Estrogen Cream For Vulvodynia
Estrogen therapy also appears to be an effective vulvodynia treatment option, apart from being an effective solution for menopause symptoms.
However, women suffering from vulvodynia dont have to undergo full hormonal therapy, as they dont suffer from other menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats.
That is why the main product used for vulvodynia is a low-dose estrogen vaginal cream used externally .
Concentrated application speeds up hormone delivery to the affected vulvar area and reduces the possible side effects, by minimizing the absorption of the hormone in the rest of the body.
Low-dose topical estrogen cream is not used to increase systemic estrogen levels. It is used to restore the vulvas blood flow and improves the thickness, stretchiness, and flexibility of its fragile tissues.
Some doctors believe that what truly matters is not the hormone content of the creams, but the physical barrier between the vulva and outside irritants that the creams provide. This does not seem to be true as many women who use different types of creams can definitely feel the difference in irritation level and see thickening of their skin while specifically using estrogen creams for vulvar pain.
How Progesterone Helps You Get Pregnant
Using progesterone hormone therapy has a long history of helping women become pregnant.
Before 1993 womens biology with regards to getting pregnant was still a mystery, the same year the pioneer of womens hormonal replacement Dr. John R Lee wrote his first book entitled, Natural Progesterone: The Multiple Roles of a Remarkable Hormone, in an attempt to explain to his colleagues everything he had learned about progesterone and womens hormonal balance.
Without any advertising, the book became a publishing success. In spite of its technical medical language, word spread and thousands of women, looking for the answers they havent been able to get anywhere else, bought it.
What Hormones Are Used For Male To Female Transition
Lupron, spironolactone, bicalutamide, flutamide, finasteride are normally prescribed hormones for a male to female transition.
Lupron is given intramuscularly every sixty days to block total testosterone levels. This is an expensive treatment and insurance rarely pays for this.
Finasteride reverses male pattern baldness because it blocks dihydrotestosterone , it does not block overall testosterone.
We recommend using Transfemme® to cause your testosterone to aromatize into estrogen naturally to create MTF estradiol.
What happens when a man takes female hormones?
Female hormones can cause side effects in men, before taking prescription drugs you should carefully decide if these risks are acceptable and how much risk you may have based on age, weight, family history. The effects of estrogen on the male body are significant and the benefits should outweigh the risks when considering altering your hormones with prescription hormones. What happens when a man takes female hormones? The risks include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, inflammation, higher C-Reactive Protein, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and weight gain, all of which can cause heart disease. Excessive prolactin or the formation of noncancerous tumors in your pituitary gland that causes prolactinoma. Blood clots called deep vein thrombosis or a pulmonary embolism, blood clots can also cause strokes.
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How To Increase Estrogen
This article was medically reviewed by Lacy Windham, MD. Dr. Windham is a board certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist in Tennessee. She attended medical school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis and completed her residency at the Eastern Virginia Medical School in 2010, where she was awarded the Most Outstanding Resident in Maternal Fetal Medicine, Most Outstanding Resident in Oncology, and Most Outstanding Resident Overall.There are 20 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article has 14 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 2,899,504 times.
Estrogen is a natural hormone found in both men and women. Keeping estrogen at a healthy level is important for both sexes, but women need more estrogen for normal bodily functions, such as conceiving children. During menopause, estrogen levels in women decrease significantly. Learn about how simple changes to your lifestyle and diet may increase your estrogen.
Less Serious But Common Side Effects Include:
- Headache
- Irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting
- Stomach or abdominal cramps or bloating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Vaginal yeast infection
- Reactions from inserting Premarin Vaginal Cream, such as vaginal burning, irritation, and itching
Donât use Premarin Vaginal Cream if youâve had unusual bleeding, breast or uterine cancer, blood clots, liver problems, stroke or heart attack, are allergic to any of its ingredients, or think youâre pregnant.
These are not all the possible side effects of Premarin Vaginal Cream. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for advice about side effects.
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Buy Premarin Cream Brand Prescription Drug From Canada
Why is Premarin prescribed?
Premarin is used to treat hot flashes and vaginal changes and prevent osteoporosis commonly experienced by menopausal women.
What does it do?
Estrogen levels fall during menopause, hence producing menopausal symptoms like vaginal dryness and hot flashes. Premarin is a conjugated estrogen that belongs to a class of medications called hormones, which works as a replacement for estrogen normally produced in the body.
How should I use it?
Premarin comes in a 0.3mg or 0.625mg tablet which should be taken whole, not crushed, with or without food. It is also available as 0.625mg Premarin Vaginal cream which is directly applied to the inside of the vagina.
The dosage strength depends on every patientâs condition and the doctorâs prescription. It is imperative that you do not self-medicate and only take this drug after consulting with your doctor or pharmacist to determine the best dosage and dosing schedule for the treatment of your condition.
What if I missed a dose?
Taking the dose properly at the scheduled time is needed to attain the desired effect of the drug. If you forgot to take your medicine, immediately take the next dose to make up for the missed dose. However, if it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and catch the next dose at the regular time. Never administer two doses just to make up for your missed dose.
What are the special precautions before using Premarin?
Does it have any side effects?
- Actoplus
Does Estrogen Improve Skin
Estradiol and estriol are typically used in gels to treat vaginal dryness in post menopausal women. As far as their success with dry, wrinkled skin is concerned there is one much-quoted study from the University of Vienna Medical School, Austria. The trial was conducted with 0.01% estradiol or 0.3% estriol on 59 postmenopausal women. After six months of treatment, a marked improvement in skin elasticity and firmness was noted wrinkle depth and pore size decreased by over 60% in both estradiol and estriol groups. Skin moisture and collagen synthesis increased significantly.
However, other studies have not been so positive and in 2009, dermatologist Margaret E. Parsons, MD, FAAD from the University of California reviewed them and concluded that at best the results where mixed as to whether estrogen improves the appearance of the skin.
Based on the research conducted thus far, it does not appear that topical or oral estrogens are a viable long-term solution for improving sun-damaged or aging skin, said Dr. Parsons. In my practice, I do not prescribe estrogens for skin rejuvenation because of the lack of consistent data to support their use and the known risks of prolonged estrogen therapy including an increased risk of breast cancer.
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How Should I Use This Medicine
This medicine is for use in the vagina only. Do not take by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Read package directions carefully before using. Use the special applicator supplied with the cream. Wash hands before and after use. Fill the applicator with the prescribed amount of cream. Lie on your back, part and bend your knees. Insert the applicator into the vagina and push the plunger to expel the cream into the vagina. Wash the applicator with warm soapy water and rinse well. Use exactly as directed for the complete length of time prescribed. Do not stop using except on the advice of your doctor or health care professional.
A patient package insert for the product will be given with each prescription and refill. Read this sheet carefully each time. The sheet may change frequently.
Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. This medicine is not approved for use in children.
Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.
Therapies For Symptom Relief
If you think you may have VVA or GSM, or if you have been diagnosed with either, treatment options are available.
Some of them require a prescription. Some are available over the counter at your local drug store. If the first thing you try doesnt work, try a different approach.
The first level of treatments for VVA and GSM include vaginal moisturizers or a water-based, glycerin-free lubricant.
Vaginal moisturizers can help make up for natural moisture in your vagina and provide relief.
Over-the-counter options include topical emollients, such as K-Y Jelly and Replens, and benzocaine topical . You may need to apply the moisturizer as often as every other day.
A water-based, glycerin-free lubricant may help reduce pain during intercourse. Make sure it doesnt contain glycerin. Glycerin may cause painful burning and itching if you have any tears or breaks in your vaginal tissue.
Avoid petroleum-based lubricants or jellies if youre using condoms. The petroleum can weaken the latex and cause the condom to break.
Silicone lubricants are also effective and can be used safely with condoms. They have a more natural feel and require less reapplication during intercourse.
If these options dont successfully relieve symptoms, you and your doctor may move to the next level of treatments, which may include one of the following treatments.
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S For Taking Estrogen
Estrogen can be taken in a number of different ways. People receive estrogen through a pill, injection, patch, or even a topical cream. Its not just a matter of preference. The route by which people take estrogen affects some of the risks of estrogen treatmentestrogen is absorbed by the body differently depending on how you take it.
Much of the research on the risks of estrogen treatment focus on oral estrogensthose taken by mouth. What research has found is that oral estrogen seems to cause an increased risk of a number of problematic side effects when compared to topical or injected estrogens. This is because of the effects of ingested estrogen on the liver when it passes through that organ during the process of digestion.
This is referred to as the hepatic first pass effect and it is not an issue for estrogen treatment that isnt taken in pill form. The hepatic first pass effect causes changes in a number of physiological markers that affect cardiovascular health.
These changes may lead to an increase in blood clotting and reduced cardiovascular health. They are not seen as often, if at all, with non-oral estrogens. Therefore, non-oral estrogens may be a safer option.
Vaginal Dryness Is Perhaps The Most Distressing And Least Talked About Symptom Of Menopause
Vaginal dryness probably results from changes that occur when estrogen levels drop. Low estrogen causes the vagina and surrounding connective tissue to lose elasticity and the tissue that lines the vagina becomes thinner and more fragile. Vaginal dryness occurs in about 20% of women, sometimes transiently and other times permanently. If youre sore from vaginal dryness, you dont want to have sex and if you dont have sex, your vaginal dryness gets worsea classic catch-22.
How does vaginal dryness feel? Itchy is how most women describe it. Vaginal dryness can cause pain and bleeding during intercourse and increase the possibility of developing a vaginal infection.
Like other menopausal symptoms, vaginal dryness is not something you have to accept. There are a number of ways you can counter it. These include:
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Get Help With Estrogen Balance With Dr Randolph
If youre suffering from the side effects that result from low estrogen, we can help. At Dr. Randolphs Ageless Wellness Center, we have decades of experience in hormone replacement therapy and offer a wide range of products services designed to help you reach and maintain hormone balance. Bi-Est, our newest estrogen cream, is specifically formulated to offer the best 80/20 balance of estriol and estradiol that maximizes the health benefits of estrogen.
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Safe Alternatives To Estrogen Replacement
Hands down, the most effective supplement for perimenopausal and menopausal symptom relief is Estrovera®. This is an extremely well-reserched plant-based product, derived from Siberian rhubarb root. It is as effective as low-dose estrogen replacement but, because of a different mode of action, doesn’t carry the risks. In fact, there is reason to believe that this product could protect against breast cancer. Unlike Premarin, Estrovera® targets the estrogen receptor beta, which translate to healthful physiological changes.
One other item of note: I have observed symptoms of estrogen deficiency in patients who are overdosed on progesterone, DHEA or testosterone replacement. These hormones must be in proper balance for good health. In my experience, progesterone creams result in overdosing more times than not. These hormones are best evaluated with salivary testing, which I have been doing through Diagnos-Techs Lab for almost 20 years.
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Answer: If A Male Applied Estrogen Cream Directly To The Breasts On A Regular Basis Would It Increase Size #transgender# Estrogen
While I am not an endocrinologist, I do lecture to many transgender individuals around the country regarding breast augmentation. I even had an endocrinologist specializing in transgender endocrinology practice in my office twice monthly for years. I would refer to his recommendation to staying away from oral estrogen and rather use injectable estrogen or even pellets. I would definitely refer to your physician regarding this topic. Regarding applying cream to your breasts and expect them to grow, you may have some increase in size depending on how much estrogen gets absorbed through the skin. It doesn’t have to be applied to your breasts though. I have seen a number of transgender individuals use estrogen patches with good success.
Where Can I Buy Male To Female Hormones
Transfemme® male to female hormones in pill and cream forms are available online on this website. Transfemme is a completely natural system to feminize the male body to varying degrees depending on which products you use and the dosages. We recommend calling one of our advisors on our Customer Success Team at or email us at
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Why Is Bioidentical Estrogen Cream Better
Bioidentical estrogen is superior and safer than synthetic hormones because is derived from plants and has a molecular structure that is similar to the hormones your body naturally secretes.
Ehab Mekhail, pharmacist and owner of Peoples Choice Compounding Pharmacy in Richmond Hill, explains, We use a custom dosage of natural, bioidentical estrogen in the creams and medications we make. Popular commercially available estrogen creams often use synthetic or estrogen derived from pregnant mares. However, recent research supports the use of bioidentical hormones as safer.
Are There Real Benefits Of Natural Estrogen Cream
One popular way of treating low estrogen is withover-the-counter natural estrogen creams. These creams are easily accessibleand relatively affordable. Many women also find the idea of a natural hormoneproduct to be appealing and erroneously believe it speaks to the productssafety. But these creams are not the best method for alleviating the symptomsof low estrogen.
The natural estrogen creams you can buy over the counter are not subject to the rigorous standards to which prescription medications are held. In fact, there is little regulation of any kind on these OTC products, which means that their efficacy and safety are not guaranteed. Because your treatment is not guided by a medical professional, you dont know that the product you choose is the right one for youthe cream you pick up may not contain the right amount of hormones or even the right hormones. DIY product selection and administration could lead to over or under-dosage, which can either lead to ineffective treatment or distressing side effectsor both. Overall, there are few benefits of natural estrogen creams available over the counter and, in fact, there may be significant risks, as hormone therapy in general and estrogen-only therapy specifically isnt safe for all women. But there is a better way.
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Side Effects Of Estrogen Replacement
Currently, estrogen replacement is the best way to reverse vaginal atrophy and GSM. Not every woman will be able to use this treatment option, however.
Concerns about the long-term effects of increased estrogen sometimes discourage doctors from prescribing it. Possible side effects include:
For women with an increased risk for these problems, non-hormone options may be the best treatment option until more is known about the possible risks.
If your doctor decides vaginal estrogen is worth trying, ask if you can use the lowest possible dose.
If youve previously had cancer, work with your oncologist to treat GSM. Your oncologist will know more about your particular risk factors and concerns.
If youre ready to talk with your doctor, its a good idea to bring a list of questions with you. These questions may include the following:
- Is menopause causing these symptoms?
- Could another condition be causing these symptoms?
- What are my treatment options?
- How long should I try this treatment?
- What are the side effects and risks associated with this treatment?
- Will this condition get worse?
- Besides typical treatments, is there anything I can do to help relieve the symptoms or prevent them from becoming worse?