Estrace Vaginal Cream Uses

Estrace Vaginal Cream is used for treating vaginal menopause symptoms, such as dryness, itching, and burning in and around the vagina. It is a prescription hormone replacement therapy medication that is inserted vaginally rather than taken orally. There are currently no universally accepted off-label Estrace Vaginal Cream uses, and the medication is not approved for use in children.

 

What Is Estrace Vaginal Cream Used For?

Estrace® Vaginal Cream (estradiol vaginal cream) is a prescription hormone replacement therapy medication. It contains estradiol, the primary estrogen hormone in premenopausal women. The medication is approved to treat vaginal inflammation caused by thinning of the vaginal tissues, usually the result of low estrogen levels after menopause. It does not contain any progesterone hormones.
 

Using Estrace Vaginal Cream for Vaginal Symptoms

Menopause is a normal change in a woman's life when she stops having her period. That's why some people call menopause "the change of life." A woman has reached menopause when she has not had a period for 12 months in a row and there are no other causes for this change. Menopause symptoms can affect the entire body, including the vagina. Vaginal menopause symptoms are usually related to thinning of the vaginal tissues and may include:
 
  • Vaginal burning or other pain
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Vaginal itching.
     
These symptoms occur due to low estradiol levels after menopause. Because Estrace Vaginal Cream helps replace some of the estradiol lost during menopause, it not only helps relieve the vaginal symptoms but also can reduce thinning of the vaginal tissues.
 
For menopause treatment, Estrace Vaginal Cream should be used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest period necessary. Estrace Vaginal Cream is ideal for women whose main menopause symptoms are vaginal in nature, since using the cream (instead of taking the hormones by mouth) exposes the body to a lower dose of the hormones. However, it should be made clear that a significant amount of the estradiol in Estrace Vaginal Cream is absorbed into the bloodstream, and it is expected that many of the problems seen with oral hormone replacement also apply to vaginal hormone replacement as well (see Estrace Vaginal Cream Warnings and Precautions).
 
(Estrace Vaginal Cream Uses Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;