Newer forms of treatment are now available.

Points of Interest : 2005 – Vaginal Estrogen

Vaginal administration of estrogen is ideal for treatment of the genitourinary symptoms of estrogen deficiency, because exposure of other organs is minimal. Doses can be administered that induce full estrogenization of vaginal tissue but have only minimal systemic effects. The potency of vaginal conjugated estrogens on vaginal tissue is estimated to be four times greater than that of oral conjugated estrogens, and the potency on other tissues is one fourth as great. Therefore, when the desired effect is control of vaginal dryness, stress incontinence or frequent urinary tract infections (show figure 2) [32], vaginal estrogen therapy is an excellent choice.

Recommended doses and regimens of vaginal estrogen (including vaginal cream, tablet and ring preparations), are discussed in detail elsewhere (See “Treatment of menopausal symptoms in women not taking systemic estrogen” section on Urogenital atrophy).

High doses of vaginal estrogen can also be used to treat vasomotor symptoms, much like a transdermal preparation [33]. As an example, a vaginal ring, (Femring), is available in two doses, releasing 50 or 100 µg of estradiol per day. Femring has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of both vasomotor and genitourinary atrophy symptoms [34]. We do not recommend these high doses in women who need therapy for genitourinary symptoms only.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 27th, 2005 at 11:11 pm and is filed under (HRT) Hormone Replacement Therapy, Gynecology, Menopause. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.