“You can use vaginal oestrogen for as long as you need to,
even if you are already using HRT.
Moisturisers and lubricants can also help”.1
Umbrella
What may the Hormone Therapy and Vaginal Estrogen Umbrella include?
Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
- Hormone Therapy (HT)
- Local Low-Dose Estrogen Therapy
- Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
- Vaginal Estrogen/Oestrogen
Statements
What is one of the points of consensus about menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) and vaginal estrogen?
One of the points of consensus in the Revised Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy: Section A: Benefit/Risk Profile of MHT – endorsed by seven menopause-related organizations – published online 20 June 2016, is:
- “MHT, including tibolone, is effective in the treatment of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA), now also considered as a component of the genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). Local low-dose estrogen therapy is preferred for women whose symptoms are limited to vaginal dryness or associated discomfort with intercourse or for the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections”.2
NICE Guidelines
What do the (British) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guidelines note about HT and vaginal estrogen?
In Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Managing Your Symptoms the NICE note about Vaginal Dryness:
It’s rare for vaginal oestrogen to cause problems, but if you have any unexpected vaginal bleeding you should tell your GP. Your GP should explain that your symptoms may come back when you stop using it.
Vaginal oestrogen might be suitable for you if you can’t take HRT for medical reasons. Your GP should check this first with a healthcare professional specialising in menopause”.3
Who is a GP?
Dots and/or DotC (Depending on the Country) a GP may be a registered general practitioner, a medical practitioner, a medical doctor or a doctor.
Cream, Tablet, Pessary or Ring
How can estrogen be applied directly to the vagina?
In Menopause Management: Managing Vaginal Problems – Dry Vaginal Treatments: Vaginal Estrogen the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health explain:
- “Oestrogen can be applied directly to the vagina in the form of a cream, tablet or pessary”.4
On page two in Vaginal Dryness: Vaginal Estrogen Therapy the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) elaborate on:

- “Government-approved low-dose vaginal estrogen products are available by prescription as vaginal creams (used two or three nights/week), a vaginal estradiol tablet (used twice/week), and an estradiol vaginal ring (changed every 3 months). All are highly effective. You may wish to try several different forms and choose the one you prefer”.5
Vaginal Symptoms
Are all vaginal symptoms at this time, related to menopause?
On page two in Vaginal Dryness the NAMS note:
Health Care Provider
What if I would like to use vaginal estrogen?
If you would like to use vaginal estrogen, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.
On page one in Vaginal Dryness: Treatment Options the NAMS elaborate on:
“The good news is that effective treatment options, such as nonhormone remedies or different forms of low-dose estrogen applied directly to the vagina, are available. These can be combined for optimal symptom relief”.7
In Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy – Q. What is hormone therapy? the NAMS also note:
“You should discuss your individual risks and preferences with your healthcare team to determine whether hormone therapy or alternatives, including FDA-approved nonhormonal therapies, are right for you”.8
What is FDA?
FDA can be an abbreviation for the (United States) Food and Drug Administration.
Health Topics A-Z
Where may I find Health Topics related to Hormone Therapy and Vaginal Estrogen?
In Health Topics A-you may find:
Links
Where may I find Links related to Hormone Therapy and Vaginal Estrogen?
Your Country may have Links similar to:
Links
This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.- Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
- BMS & WHC’s 2020 Recommendations on Hormone Replacement Therapy In Menopausal Women
- Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
- Bioidentical Hormones Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
- Caredownthere
- Combined Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
- Complementary Medicine Options for Menopausal Symptoms
- Complementary and Alternative Therapies Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Consumer Health: Treating Vaginal Dryness After Menopause
- Deciding About Hormone Therapy
- Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
- EMAS Menopause Essentials
- EMAS Replay: Risk Assessment for MHT – When, To Whom, Which, and How Long? [Multiply Languages]
- Early Menopause: Experiences and Perspectives of Women and Health Practitioners – Women’s Profiles
- Early Treatment of Vulvovaginal Atrophy May Prevent Distressing Symptoms
- Essential Information: See Your Doctor If
- Estrogen (Vaginal Route): Before Using
- Estrogen (Vaginal Route): Description and Brand Names
- Estrogen (Vaginal Route): Precautions
- Estrogen (Vaginal Route): Proper Use
- Estrogen (Vaginal Route): Side Effects
- Experiencing Vaginal Dryness? Here’s What You Need To Know
- Fast Facts: HRT and Breast Cancer Risk
- HRT
- HRT and Alternatives
- HRT: Benefits and Risks
- HRT: Types, Doses and Regimens
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Alternatives
- Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
- How Do I Deal With Vaginal Atrophy? — Ask Dr Jean
- Intercourse Was Becoming Painful – Ask Dr Jean
- International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health: Find A Provider
- Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Sexual Wellbeing and Intimacy During and After Menopause [+ Video: Menopause Is the End of Your Sex Life]
- Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP]
- Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Supporting Someone Through the Menopause [+ Video: Men Don’t Need To Know About Menopause]
- Mayo Clinic Q and A: Managing the Symptoms of Vaginal Atrophy
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms
- Menopause FAQs: Menopause Symptoms – Q. How Can I Counteract Vaginal Dryness During Menopause?
- Menopause Management: Managing Vaginal Problems
- Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools – Questions for Your Health Care Provider
- Menopause Symptoms and Relief
- Menopause Treatment
- Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment
- Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause [NICE Guideline]
- Menopause: Is Menopausal Hormone Therapy (HRT) Safe? [Multiply Languages] [Video]
- Menopause: Menopause – Hormone Treatments
- Menopause: Symptoms & Causes
- NAMS 2017 Position Statement Updates Guidelines for Hormone Therapy Use
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth
- Natural Remedies To Help Manage Perimenopause Symptoms
- NonHormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
- Oestrogen Only Menopausal Hormone Therapy
- Pain During or After Sex
- Patty Brisben Foundation for Women’s Sexual Health: Guide To Sexual Health Providers
- Recent Review Confirms Safety of Low Dose Vaginal Estrogen: July 2019
- Revised Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy
- Risks and Benefits of MHT
- Safety of Vaginal Estrogens: A Recap of A Systematic Review [Video]
- Sex & Relationships: 5 Things To Know About Sex In Later Life [Video]
- Sex and Menopause: Treatment for Symptoms
- The 2020 Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society
- The Use of Vaginal Estrogen In Women With A History of Estrogen-Dependent Breast Cancer
- Topical Estrogens and Non-Hormonal Preparations for Postmenopausal Vulvovaginal Atrophy: An EMAS Clinical Guide
- Urogenital Atrophy Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Urogenital Problems
- Vaginal Atrophy
- Vaginal Dryness
- Vaginal Dryness
- Vaginal Dryness After Menopause: How To Treat It? I’m postmenopausal and often have vaginal dryness, which makes intercourse painful. Is there anything I can do about it?
- Vaginal Dryness Alternative Treatments
- Vaginal Dryness and the Menopause
- Vaginal Dryness: Treatment Options
- Video Series-2021: Common Issues Surrounding Sexuality and Menopause
- Video Series-2021: Female Urinary and Bladder Issues At Midlife
- Video Series-2021: How Menopause Symptoms Can Affect Your Quality of Life
- Video Series-2021: Treatment Options for Vaginal Dryness and Urinary Issues
- Video Series-2021: What Women Need to Know About Hormone Therapies
- Video Series-2022: Perimenopause, Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
- Video Series-2022: Hormone Therapy: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
- Videos and Podcasts: Interviews and Podcasts – Interviews: Vulvovaginal Atrophy
- Vulva and Vaginal Health: Getting the Right Advice
- Vulvovaginal Health
- Vulvovaginal Symptoms After Menopause
- Webinars: Previous – The Early Menopausal Patient
- Webinars: Previous – VVA – The Silent Epidemic [Vulvovaginal Atrophy]
- What Is Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) and Is It Safe?
- Wild Yam
- Will Menopause Affect My Sex Life? [+ Video]
- Women’s Wellness: Painful Sex After Menopause
- Women’s Wellness: Signs and Symptoms of Vaginal Health Problems
- Women’s Wellness: Vaginal Atrophy After Breast Cancer
Sources
Where may I find the Sources quoted?
You may find the Sources quoted at:
Sources
- Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Managing Your Symptoms – Vaginal Dryness. Published Date: 12 November 2015. Last Updated: 05 December 2019. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/ifp/chapter/Managing-your-symptoms Accessed: 01 April 2022
- De Villiers, T. J., Hall, J. E., Pinkerton, J. V., Pérez, S. C., Rees, M., Yang, C. and Pierroz, D. D. Revised Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy: Section A: Benefit/Risk Profile of MHT. Climacteric, 2016;19:4:313 https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/global-consensus-hrt-2016-06.pdf Accessed: 01 April 2022
- Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Managing Your Symptoms – Vaginal Dryness. Published Date: 12 November 2015. Last Updated: 05 December 2019. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/ifp/chapter/Managing-your-symptoms Accessed: 01 April 2022
- Menopause Management: Managing Vaginal Problems – Dry Vagina Treatments: Vaginal Oestrogen. Last Updated: 13 July 2021 | Last Reviewed: 17 December 2017. Jean Hailes https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management Accessed: 01 April 2022
- Vaginal Dryness: Vaginal Estrogen Therapy. 2018: 2. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/for-women/mn-vaginal-dryness.pdf Accessed: 01 April 2022
- Vaginal Dryness: Note. 2018: 2. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/for-women/mn-vaginal-dryness.pdf Accessed: 01 April 2022
- Vaginal Dryness: Treatment Options. 2018: 1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/for-women/mn-vaginal-dryness.pdf Accessed: 01 April 2022
- Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy – Q. What Is Hormone Therapy? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-hormone-therapy-for-menopause-symptoms Accessed: 01 April 2022