‘Menopause wiped out my libido but this LED device brought it back’

LED light therapy has been huge in skincare over the past few years, with LED masks shown to increase collagen and reduce inflammation. So it makes sense that we’re now seeing the benefits of this technology extend into other areas of women’s health.

Issviva, a platform that supports women during menopause, has partnered with intimate health brand Joylux to bring us the Limited Edition Issviva x Joylux Vaginal Rejuvenation Device, £359, is nifty gadget is clinically proven to help with low libido, vaginal dryness and urinary leaks.

The original version was a Get The Gloss Wellness Awards winner in the 40+ and Menopause category and this new enhanced version – launched to mark Menopause Awareness Month this October – is even better. It delivers a third more light energy than the original, which can help women experience results in as little as a fortnight. And the new rose gold finish gives this clinical tool an unexpectedly stylish edge.

The Limited Edition Issviva x Joylux Vaginal Rejuvenation Device, just launched for Menopause Awareness Month

Hollywood A-lister Halle Berry is a big fan of the Issviva x Joylux device. “This is the game-changer that every woman must have,” she says. And for Amanda Fuller, a 53-year-old sports therapist from Portsmouth, the device has been tranformational. Five years ago, she felt angry and emotional, with low mood and non-existent libido. “I didn’t know what was happening, but I had lost the old me,” she says.

For Amanda Fuller (left), a dip in her libido seriously affected her quality of life and Halle Berry (right) is a fan of the Issviva x Joylux Device.

Her GP put her on antidepressants, which further dampened her sex drive. Then she saw Davina McCall’s documentary about menopause, and “it was like a light switching on”.

She came off antidepressants and went onto HRT, which helped with the mood symptoms. But her libido did not recover. “I’ve always enjoyed sex, so losing that desire felt like I’d lost part of myself,” she says. “I felt dead from the eyebrows down!”

It can be awkward to discuss libido, and Amanda didn’t find her GP very supportive. “He said that it wasn’t a problem because I’m single,” she says. “But feeling sexy is an important part of who I am. I didn’t want to lose that.”

After seeing an advert online for the Issviva x Joylux Vaginal Rejuvenation Device, she took the plunge. “It was a drunk purchase if I’m honest,” she laughs, “but it’s been life-changing.” She urges women not to be put off by the fact that it might initially look like a sex toy. “That’s the shape we are inside,” she says. “We should be learning about our bodies, and not be scared of our sexuality.” And it has been clinically proven to ease vaginal dryness, improve vaginal tightness, prevent bladder leakages and soothe painful sex.

For Amanda, that’s certainly true. “Now I’m flirty again,” she grins.

What are the benefits of the Issviva x Joylux Vaginal Rejuvenation Device?

Issviva surveyed 40,000 women on their menopause symptoms and found that over half (53.8 per cent) had a low libido, while nearly a third (32.8 per cent) suffered from vaginal dryness, and a further 45 per cent experienced bladder leakage. There is clinical evidence to show that this device helps on all three counts. A 2019 study on GSM (genitourinary syndrome of menopause), commissioned by Joylux, found that it was effective for vaginal rejuvenation.

Of women using the device three times a week for six weeks, 77 per cent saw an improvement in sexual function, 90 per cent saw increased sensitivity, and 92% saw a dramatic improvement in symptoms like urinary distress and incontinence. Meanwhile, Joylux’s survey data shows that 89 per cent of users report a decrease in pain, and 91 per cent a decrease in dryness.

How does the device work?

Back in the 1990s, NASA began studying LED’s effects on wound healing in astronauts. Now, light therapy is commonly used in skincare to treat everything from scars to sun damage. With the Issviva x Joylux device, this tech is used on vaginal tissue, which becomes lax as we age, due to a depletion of collagen, elastin and glycogen.

When red and infrared light technology are applied together to tissue this encourages the mitochondria (the powerhouses in our cells) to release two chemicals: ATP and nitric oxide. The former increases collagen production and elastin, while the latter increases blood flow to help circulation and tissue repair.

The Issviva x Joylux is the first device to use a combination of light energy from red and infrared LEDs, thermal heat, and vibration. It heats the vaginal tissue to 40-42 degrees Celsius which helps tighten collagen fibres, while the vibration boosts the delivery of the light energy and stimulates fibr0blasts, a type of cell that helps connective tissue to form.

How to use the Issviva x Joylux Vaginal Rejuvenation Device

The device is used intra-vaginally; simply insert, switch on and relax. Many women find the warmth and vibrations a pleasant experience, and the new Issviva x Joylux V-Moist Intimate Moisturising Serum, £19.99, is designed to be used with it for anyone struggling with intimate dryness.

How often can you use it?

The recommendation is to use it every other day for the first six-to-12 weeks. Start off with six minutes at a time, and work up to 10 minutes. After that, you can use it as often as you like – there are no side effects.

How long does it take to see results?

Some benefits can be felt within just two weeks, as women experience their existing collagen reforming. It then takes a further four-to-six weeks for new collagen to form.

Can I use the Issviva x Joylux Vaginal Rejuvenation Device alongside HRT?

Absolutely. And, since it’s hormone-free, it’s great for women who choose not to take HRT for whatever reason or whio have had to come off HRT. Amanda, who is still having periods so is not yet post menopausal, found that HRT helped with mood symptoms, but didn’t help her libido. Everybody is different, so it’s a case of finding what works for you.

What else can improve sexual health during perimenopause and beyond?

Dr Aarthi Sinha (above) a GP with a special interest in menopause, suggests the following:

• “Always start with oestrogen and progesterone but, if this combination is not enough, a small dose of testosterone can be helpful.” Low libido is the only symptom for which NHS GPs are currently allowed to prescribe testosterone.
• Vaginal oestrogen, in the form of creams or pessaries, can ease vaginal dryness, particularly for women who have been advised against systemic HRT.
• The evidence is mixed on herbal supplements for menopause  but “some women find that ashwagandha, black cohosh or red clover may help.”
• Don’t forget about your lifestyle. “Healthy eating, strength training, moderating alcohol intake and getting enough sleep can support a healthy libido,” says Dr Sinha.

Remember that desire starts in the mind. “Getting comfortable with our bodies, preferences and ways in which we enjoy sexual pleasure can open up opportunities to improve sexual satisfaction,” says Miranda Christophers, a psychosexual therapist and Issviva’s sex and relationships expert. “Find unrushed time to enjoy intimacy, and try to remove pressure or expectation, instead focusing on pleasure. Explore female-friendly sexual wellness apps like Dipsea or Kama to find what makes you feel good.”

Of course, this is not only about vaginal symptoms, but overall confidence and quality of life. Amanda has changed other aspects of her lifestyle too; exercising more and losing weight. She credits the Issviva x Joylux device for being the turning point that helped her get back in touch with her body, start looking after herself better and, for the first time in years, really feel good.

“Even my friends have noticed,” she says. “Everybody has said that I’ve got the old Amanda back.”

 Limited Edition Issviva x Joylux Vaginal Rejuvenation Device , £359, is available to buy now. Once sold out this edition will not be reissued