Can I use veggie caps for the suppositories?
Would you recommend to use veggie capsules as another option to make suppositories?
Yes. Vegetable capsules dissolve quickly (within about two hours) in the vagina, so are a good transportation method for vaginal treatments. Be careful which capsules you buy though, because gelatin capsules don’t dissolve – they are designed for the stomach which has the help of hydrochloric acid (whereas the vagina is just a bit damp).
Vegetable caps, if you are using them repeatedly, can be quite drying to the vagina, since the capsule absorbs moisture, but this isn’t a problem. You are usually better off using a syringe canister for liquids, and using vegetable caps for powders or crystals, such as boric acid.
Don’t use gelatin capsules, because it can get quite gluggy, and the contents don’t really spread around very well.
Jessica is a degree-qualified naturopath (BHSc) specialising in vulvovaginal health and disease, based in Melbourne, Australia.
Jessica is the owner and lead naturopath of My Vagina, and is a member of the:
- International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD)
- International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (ISSWSH)
- National Vulvodynia Association (NVA) Australia
- New Zealand Vulvovaginal Society (ANZVS)
- Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS)