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Healthcare Professionals
Patient Well-being

Lubrication

The base component of Sensua!® is a tissue moisturizer. This non- estrogen compound is propylene glycol, and has been proven to replace and replenish the normal tissue moisture and potentially be used to treat atrophic vulvitis-vaginitis. Clinical studies have shown that while propylene glycol is not as effective as estrogen for atrophic vulvitis-vaginitis, it presents none of the concerns of estrogen, for physicians or for patients.

Vasodilation

The L-arginine in Senusa!® is a vasodilator, enlarging blood vessels increasing blood flow to the local area. In fact Sildenafil (Viagra®) utilizes the L-arginine pathway to dilate blood vessels to allow men to achieve erection. Sildenafil was initially developed to enlarge all of the body's blood vessels, thereby lowering blood pressure, thus treating high blood pressure.

The menthol in Sensua!®, even at its extremely low concentration, has a vasodilation effect, increasing both blood flow and oxygen. The menthol is very short acting, 5-10 minutes, and facilitates the longterm vasodilatation actions of the L-arginine component. The increased blood flow drives additional oxygen stimulating the epithelial vulvar and vaginal tissues found in atrophic vulvitis-vaginitis. This additional oxygen promotes tissue re-growth - and in combination with the propylene glycol moisturizing effect - is a very viable alternative to estrogen therapy.

Patient Compliance & Management

The perception of "Burning" when women first experience the topical application of Sensua® to the mucous membrane of the vulvar area is a function of three variables:

  1. Menthol concentration of the Sensua!® (not the amount used)
  2. Estrogen medicated "thickness" of the mucous membrane
  3. The protective instinct of placing a strange substance to a sensitive area of the body.

The third function subsides with several applications and uses of the Sensua!®. The second function is variable and depends upon the population of women studied and more importantly their estrogen status. Women on birth control pills, patches, or shots have a very low estrogen level, but this is compensated by their vulvar tissue being more sensitive to serum estrogen and growing adequate thickness so that the incidence of "burning" when Sensua!® is applied is low (1-2%.)

Daily Recommended Use

Perimenopausal and menopausal women both have low serum estrogen (or non-existant) and vulvar tissue that is fairly insensitive to serum estrogen. Therefore, women aged 40 to 70 can have a much reduced thickness of the vulvar mucous membrane and Sensua!® can cause recurrent “burning” sensation when applied. In a large study of women under 7% of the population reported any sensation of burning. This is why Sensua!® is recommend to be applied daily after a shower or bath to the vulvar mucous membrane. The lubrication component, coupled with daily use, will double the thickness of the mucous membrane without estrogen, and therefore reduce the incidence of burning when Sensua!® is applied.

Consumer Test Results

Product Testing (n = 197)

  • 85% of the respondents (197) noticed sensation
  • Time lapse between application and sensation
Immediately 56%
Between 3-5 mins 34%
Between 5-10 7%
Between 10-15 3%
(mean number of minutes 2.78)