YES VM

What is it:

YES VM is a non-hormonal vaginal moisturiser for vaginal dryness caused by perimenopause and menopause.

What the clinical trial evidence shows for vaginal moisturisers:

‍A 2024 systematic review identified only four RCTs on vaginal moisturisers and found they "may improve vaginal dryness" compared to placebo [5]. The certainty of that evidence was rated low, meaning small, short studies with inconsistent methods. The review concluded that long-term efficacy and safety data are lacking for all vaginal moisturisers, not just YES VM [5]. A 2018 meta-analysis found that lubricants and moisturisers were less effective than vaginal oestrogen for sexual function outcomes, though both improved dryness [6].

What the evidence shows for each key ingredient

• Flax extract: A published review found only a trivial effect of oral flaxseed on vaginal tissue in menopause. There's no RCT evidence for topical flax extract as a vaginal moisturising agent [7]. YES VM uses this as a hydrocolloid base, not as a phytoestrogen, but evidence in that specific role is also absent from the literature.
• Aloe vera: One small Iranian RCT (n=60) found aloe vera vaginal cream performed comparably to oestrogen cream for vaginal atrophy symptoms over six weeks. This is a promising but very preliminary finding from a single small trial [8]. An Italian RCT tested a multi-ingredient gel containing aloe vera among other actives, with positive results, but the contribution of aloe vera alone cannot be separated [9].
• Guar gum, locust bean gum, xanthan gum: No published RCTs or systematic reviews exist for these polysaccharides as stand-alone vaginal moisturising ingredients.

What the guidelines say

• NICE (NG23, updated November 2024) recommends offering non-hormonal vaginal moisturisers or lubricants to women with dryness symptoms who prefer a non-hormonal option [1]. YES VM is not named in NICE guidance.
• The BMS Consensus Statement on GSM (November 2025) explicitly names YES VM as a suitable product, alongside Sylk, noting it is less likely to cause irritation than some alternatives [2]. It also clearly states that moisturisers do not treat the underlying cause of dryness and are suited to mild-to-moderate symptoms [2].

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References

[1] NICE. Menopause: Identification and Management. NG23. Updated November 2024. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23. No PMID (clinical guideline).

[2] British Menopause Society. Consensus Statement on Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause. November 2025. Available at: https://thebms.org.uk/publications/consensus-statements/genitourinary-syndrome-of-menopause-gsm/. No PMID (clinical guideline).

[3] British Society for Sexual Medicine. Position Statement for Management of Genitourinary Syndrome of the Menopause. 2024. Available at: https://bssm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BSSM-Position-statement-for-management-of-genitourinary-syndrome-of-the-menopause-GSM.pdf. No PMID (clinical guideline).

[4] The Menopause Society (formerly NAMS). Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: MenoNote. 2025. Available at: https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/for-women/MenoNote-GSM.pdf. No PMID (clinical guideline).

[5] Danan ER et al. Hormonal Treatments and Vaginal Moisturizers for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: A Systematic Review. Annals of Internal Medicine 2024;177(10):1400–1414. PMID: 39250810. https://doi.org/10.7326/ANNALS-24-00610

[6] Pitsouni E et al. Efficacy of vaginal therapies alternative to vaginal estrogens on sexual function and orgasm of menopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology 2018;229:45–56. PMID: 30103082. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2018.08.008

[7] Dizavandi FR et al. An overview of the phytoestrogen effect on vaginal health and dyspareunia in peri- and post-menopausal women. Post Reproductive Health 2019;25(1):11–20. PMID: 30786797. https://doi.org/10.1177/2053369118823365

[8] Poordast T et al. Aloe Vera: A new treatment for atrophic vaginitis. A randomized double-blinded controlled trial. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2021;270:113760. PMID: 33383112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.113760

[9] De Seta F et al. Efficacy and safety of a new vaginal gel for the treatment of symptoms associated with vulvovaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study. Maturitas 2021;147:34–40. PMID: 33832645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2021.03.002

[10] Edwards D, Panay N. Treating vulvovaginal atrophy/genitourinary syndrome of menopause: how important is vaginal lubricant and moisturizer composition? Climacteric 2016;19(2):151–161. PMID: 26407983. https://doi.org/10.3109/13697137.2015.1124259

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