideal for soothing sensitive, dry skin by assisting your skin’s natural skin barrier and sealing in moisture. When researching coconut oil, the gynecologists and women we talked to loved using it to relieve vaginal dryness, especially because it's a completely natural ingredient.
When it comes to relieving painful sex or dealing with vulvar itchiness or discomfort, many women’s health professionals recommend coconut oil as an affordable and safe option. Most women find it very soothing, and that it makes a huge daily difference! In this Q&A, Dr. Somi Javaid talked about the importance of moisturizing down there for less painful sex. “We remember moisturizer for our face, hands, and feet," she said. "But a lot of women forget about moisturizing sensitive parts like the vagina and vulva.”
And the light, tropical smell of coconut oil just happens to be an added bonus for keeping up a moisturizing routine.
Coconut Oil Moisturizer Made for Your V
Coco Bliss is the indulgent vaginal (and all-over!) moisturizer from Womaness that harnesses the natural power of coconut oil to ease the vaginal dryness of menopause and prep you for intimacy. Made with all-natural ingredients, it melts into your skin and helps it better retain moisture. As for its texture, you'll notice that Coco Bliss will liquefy in warmer temps and can harden or get grittier in colder temps, but that's simply due to the natural properties of its organic coconut oil.
Take a deep breath and inhale its bright, natural coconut scent with notes of sweet almond oil and vanilla bean. You’re going to love it.
More For You
Sex in Menopause: What to Expect & How to Make It Great
Pelvic Health With Dr. Laura Meihofer
What’s Happening Here? Vaginal Dryness
