Estriol Topical
Estriol Topical is a 15g tube of oestrogen cream applied inside the vagina for dryness, soreness and other postmenopausal discomfort, sold in packs of one to five tubes.
- Category
- Women's Health
- Active ingredient
- Estriol
- Route
- Topical
- Form
- Cream
- Strengths
- 15g
You will receive a quality generic, depending on stock.
Shipped in a discreet, unmarked envelope.
Details
- Conditions
- Postmenopausal vaginal discomfort
- Brands with the same ingredient
- Estriol Cream
- Therapeutic Class
- Estrogen hormone
- Pharmacological Class
- Estrogen
- Minor Side Effects
- Local application site irritation
- Moderate Side Effects
- Breast tenderness, Mild swelling
- Dosage Forms
- Cream
- Administration Route
- Topical
- Originator
- Generic
- Onset Time
- Days to weeks
- Storage Instructions
- Store at room temperature.
What you will receive
Estriol Topical is a generic medicine sold under the name of its active ingredient, Estriol.
- The manufacturer depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
- It contains the same active ingredient, at the same strength, as the brand-name versions.
FAQ
Which Estriol Topical pack quantities can I order?
Estriol Topical comes as 15g tubes in packs of 1 to 5. Larger packs cost less per tube.
What happens if my Estriol Topical parcel is damaged?
Estriol Topical ships in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing on the outside about the contents. If your parcel arrives damaged, it is sent again free; if that is not possible, the order is refunded.
What are the other names for estriol?
A brand name for estriol is Ovestin. Estriol topical tubes are a pure generic estriol product and are not that brand.
How long does estriol cream take to work?
Relief usually builds over the first few weeks rather than after one or two doses, as the vaginal lining thickens again. Once dryness and soreness have eased, most people drop to a maintenance dose a couple of times a week, which keeps the tissue comfortable without daily use.
How many doses are in a 15g tube?
About 30: a dose is roughly 0.5g, so a 15g tube covers close to 30 doses, or a month of once-daily use. On a twice-weekly maintenance schedule the same tube stretches to several months.
What is the difference between estriol and estradiol cream?
They are different oestrogens. Estriol is the weaker, shorter-acting one and is the usual choice for vaginal dryness and soreness; estradiol creams, vaginal tablets and rings are more potent. Both work on the vaginal lining itself rather than through the whole body.
Is estriol cream the same as HRT?
Not the same. HRT tablets, patches and gels release oestrogen into the bloodstream and are used for hot flushes, night sweats and bone strength. A vaginal estriol cream works where it is applied and is chosen for local symptoms such as dryness, itching and painful sex.
Can I use estriol cream on my face or for wrinkles?
No. This is a vaginal cream, made to be used inside the vagina, not on facial skin. Estriol does appear in some cosmetic creams, but a vaginal product is not formulated for the face and this cream is not sold for that use.
About Estriol Topical
Dryness, soreness, a frequent urge to pass urine and pain during sex are common in the years around menopause, and they come from the same cause: less oestrogen reaching the tissues of the vagina and lower urinary tract. Estriol Topical is a cream that puts a small amount of oestrogen back into those tissues. It comes as a 15g tube.
What it is used for
This is a local oestrogen treatment rather than a whole-body one. It is bought for the changes that follow the fall in oestrogen after menopause: vaginal dryness, burning or itching, pain during sex, a frequent or urgent need to urinate, and repeated urinary or vaginal infections. Together these are known as genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) — the thinning and drying of the genital and lower urinary tract.
How it works
Estriol is one of the body's own oestrogens. Spread onto the vaginal lining, it attaches to oestrogen receptors in the surface cells, which then hold more moisture and rebuild some of the elasticity the tissue had before menopause. The dose is small and most of it stays where it is applied, so the effect is local; only a little reaches the bloodstream.
Using it at night
A dose is around 0.5g, placed high inside the vagina at bedtime so the cream stays in place while you sleep. Most people use it once a day for the first couple of weeks and then, as the lining recovers, move to a maintenance dose twice a week. The lower schedule is what holds the improvement; daily use is not usually needed long term. If you also use another oestrogen product — a patch, gel or tablet — the two add together in your body.
Side effects
Warmth, stinging or itching where the cream is applied can happen at first and usually settles within a few days. Headache and tender breasts are less common. Stop and get help urgently if you have swelling of the face, lips or tongue, a swollen or painful calf, sudden breathlessness or chest pain, or vaginal bleeding that is not a period. Estriol cream is not used by people who have had breast or womb cancer or who have unexplained vaginal bleeding.
Storing the tube
Keep the cap on and store the tube somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight. Check the date on the tube and don't use it once that has passed.
Sources
- Estriol 1mg/g cream - Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) - (emc) | 5384 — UK Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC)
- Vaginal atrophy - Symptoms & causes - Mayo Clinic — Mayo Clinic