Home Conditions & Treatments Conditions & Treatments Estrogen (Estradiol) Cream

Estrogen (Estradiol) Cream

Estrogen cream, or estradiol vaginal cream, is prescribed to treat vaginal and/or vulvar dryness,
irritation, or pain. These symptoms, sometimes called vulvar or vaginal atrophy, are related to
decreased estrogen due to menopause.

These symptoms are normal and part of what is known as Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause,
which also includes:

Pain or spotting with sex
Vaginal or vulvar burning
Lack of lubrication
Burning with urination
Urinary urgency and frequency
Increased risk of bladder infections

How does estrogen cream work?

Estrogen creams deliver low doses of estrogen to the vaginal tissues to stimulate estrogen activity in the
vagina. It also reduces the pH of the vagina. This results in healthier tissues with normal levels of good
bacteria.

These creams are not meant to increase estrogen levels throughout your whole body. When used as
directed, the level of estrogen found in the bodies of people using estrogen cream is the same as
postmenopausal people who are not undergoing any hormonal treatments.

UR Medicine's Approach

Your provider will go over your medical history and any concerns or risks you may have, including side effects, before starting estrogen cream. If you have a history of breast, uterine, or other hormone-sensitive cancers, consult with your oncologist before using any hormone treatments.

You may be prescribed one of the following options for estrogen cream:

Estradiol cream (brand name: Estrace)
Conjugated estrogen cream (brand name: Premarin)
Compounded estrogen cream (generic cream mixed up by a compounding pharmacy)

Alternatives to estrogen cream include:

DHEA cream, a steroid cream that converts to estrogen inside vaginal cells

Ospemiphene, an oral tablet that activates estrogen receptors in the vulvar and vaginal tissues

Estrogen supplementation is available in other forms, including:

Vaginal ring
Vaginal tablets
Vaginal suppositories

Studies have not shown an increased risk of breast cancer, uterine cancer, or blood clots in women using vaginal estrogen. However, all estrogen products include information about increased risk of uterine cancer, strokes, blood clots, dementia, and breast cancer.

What Sets Us Apart?

At UR Medicine Obstetrics and Gynecology, our providers are women’s health experts dedicated to your well-being. They actively engage in everything that supports your reproductive health, including, the latest research and treatments.

Our providers are certified by the North American Menopause Society, who focus on perimenopause and menopause.

UR Medicine’s Gynecology division is on the U.S. News & World Report list of top 50 in the nation. And the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL) and the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) have named Strong Memorial Hospital a Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology.