LED light therapy has been huge in skincare in recent years, with LED masks shown to increase collagen and reduce inflammation. So it makes sense that we are now seeing the benefits of this technology extend to other areas of women’s health.
Issviva, a platform that supports women during menopause, has partnered with Intimate Health brand Joylux to bring us Issviva x Joylux Limited Edition vaginal resuscitation device£359, it’s a great gadget that’s clinically proven to help with low libido, vaginal dryness and urine leakage.
The original version was a winner of the Get The Gloss Wellness Awards in the 40+ and Menopause category and this new improved 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 elegant edge.
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 every woman should have,” she says. And for Amanda Fuller, a 53-year-old sports therapist from Portsmouth, the device has been transformative. Five years ago she felt angry and emotional, with a bad mood and a non-existent libido. “I didn’t know what was going on, but I had lost my old self,” he 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 doctor put her on anti-depressants, which further reduced her sex drive. Then she saw Davina McCall’s documentary about menopause and “it was like a light that went on”.
She came off the anti-depressants and went on HRT, which helped the mood symptoms. But her libido did not return. “I’ve always loved sex, so losing that desire felt like I lost a part of myself,” she says. “I felt dead from the eyebrows down!”
Talking about libido can be uncomfortable, and Amanda didn’t find her doctor very supportive. “He said 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 online ad for the Issviva x Joylux vaginal resuscitation device, she took the plunge. “It was a drunken market if I’m honest,” he laughs, “but it was life-changing.” She urges women not to be put off by the fact that it may seem like a sex toy at first. “This is the shape we have inside us,” he says. “We should learn about our bodies and not be afraid of our sexuality.” And it’s clinically proven to reduce vaginal dryness, improve vaginal tightness, prevent bladder leaks, and soothe painful sex.
For Amanda, that’s certainly true. “Now I’m flirty again,” she smiles.
What are the benefits of the Issviva x Joylux vaginal resuscitation device?
Issviva surveyed 40,000 women about menopausal symptoms and found that more than half (53.8 percent) had low libido, while almost a third (32.8 percent) suffered from vaginal dryness and a further 45 percent experienced bladder leakage. There is clinical evidence to show that this device helps in all three cases. A 2019 study on GSM (genitourinary menopausal syndrome), ordered by Joylux, found it to be effective for vaginal rejuvenation.
Of the women who used the device three times a week for six weeks, 77% saw an improvement in sexual function, 90% saw increased sensitivity, and 92% saw a dramatic improvement in symptoms such as urinary discomfort and incontinence. Meantime, Joylux survey data shows that 89 percent of users report a reduction in pain and 91 percent a reduction in dryness.
How does the device work?
Back in the 1990s, NASA began studying the effects of LED on wound healing in astronauts. Now, light therapy is commonly used in skin care to treat everything from scars to sun damage. With the Issviva x Joylux device, this technology is used on the vaginal tissue, which becomes loose as we age, due to the depletion of collagen, elastin and glycogen.
When red and infrared light technology are applied together to tissue, it encourages mitochondria (the energy factories in our cells) to release two chemicals: ATP and nitric oxide. The former increases collagen and elastin production, while the latter increases blood flow to aid circulation and tissue repair.
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 fibers, while the vibration enhances the delivery of light energy and stimulates fibroblasts, a type of cell that helps form connective tissue.
How to use the Issviva x Joylux vaginal resuscitation device
The device is used intravaginally. just insert, activate and relax. Many women find the warmth and vibrations a pleasant experience, and the new Issviva x Joylux V-Moist Intimate Moisturizing Serum£19.99, it’s designed to be used with it for anyone struggling with dryness.
How often can you use it?
The recommendation is to use it every other day for the first six to 12 weeks. Start 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 in as little as two weeks as women experience their existing collagen remodeling. It then takes another four to six weeks for new collagen to form.
Can I use the Issviva x Joylux Vaginal Revitalization Device together with HRT?
Absolutely. And, since it does not contain hormones, it is great for women who choose not to take HRT for any reason or who have had to stop HRT. Amanda, who still has periods and is not yet menopausal, found that HRT helped with her mood symptoms but not her libido. Everyone is different, so it’s all about finding what works for you.
What else can improve sexual health during perimenopause and beyond?
Dr. Aarthi Sinha (above), a doctor with a special interest in menopause, suggests the following:
- “Always start with estrogen and progesterone, but if this combination is not enough, a small dose of testosterone may be helpful.” Low libido is the only symptom for which NHS doctors are currently allowed to prescribe testosterone.
- Vaginal estrogens, in the form of creams or lozenges, can relieve vaginal dryness, particularly for women who have been advised against systemic HRT.
- Evidence is mixed on herbal supplements for menopause, but “some women find that ashwagandha, black cohosh, or red clover may help.”
- Don’t forget your lifestyle. “Eating healthy, exercising, moderating alcohol intake and getting enough sleep can support a healthy libido,” says Dr. Sinha.
Remember that desire begins in the mind. “Being comfortable with our bodies, our preferences and the ways we enjoy sexual pleasure can open up opportunities to improve sexual satisfaction,” says Miranda Christophers, psychosexual therapist and sex and relationship expert at Issviva. “Make effortless time to enjoy intimacy and try to remove pressure or expectations, 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 just about vaginal symptoms, but overall self-confidence and quality of life. Amanda has also changed other aspects of her lifestyle. exercise more and lose weight. She credits the Issviva x Joylux device as the turning point that helped her get back in touch with her body, start taking better care of herself and, for the first time in years, actually feel good.
“Even my friends have noticed,” he says. “Everyone said I got the old Amanda back.”
Issviva x Joylux Limited Edition vaginal resuscitation device £359, it’s available to buy now. Once sold out, this edition will not be reissued
