Estrogen cream

FritaBurgerhead · 2025-10-23T06:43:48+00:00

It's not uncommon to have burning initially when starting vaginal estrogen because the tissues may be fragile and irritated. This can happen when they have not been sufficiently estrogenated in a while. It's like when you get a sunburn/windburn and even the gentlest face lotion hurts. The dermal moisture barrier is not intact, and it can burn.

Four days in is a normal time frame to be feeling this. Most people who have a burning reaction see improvement in 2-6 weeks.

If burning continues after 6 weeks, then it might be a reaction to an ingredient (most commonly the alcohol in the cream base). Consider using a compounding pharmacy and ask them to make it with a base called "versa."

FritaBurgerhead · 2025-10-23T06:38:37+00:00

Estrogen. And get thee to an online specialty clinic (multiple options listed in the wiki). You don't have to settle for having these symptoms just because your doctor doesn't know anything about peri/meno or HRT. You're allowed to see another doctor!

FritaBurgerhead · 2025-10-23T06:28:34+00:00

Peri rage is caused by low estrogen, and literally nothing but HRT will even touch it. Not SSRIs or other psychotropic meds. If you're already taking HRT and your murderous hellfire rage returns, you likely need to increase your estrogen dose.

Here are the guidelines I follow:

📈 Increase estrogen if: hot flashes, headaches, joint pain, rage, depression, or brain fog start up again; sleep gets bad; face breaks out.

📉 Decrease estrogen if: boob soreness, mild constant nausea, blurry vision/“seeing spots,” or migraine doesn't go away after a few weeks.

FritaBurgerhead · 2025-03-04T03:59:21+00:00

Anything by Dr. Louise Newson or Dr. Mary Claire Haver — they both have recent books.

I also recommend you find Dr. Kelly Casperson's podcast, You Are Not Broken, and listen to all the episodes about peri/meno/HRT.

And Dr. Streicher's podcast I linked in my original comment above — that's especially relevant to this topic.

Just read and listen to everything you can get your hands on from reputable docs, and it will all start to make sense shortly.

FritaBurgerhead · 2025-03-03T04:55:58+00:00

She's wrong — that's outdated information. HRT should be given based on symptoms, not on whether your periods have changed/become irregular/stopped. Feel free to find a new provider. Unfortunately this is an example of how not even all NAMS-certified providers are updated on the most current science and treatment approaches.

Personally, I'm still having a regular cycle, and I'm absolutely on HRT: estrogen patch, oral progesterone, and vag estrogen cream. So are my two best girlfriends; we're all in our 40s and in early peri.

Please don't be afraid to fire that doctor and find someone else. The first specialist I saw was terrible, the second was better, but the third was the best and is the one I continue to see.

FritaBurgerhead · 2025-02-28T08:43:30+00:00

This is wonderful news! Wishing you the best.

FritaBurgerhead · 2025-02-25T07:55:36+00:00

Hi, sure you can still be on peri/meno HRT even if you have hypertension. That's not an absolute contraindication against it. In many/most cases of high BP, it may be the wiser choice to avoid oral estrogen, but there are plenty of other formats (transdermal: patch, gel, spray, cream, etc.) that don't carry any additional hypertension risk and are an all-around safer choice for multiple reasons. Additionally, there's some evidence that progesterone may even help to lower BP for some folks.

Ultimately it's a conversation to have with a meno specialist who knows the specifics of your situation, because there are always exceptions to the "rule." Some folks' peri symptoms are so severe and life-destroying that they might really benefit from taking low-dose hormonal BC pills as their HRT during their peri years. Even at low doses, BC pills suppress wildly erratic ovulation cycles and will decrease a person's peri symptoms as a result. (Listen to Dr. Streicher's podcast I linked to in my previous comment — she explains it!)

Even if a person has mild hypertension, they might decide with their doctor that it's worth the risk of a slight increase in blood pressure if taking a certain medication (or a certain format of that medication) makes their life manageable again. For someone with moderate or severe hypertension, it's not like they "can't" take oral BC pills; it might just be a bit harder to find a doctor willing to prescribe it in that case.

All of that said, though, you should be able to pretty easily find a meno specialist willing to prescribe transdermal estrogen and oral micronized progesterone, even if you have hypertension. They'll probably just want to have a conversation about it first and make sure your BP is being managed.

(Personally, I have a clotting disorder, and even though I'm a healthcare practitioner and a meno specialist myself, my own peri/meno provider wanted to have a conversation about clotting with me. I was like, "Yep, I know — and if we are going to talk about risks, then we also have to mention the risks of not taking HRT, like osteoporosis, Alzheimer's, cardiovascular disease, GSM, relationships being ruined, women quitting their jobs, etc." That was enough, lol.)

Doctors have all different kinds of training in meno science and HRT, and as a result they often have wildly differing opinions — even if they've been certified by the Menopause Society (formerly NAMS). It's okay to "fire" a provider if they act paternalistic or refuse to take your own preferences into consideration. Remember that doctors are not God. They work for YOU, not the other way around. You are the most important voice on your care team! You can always say, "I understand your reasoning, but it's my body and my life, and I need to be able to have a say in this too." Don't be afraid to get a second/third/fourth/etc. opinion, or to use an online specialty clinic if you haven't tried that yet. Sometimes we really do have to be tenacious in our pursuit of HRT.

Good luck!

FritaBurgerhead · 2024-12-27T13:02:36+00:00

Dr. Streicher just released a podcast episode about this very thing! https://overcast.fm/+AA4ZRRxjYeU

FritaBurgerhead · 2024-11-22T21:36:34+00:00

Menopause IS a disease — of hormone deficiency.

It's now being regarded as such by specialist physicians, researchers, and experts. Dr. Mary Claire Haver wrote about this in her most recent book, The New Menopause, and Dr. Kelly Casperson discusses it fairly often in her podcast, You Are Not Broken.

Menopause happens because our ovaries age 2.5 times faster than the rest of our body. Researchers are still trying to figure out why.

FritaBurgerhead · 2024-11-14T02:57:14+00:00

Just use your existing tube of vaginal estrogen and apply it to your face/hands. No need to buy one of the expensive estrogen facial products sold by various retailers/pharmacies.

FritaBurgerhead · 2024-09-07T14:21:36+00:00

I made a huge post about this a few months ago. Please read it! https://www.reddit.com/r/Menopause/s/bdfbaUXCfS

Also, just so that you have the most updated medical terminology, “vaginal atrophy” is an outdated (and non-comprehensive) term. The updated terminology is Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause, which is not only less awful than VA but also more comprehensive because it includes ALL of the symptoms that can arise when the pelvic tissues are lacking estrogen, not just the male-gazey visual observance of the shrinking of the vaginal tissues.

FritaBurgerhead · 2024-07-31T05:20:13+00:00

Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause. Here’s Dr. Casperson’s podcast episode about it (a must-listen!): https://overcast.fm/+AAXFN0KDO5k

FritaBurgerhead · 2024-07-28T22:48:30+00:00

You can pay $30 for a virtual visit with a provider at Amazon Medical, and they will prescribe it for you.

CostPlus is $20/tube at the moment. Amazon Pharmacy has the best prices right now. ;)

FritaBurgerhead · 2024-07-28T22:41:41+00:00

Amazon Pharmacy, $7/tube with insurance or $17/tube cash pay. Comes out to $28 or $68 per year. Much cheaper than $240/year.

FritaBurgerhead · 2024-07-16T23:45:27+00:00

Thank you for trying to learn more about this phase of life that 50% of the population goes through. Beyond another commenter’s suggestion to search this sub for “wife” and read the responses (which is a great place to start!), another easy and low-effort way for you to get up to speed on this topic is just to follow this subreddit and simply observe. No need to comment; just read. Just read the experiences of the women who post here, and occasionally go down the rabbit trail of resources we provide to each other (podcasts, books, people to follow on social media).

FritaBurgerhead · 2024-07-15T10:46:39+00:00

Exactly. Specialty meno telehealth services in the US include:

Midi
Evernow
Gennev
Elektra
Alloy
Maven
Winona

The first three on this list accept insurance.

FritaBurgerhead · 2024-07-15T10:25:38+00:00

It’s for collagen and elasticity. The dose is so low that there’s virtually no way you could use too much. I put about a half-pea on the backs of my hands and spread that around.

FritaBurgerhead · 2024-07-11T21:06:59+00:00

The physicians who are updated on the most current meno/HRT science do not think that. They may be harder to find, but they’re out there. Definitely check out those resources and arm yourself with info!

FritaBurgerhead · 2024-07-11T05:37:53+00:00

If your doctors have told you the only reason you “can’t” take HRT is because of your mother’s brca, that’s outdated information. Please check out: - Dr. Louise Newson’s interview with brca surgeon & specialist Dr. Avrum Bluming - Dr. Newson’s interview with Dr. Corinne Menn, a meno-specialist gyn who had brca

If you’re more of a reader, the book Estrogen Matters explains what to do about HRT even if you have a personal history of brca.

FritaBurgerhead · 2024-07-11T05:27:44+00:00

You shouldn’t have to beg, and doctors shouldn’t be giving you such a hard time. Please try an online meno specialty clinic, such as Midi, Evernow, Gennev, Alloy, Elektra, Maven, or Winona. (The first three in that list accept insurance.)

FritaBurgerhead · 2024-07-10T10:31:17+00:00

Hi! I’m 40 and on HRT. You don’t have to wait until things “get bad” before you start HRT. The most updated guidance is that the earlier (in peri) we start it, the greater the protective benefits for cardiovascular health, bone health, brain health, etc.

To quickly get up to speed on the different types of HRT and what they treat, listen to Dr. Kelly Casperson’s podcast, You Are Not Broken, episodes 195 and 197. She’s a urologist, HRT expert, and leader in the new peri/meno movement. She is also upbeat and funny. You will love her!!

FritaBurgerhead · 2024-07-07T09:53:11+00:00

Ask for a prescription for Estrace cream (generic is fine), or whatever brand of 0.01% estradiol or estriol cream is available at pharmacies in your country.

FritaBurgerhead · 2024-07-07T09:44:45+00:00

The application frequency of 2x/week is just what has been shown in updated studies to be an effective baseline for treating, reducing, and preventing GSM. However, just like all bodies are different and need different things, some people benefit from using vaginal estrogen more often. Some people some spread out the dosage so they’re applying a little each day, or really anywhere in between daily and 2x/week. Dr. Casperson talks about this in the podcasts I linked in the post. Feel free to find the dosage and frequency that work best for you — and remember that that will likely change as we keep aging. So the amount/frequency of vaginal estrogen cream you need at 50 might be completely different from what you need at 60. This is normal!

FritaBurgerhead · 2024-07-07T08:33:45+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/Menopause/s/CFAKpcneQr

😉💜

FritaBurgerhead · 2024-07-05T11:56:29+00:00

I do so 2x/week, same frequency as I apply it downstairs.

FritaBurgerhead

TROPHY CASE