5 Vaginal Estrogen Myths

Dr. Jennifer Roelands, gynecologist, explains:

Let’s get down to business

Here are the 5 myths busted:

• Vaginal estrogen causes cancer: vaginal estrogen does not increase cancer risk, including breast cancer; it doesn’t raise systemic hormone levels so your breasts won’t even know you’re taking it; even people with a history of breast cancer or blood clots can usually use it safely.
• Vaginal estrogen is only for older women: it’s useful for a wide range of people—including those who are postpartum, perimenopausal, those on certain medications, or with autoimmune or vulvar conditions—not just those in menopause.
• Vaginal estrogen is dangerous for your heart: vaginal estrogen doesn’t raise the risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack because it has minimal systemic absorption.
• Vaginal estrogen is hard to use: it comes in various user-friendly forms (e.g. cream, suppositories, ring, etc), and many can be applied easily without mess or complicated devices.
• You have to stop vaginal estrogen at a certain age: there’s no age limit; it can be safely used indefinitely to maintain vaginal and urinary health, including preventing infections and dryness.

Note: in some of these cases, Dr. Roelands compares the effects of topical vaginal estrogen with those of systemic HRT, mentioning multiple times that it’s safer because it’s not systemic. Now, that is true, but it’s worth noting that systemic HRT also does not increase cancer risk in most people, and it reduces (not increases) the risk of heart attack. Nothing is perfect though, and we will concede that it does increase thrombosis risk.

You can enjoy the video here:

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Want to learn more?

You might also like:

• HRT: A Tale Of Two Approaches ← explains how the “HRT causes cancer” myth came from a single methodologically flawed, since-refuted study that, as an extra consideration against it, didn’t even use modern bioidentical HRT that is even safer than ye olde Premarin and similar animal-derived estrogens.
• HRT & Your Heart ← explains how estrogen is, on balance, cardioprotective (including by improved lipids and vascular function), while still increasing thrombosis risk
• How Old Is Too Old For HRT? ← includes a simple test you can do to know whether it is too late for you or not

Take care!