DHEA is a hormone precursor that has the ability to turn into all the major sex hormones. When applied to the skin it turns primarily into testosterone. In women, as in men, testosterone is the primary source of our sexual desire.

DHEA levels drop as we age, along with all the sex hormones. This happens earlier in women (~50 yo) than in men (~70 yo). As DHEA is a precursor to estrogen and progesterone it is part of the loss of hormones that happens during menopause. DHEA has been clinically shown to improve well-being and sexuality in women with insufficiency.

Low DHEA levels have been linked to many issues – loss of libido, cognitive impairment, osteoporosis, heart disease, and breast cancer.

With O Nectar we recommend starting 2 pumps 2x/day for the first 2 weeks to build up the DHEA in your vaginal area. (If you are sensitive to supplements or medication then start 1 pump 2x/day.)

Keep in mind that every body is different, and we have found a wide range of doses that work – meaning, your perfect dose may very well be different than someone else’s.

After 2 weeks please lower to your maintenance dose, we have found this to average 1 pump 2x/day, but your level can be anywhere from 1 pump 2 days a week – 2 pumps 6 days a week. Always use the lowest dose possible.

Please make sure to take a break for 1-2 days a week, and do not exceed the recommended dosage.

Also, we do recommend spot testing on your arm before use. Very rarely someone has an allergy to one of the ingredients, so testing is suggested.

For Boost apply 1-2 pumps to the entire vulval/clitoral area, 15-30 minutes before sex.

Use up to 3 times a week or as needed.

It is not necessary to apply Boost internally. Application to the vulva, or outer lips of the vagina, is sufficient. If you are interested in enhancing desire, apply liberally to the whole length of the vulva, including around the tip of the clitoris. The clitoral tissue runs the length of the vulva, and all this tissue responds to stimulation.

Apply it to your entire vulvar area – from the clitoris, along the labia, to the anus – using clean fingers. You do not need to apply O Nectar or Boost internally/into the vaginal canal.

O Nectar can be applied any time of day, even just before intimacy. We have found in fact that many male partners experience benefit too!

We have seen that some women experience increased sensation and response if applied just before intimacy.

O Nectar will absorb within approximately 15 minutes and is safe to use with lube or other sexual aids including toys.  Apply Boost 15-30 minute prior to intimacy.

Yes you can still use O Nectar and Boost, your systemic levels of DHEA will likely not be affected at the suggested dose or lower. However we always suggest speaking with your doctor.

If you are using estrogen or estrogen and progesterone HRT you can still use O Nectar and Boost.

If you are using testosterone HRT you may see a rise in your testosterone levels so please speak with your doctor.

Because everyone is different there are varying times before feeling the effects. Some women respond in the first day or two, and some can take up to 30 days.

Also, we see varying effects – varying benefits – but everyone benefits!

Once you begin to feel the effects, you will likely notice an increase in vaginal wetness, increase in desire for sex (increased libido), you may notice improvement in urinary leakage (if this is an issue for you), and you may notice an intensification of your orgasms.

If at any time you feel you are having a bad reaction stop using immediately and contact us.

• It is not recommended to use DHEA if under 40 years old unless prescribed by your doctor.
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding consult your doctor before using O Nectar or Boost
• If you are taking the prescription Tamoxifen, do not use O Nectar without your doctor’s approval. (see below section on research and cancer)
• If you have a vaginal infection or lichen sclerosis consult with your doctor before using O Nectar or Boost
• If you have had or are being treated for breast cancer, consult with your doctor before using this product. (see more below)
  Keep out of reach of children.
• Discontinue use if you experience discomfort or irritation.
• DHEA is a natural product of the human body and has been tested extensively in humans. As with all hormone-related products proper use, knowledge of your own health, and natural preventive care is suggested. (See more below)

O Nectar and Boost not only contain DHEA powder but they are also formulated with lipid particles called liposomes. These lipids are food grade (you can eat them) and these lipids are a natural part of the human diet. They are also good for your skin. Our lipo-DHEA allows the DHEA molecule to penetrate deeper into the skin for more powerful results.

O Nectar is patent pending and the only DHEA supplement on the market with lipospheric technology.

Oco is a company founded on core principles of sustainability and health care for the human and for the planet.

Our packaging is recyclable, our product all natural without synthetic preservatives. Our goals are to operate carbon neutral and only create health and wellness for everyone involved from the source ingredients all the way to the employees of Oco.

Currently we are preparing to work with health workers in rural Colombia and assist with a women’s care clinic outside of Bogota.

Each of us has different genetics and lifestyle, which both influence the health of your body, and the health of your body’s use of hormones.

There are some basic rules for health management for everyone, even those in pre- or peri-menopause, as hormone levels can become imbalanced due to environmental or even stress factors, and keeping healthy as we age is vital.

The body has a pathway that can transform testosterone to estrogen. This pathway can be more or less active depending on dietary intake, detoxification health and genetics. You often see body builders use a natural supplement called DIM, or sometimes sulphurophane. These supplements are extracts from cruciferous vegetables, and the natural chemical diindolylmethane – DIM for short – helps prevent this pathway from turning testosterone into estrogen. So, for those of us who benefit from keeping estrogen levels low DIM may be beneficial for health.

In addition, plant estrogens – phytoestrogens – from whole foods such as soy, hops, red clover, etc. are beneficial at every age. We now know that these phytoestrogens in fact decrease reproductive cancer risk. They do this by activating the beta estrogen receptor preferentially, thereby providing tumor suppressive action.

Lastly, understanding how your individual body detoxifies estrogen is a smart step in prevention. For more information on this see https://www.opalhealth.com/foundation/hormone_health.html

Generally Boost or O Nectar used at the recommended dose should not affect your cycles. If this occurs lower your dose and take a break from using O Nectar, re-starting after a week at a lower dose.

We have seen no re-starting of menstrual cycles from using O Nectar or Boost as directed.

Yes. O Nectar and Boost are designed to work locally for vaginal atrophy and the associated issues that arise in these sensitive tissues. As DHEA primarily produces testosterone in a healthy body, and when applied in smaller amounts to the skin only provides local affect, significant systemic changes to hormone levels are unlikely.

DHEA has been shown to stimulate the vaginal tissue without stimulating the growth of endometrial tissue, and the same study found an increase in bone mineral density, both safe and positive outcomes.

If you have had reproductive cancer including breast cancer then please speak with your oncologist.

Here we’ll share with you some positive association data on DHEA and women with or having had breast or other reproductive cancer.

• A large and well-done study supported by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Health (NIH) looked at women who were currently diagnosed with breast or gynecologic cancer, and on Tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors. They found that topically applied vaginal DHEA for women undergoing active reproductive cancer treatment improved symptoms and they conclude that this form of DHEA application may be helpful for this population.
• DHEA may provide a protective role against cancer: A paper published in Cancer Biology & Therapy states “DHEA, an adrenal hormone, has a protective role against cancer.” The authors go on to state, “DHEA inhibits the proliferation and migration of cell lines derived from breast cancer.”
• DHEA was determined to be “useful in the treatment of breast cancer” in yet another study published in Eur J Pharmacol. In this study, researchers concluded that “DHEA also suppressed the migration of all breast cancer cell lines…These results suggest that the mechanism of DHEA actions against breast cancer involves the inhibition of cell proliferation and the suppression of migration, indicating that DHEA could be useful in the treatment of breast cancer.”

Measuring pH can offer clinicians useful information in the assessment of dyspareunia in postmenopausal patients. Healthy levels of estrogen are reflected in a vaginal pH of 3.8-4.5; where bacterial pathogens are not present, a vaginal pH > 5.0 has a 90% correlation with decreased serum estradiol due to reduced lactobacilli. A high vaginal pH (6.0-7.5) is strongly suggestive of vulvovaginal atrophy. Other causes of elevated vaginal pH include bacterial vaginosis, blood, semen, trichomoniasis, vaginal douching, and use of vaginal products or medications (including antibiotics).