Vaginal atrophy, a manifestation of estrogen deprivation after the menopause, could affect up to 60% of women, with a significant impact on their quality of life. It is often under-diagnosed and inadequately treated. Symptoms are more common and severe in breast cancer survivors. Systemic estrogen replacement therapy may be unacceptable for many women because of the concerns over possible risks and may not cure vaginal symptoms in up to 45% of users. Non-medicated vaginal lubricants or moisturizers have been found to be no better than placebo and less effective than estrogen. Topical vaginal estrogen preparations reverse atrophic changes and relieve associated symptoms, while avoiding systemic effects. This article provides an up-to-date overview of the role, safety and effectiveness of topical vaginal estrogen therapy.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.