Menopause Formulary – Local Estrogen

An individualised approach should be taken with each person needing support with the menopause, refer to the Menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy page for diagnosis and management of people with symptoms of menopause.

Local estrogen is used to help with vaginal, vulval and urinary symptoms that often develop with low oestrogen levels. The effect of low oestrogen on urogenital tissue quality often takes three to five years to become apparent. Most patients are likely to experience some degree of urogenital atrophy, this will increase with time from menopause if untreated.

Symptoms can develop any time from perimenopause to many years after the menopause. Symptoms will only get worse without treatment.

Local estrogen may be needed on an ongoing basis if there is no systemic HRT in use.  People using HRT may still experience symptoms of urogenital atrophy and can use vaginally delivered local estrogen in addition to HRT if needed.

Review at least annually to determine ongoing need and clinical appropriateness, NICE NG23 guides that local estrogen should be used for as long as it is needed to control symptoms.

Some preparations may damage barrier contraception including condoms or diaphragms. People should be aware of this and supported on effective contraception and safer sex including the importance of using lubricants which can be purchased over the counter as self-care.

Local estrogen does not carry the same risks as systemic HRT so it can be used without taking a progestogen for endometrial protection if used alone, even if the patient still has a uterus.

For more information on supporting patients with a history of estrogen sensitive cancer, you can seek advice from the Somerset Menopause service for guidance, patients under the care of oncology services for breast or gynaecological cancers, should be referred to the combined oncology and menopause clinic at their respective hospital. See the main Menopause and HRT page and scroll to “Breast Cancer History or at Risk of Breast Cancer” information for more information and links.

(NICE N23 Dec 19 and BMS Urogenital atrophy Sept 23- March 2024)