Louise's Replens trial report continued

Submitted by louiseds on June 10, 2008 - 8:34pm
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Hi All

You may have read the first part of this story in the Sponge/Vaginal Dryness Topic that Blue started. Here is the rest of the story as it unfolds in glorious technicolour.

Part 2. Working out how much Replens I can eke out of an applicator full. This is almost impossible as I do not have an accurate scale that can measure in .1gm increments. The tube says 5.9gm applicator, delivering 2.5gm. I do not know whether this means that the remaining 3.4gm is applicator plus residual Replens, or just residual Replens.

For the record I am using Replens for the Australian market, so all the units are metric. Sorry Americans, you will eventually have to catch up with the rest of the world on this, so get used to it! ;-)

I put as much Replens as I could squeeze out of the applicator, by squeezing the little bulb thingy on the applicator, into a clean, 5ml medical syringe. This gave me 2.2ml once I shook it all down to the bottom of the syringe. I think I can safely assume that the density of Replens is close to water as it is 78%? pure water, so there is probably close to 2.2gm Replens in the syringe.

I then squeezed as much more product out of the applicator as I could, and lo and behold the level went up to 4.2ml. IMHO, this represents a ripoff, as you can only get 50% of the product out of the applicator without messing around for half an hour.

Anyway ... back to the Replens. The first Replens report was done on Replens in last thing at night high in the vagina, then big sleep, then coitus in the morning. The report on that coitus is in the first report. I don't see why they say to put it in first thing in the morning. That is a mystery for women to figure out. Instructions probably written by a man who likes 'a bit' to get him to sleep at night. No chance of that with DH! He reads books about business, or The Financial Review, in bed at night (a persistent vice), and falls asleep after about 5 minutes. When he falls asleep, he *really* falls asleep!

This next stage is the normal dose first thing in the morning, three days later, as they suggest on the packet, and I spread a bit around my vulva for good measure, to see if it would make a difference there, as the Replens in the vagina does not seem to ooze down to the vulva, as reported by Blue(?) . No chance of sex today as DH has mind on earning money, and is otherwise occupied. I have stuck the other 2.2ml of Replens, now safe in its syringe, back in the empty applicator packet for the next dose in three days' time. What a woman has to go through to get full value for her consumer dollar!!

Watch this space ...

Louise

louiseds

June 10, 2008 - 11:19pm

Aaacckkk! Very wet patch on crotch of knickers all morning. I wonder if any Replens defied gravity and stayed up where I put it early this morning?

Blue

June 11, 2008 - 8:19am

Hiya Louise. I find too, that a bit of the Replens runs back out (despite a bed-time application this time); wearing a pantie liner is a must for me, but I always sport one anyway (I believe Mae experiences the same?). You do have me wondering likewise, though, about just how much of the product is actually 'used', between what remains in the applicator and what runs out. I'd like to think that enough of it is being absorbed to make a difference, but then again, perhaps my vaginal tissue is naturally 'saturated' at this point in my life, so as not to allow room for much absorption??? Perhaps dryness isn't that much of an issue for me (you?) right now as it turns out that as of this week, I'm PERImenopausal, coming off what ended up being just a menstrual hiatus.

~♥Blue

louiseds

June 11, 2008 - 10:12am

Hi Blue

Dryness has been sufficient a problem for me over the last few months to have to use a lubricant for sex every time, though my vagina is never *absolutely* dry ... yet. It rather reduces the pleasure when penetration hurts! ~

Bedtime Replens was not a problem overflowing, but the morning use definitely does ooze out. We'll see what DH says about the plumpness after the morning application. As you say, it is hard to say how much comes out with the overflow. And I don't know whether the overflow was from the vagina or the vulva. I don't normally wear any pads, but I could have used one this morning if I was wearing a thin skirt. I think evening application would be better for me. I figure that anything overflows quicker when you have POP. Maybe the manufacturers do not realise that? It wouldn't surprise me. Maybe they think everyone has sex before they go to sleep?

I like the idea of just putting a little jelly bean sized bit in every day. Less would flow out, and it would probably work out a bit more economical. It would also even out the moist and dry days a bit.

(Actually I am thinking that this stuff works too well at first then tails off to not well enough after a couple of days. With the wasteful applicator I think it might Replens might be more trouble than it is worth, and very expensive for the benefit we get, apart from the potentially risky ingredients).

I guess it is OK to spend a fortune getting your vagina just right if you are used to spending a fortune getting your face just right. That is not quite my style. I think I would rather spend less money on Bliss Balm and feel that I can use it whenever I want to for whatever reason, the applicator is my finger, not some non-recyclable plastic doo-dad that won't relinquish half its load without an argument, and it works the same every time!

I will continue the trial, and do the 'jellybean every day' for the last applicator full. Then I will be a world authority on Replens use. Now that would look interesting on the CV!

Cheers

Louise

Mae

June 11, 2008 - 10:36am

Hi Louise & Blue,

Yes, you are right Blue. I do use a mini pad for the run off of the Replens I get after using it. I figure my body uses just what it needs and the rest is expelled. I use the tube with the reuseable applicator. You can only fill the applicator to the correct dosage. You could fill it with less, of course, but not more. It contains 14 applications, which is a 42 day supply according to them, but I get much more as I don't need it every three days. I find it more economical to do it this way..but it's still pretty pricey.

Louise, I find that KY or Christine's Balms work well for lubricating the vulva, but not higher up. I don't know...maybe my fingers are just too short to get it high enough up there!

At any rate continue on with the great testing job you are doing! I learn something and/or get a good laugh when either of you post! I've gotten really good at remembering to put my coffee cup down before I read anything here anymore!

Love and hugs to you both!

Mae

Blue

June 11, 2008 - 11:22am

I'm thinking that the manufacturers likely didn't have prolapse conditions in mind at all when they created their product. As to the run-off, I wonder if that is the co$t of opting for a water-based moisturizer - While something with more viscosity might stay put better... hmmm, but might also provide a harbor for some kind of harmful bacterial growth(?) *shrug* Science-minded, I'm not.

With me, night-time application (last night being my first) resulted in similar morning drainage as my a.m. applications... but then, a variable was missing for me in the p.m.(intercourse), which might have changed the... outcome.

Considering the significant product waist you're measuring through your trials so far, it may behoove us to see about using a bit every day as opposed to all at once ("all" being relative here)via your syringe idea. (!!!)

As to the dollar and 'sense' of it all, I would love a product that was both sufficiently 'restorative'(?) AND affordable for moisturizing way up high. This household is on a rather restrictive budget and I have to admit that I cringed upon my first and only Replense purchase so far. What to do, what to do, eh?

Oh, BTW, how are you going about getting all of the product out of the applicator? I'm thinking shaking the it in reverse of what's directed and then cutting open its bottom?

I'm looking forward to reading the results of your "Jelly-bean" trial, Louise. You are a trooper, kiddo! Thank you for all you do. ~ : )

Staying tuned,
~&heartsBlue

Blue

June 11, 2008 - 2:36pm

Hi Mae

I wasn't aware that this product came in such a form; I'll have to check around for it in these parts. Thank you for sharing that it exists though - I can see how it might be more cost effective to have more control over each dose.

Is the applicator such that it dispenses all that you've filled it with?... and if not, I imagine that one could just leave what remains and add to it the next time, therefore limiting any waist to the very last application? (as long as bulb-pressure wasn't released until removal...)

Hmmm, could this reusable applicator be used for other moisturizing products?

Coffee breaks & spit-takes can wreak havoc on keyboards and blouses... and perhaps even mouses - Good that you're taking care these day = : )

Love and Light,
~♥Blue

Mae

June 11, 2008 - 4:09pm

Hi Blue,

The Replens I buy comes in a box containing a 1.23 oz (35 G) tube of the Replens and a reusuable applicator that is approximately 4 3/4 inches long empty and 6 inches long when filled with the Replens. The tube is enough for 14 applications if you use a full dose each time. I think, with the coupon, I pay about $16 for the box. The plastic applicator screws onto the tube and you squeeze the tube until the applicator stops, or you could stop sooner if you want less.

I tried going to Replens.com to see if I could send you there to see what it is, but their website seems to be having some difficulties. I am sure the applicator could be used for other things, but unfortunately, I don't see how it could be used for Christine's Balm because of the consistency of the Balm.

Yes Blue, I think you're right! DH is a keeper. I've been "keeping" him for 41 years now! Wow! Does the sound of that make me feel old!! We got married when I was 19 and I worked as a telephone operator to put him through law school. Best investment I ever made!! LOL! Wednesday is Mae Day because I was alone (or with the kids when they were young) on Wednesday nights for 21 years while he attended city meetings as the Town attorney. He declared Wednesdays Mae Day and Date Night when he left the Town six years ago. He really is a dear. I feel blessed in so many ways! Which I sometimes have to remind myself about when I am having a bad day...Which happens...Bad days happen sometimes...even in Australia..which takes me back again to my Kindergarten teaching days. Obviously, I loved those days! The kids loved Judith Viorst's book, Alexander and The Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day. I think about the lesson to be learned there often since I met our dear friend Louise..of course she lives in Oz...not really Australia..but it's close enough!

Off to get dressed to go out. All I have managed to accomplish today is getting a hairdo and reading and writing posts!

((Hugs))

Mae

louiseds

June 11, 2008 - 8:38pm

Hi All
The Replens I am using came in a three pack, which is three little, funny shaped applicators with a big, squishy bulb thingy on one end and a little bulb on the other (pointy) end, (how narrow can a vagina get???) one for each dose, so it is about ten days worth. I would say this is the most expensive way to buy it.

The big packs may have a reusable applicator. I have used reusable applicators in the past for thrush creams of different brands. If I was going to use Replens longterm the reusable applicator would be quite useful, though they are a bit of a pain to wash thoroughly in between uses, as the product gets stuck in the nooks and crannies, even though it is water soluble. Also the ones I have used are not calibrated in any way, and it may be difficult to calculate the dosage. I guess if you use it for a few months you would end up with a collection of applicators you could rotate, and clean thoroughly by taking them apart, in between times.

It is the single use applicator that leaves half the product in the applicator. It is quite a stiff plastic, but I managed to get the rest out by carefully rolling it from the big bulb end into a tight roll, like a toothpaste tube, and squished it out onto the applicator wrapper. Then I removed the plunger of the syringe and scooped the extra Replens in to the top of the syringe, tapping it down on the bench to get it all to the bottom to measure how much I had. This is messy and tricky. Once you have this stuff on your fingers the applicator gets very slippery, so it is not easy to roll tight. AAaarrrggghhh!! then you have to turn the syringe upside down and bang it all back up the top end so you can insert the plunger without the big air bubble above the Replens in the syringe sending it all spewing out of the needle end. AAaarrrggghhh again!! There has to be an easier way.

I think the only way to measure out a jelly bean will be to squeeze the right volume into another syringe so you can push the plunger right in. I think a finger would do the job better.

I have never liked applicators and this one is no different! ~>:-(

Cheers

Louise

louiseds

June 11, 2008 - 8:59pm

Hi Blue

Prolapsed organs do seem to make the vagina leak and expel many materials and objects more effectively than they do in their perfect state. However, when you think about it, the vagina is very well designed. It is designed to be a free draining organ. It is self-cleansing, the vaginal secretions carrying away sloughed cells and anything grubby that gets in there. Also seminal fluid would presumably have the same effect. I wonder what mechanisms the body has for cleansing the vagina when there is little secretion? Maybe none? Maybe we really were not designed to live past menopause? Maybe we should all just disappear in a cloud of smoke at age 50, or perhaps 40?

They say we are the only species to reach menopause, but I reckon that is a load of #*&%. I had a hen once, a cunning little bantam, that was over eight years old before she finally got eaten by a fox. She had stopped ovulating years before that, and eventually started acting like a rooster. Her voice deepened and she started that rooster-type ground-scratching and clucking behaviour that a roosters does when they find a patch of tasty seeds or grubs or whatever, to attract the hens and show them what a wonderful provider he is. Then, when they are happily beak down, eating grubs, the rooster goes around to the fluffy back end and checks out which one he will mount while they are all pre-occupied with eating.

Yes, my cunning bantam turned lesbian in her old age, and used to try and mount the other, younger hens. It may have been simple dominance behaviour by elderly women, as she had always been a bossy little hen all her life.

It's no wonder we refer disparagingly refer to bossy matriarchs as 'bossy old chooks (Oz for hen)'. Or am I the only one who has noticed dominance behaviour in elderly women who need to retain their status in families and organisations, despite no longer being the top of the heap at spaghetti-juggling, teenager-taming, laundry-twirling and other domestic arts?

Cheers

Louise

Mae

June 11, 2008 - 9:53pm

Hi Louise,

Welcome back to the world after nights of dancing and so much fun!!! Ahh, to live in Oz!! Wow! How differently we see (or use) things! Replens, and it's use, is like second hand to me and ohhh so very, very soothing! Different strokes for different folks , I guess!

Good night and sweet dreams!

Mae

louiseds

June 15, 2008 - 2:22am

Well, I couldn't be bothered messing around with the Replens yesterday. Still 1 1/2 applicators to go. I had a Bliss Balm night last night with extra-curriculars. I certainly did not get the sort of response from DH that said "This stuff is horrible". He 'indicated' that my vagina was no different from the Replens version. The good thing about Bliss Balm is that I can use it with my eyes closed, in total darkness, whenever I want to! Feels good today too, after rather a lot of action last night.

Mae, I am so glad you have found the Replens working for you. I still haven't ruled it out for later. Maybe if my vagina gets very dry it will be the best product, but for now I think Bliss Balm has won, and I am really happy about that. And Mae, thanks for your kind words. I am really just thinking out loud with all of this. If somebody can benefit from my ramblings, then it is good. (((Hugs))). We all benefit from each other's ramblings actually. It is so hard for me to believe anything in an advert that doesn't come from somebody I trust. It has been a really interesting conversation, so far.

Cheers

Louise

ChannelD

June 15, 2008 - 11:32am

Metric! Augh! Augh! Never!

Cynthia