If you’ve finished menopause and have vaginal dryness, painful intercourse or struggles to orgasm, estrogen creams might help you — without harming you in other ways. For most women, these topical ointments are unlikely to cause problems, including cancer or blood clots.
For three decades, doctors hesitated before prescribing any hormone-related remedy to women dealing with menopausal-related issues. Thanks to new medical insights, OB-GYNs are more apt to prescribe a hormone-related treatment.
But estrogen creams might not be for you if you have certain medical conditions or risk factors, such as a liver disorder or unexplained vaginal bleeding, or if you take aromatase inhibitors as part of your breast cancer treatment. Work with your doctor to determine if you’re a candidate.
How Your Vaginal Area Changes as You Age
If you’re in your 60s or older, your changing vulvar, vaginal and clitoral areas might fall under an umbrella known as vaginal atrophy or genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). Here are common symptoms:
- Your vagina has become thinner, shorter and/or less elastic
- Your vagina feels dry or like it’s burning
- You self-lubricate less during sex
- You urinate without meaning to and/or get urinary tract infections
- Your pH balance changes, and not in a good way
- Your clitoris shrank, is less sensitive or is even hidden under labia tissue
- Your orgasms are weaker
Address these issues sooner rather than later. The longer you wait, the smaller and thinner your vagina might get. Your solution might be a simple cream that involves far less estrogen than all-out hormone replacement therapy.
What Exactly Would I Put Onto or Into My Vagina?
Vaginal estrogen creams are essentially one or more female hormones mixed into a blend of soft substances like water, wax and oil. You’ll likely smear some with your fingers around your vulva, insert some into your vagina using an applicator, or both. Chances are you’ll be told to use the cream every day at first, then two or three times a week once your genitals respond to the treatment.
Vaginal estrogen creams will rejuvenate your vaginal and vulvar areas as long as you use them regularly, although the changes might disappear once you stop.
The creams have far less estrogen in them than patches you place on your skin and pills you take by mouth, and your liver won’t metabolize them; as a result, you’ll be putting less estrogen into your system. Sister products including rings and pills that are inserted into the vagina might work just as well.
Among other benefits, the estrogen will likely help intercourse be less uncomfortable, and your vaginal wall will be less likely to rip. It’s basically similar to a medicated petroleum jelly for dry hands; it will improve the elasticity.
Make the Right Choice for Your Body
Hormonal supplements have been linked to medical issues like blood clots, heart issues, and breast and gynecological cancers, although research is ongoing. While vaginal estrogen creams pose little risk because the amount your body absorbs is so low, long-term effects for women in their 50s and older are still being tested. On a good note, one study says breast cancer survivors 65 and older who used vaginal estrogen cream lived longer than those who didn’t. Still, get a mammogram every year if you choose a cream.
Talk to your OB-GYN about whether vaginal estrogen cream is a good fit for you. If it’s called for, talk to an oncologist, too. Together, your medical providers will weigh your risks with your potential benefits before deciding what, if any, product is right for you.
If this is risky, look into other options. You might use these:
- Non-hormonal vaginal products
- A vaginal dilator
- Regular intercourse
Vaginal estrogen cream might help you with arousal, intercourse and satisfaction while also cutting down incontinence episodes and possibly also urinary tract infections.
This content is not AI generated.
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