| Tara Langdale
What is Estradiol Vaginal Cream and can I use it with Dilators?
Estradiol is a form of estrogen (the female sex hormone responsible for regulation of various bodily processes). Estradiol comes in the form of oral tablets or topical applications such as gels, patches and vaginal creams. In some instances Doctors may offer Estradiol injections. Estradiol vaginal cream is a low-dose hormone replacement cream typically prescribed to women suffering from vaginal atrophy symptoms, or menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal changes.
If you are using vaginal dilators (or planning to start) and have also been prescribed Estradiol cream, you may be wondering if using vaginal estrogen cream with dilators is OK. The answer is yes: it’s perfectly OK to use estradiol cream with your vaginal dilators. We’ll get into more detail on estrogen creams and dilators below…
Why and how is Estradiol vaginal cream used?
Generally a low-dose estrogen cream may be prescribed for women suffering from menopausal or vaginal atrophy symptoms, including:
- Vaginal dryness, itching, burning, inflammation thinning skin
- Dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse)
- Urinary dysfunction (urgency, frequency, incontinence, urinary tract infections)
Vaginal estrogen cream is generally inserted via a plastic applicator that can be cleaned and reused. Your Doctor may direct you to insert it near to the vaginal opening or deeper inside the birth canal. The estradiol cream will then gradually absorb into the vaginal tissues. It can then do its job of increasing lubrication, reducing itching and burning sensations, and lowering the vaginal pH level to reduce inflammation.
Over time, hormone levels may normalize and you may be able to reduce usage or completely stop using Estradiol vaginal cream. In fact, Doctors do not usually recommended it for long-term use due to potential side effects, such as:
- Tenderness or pain in the breasts
- Dizziness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Depression and anxiety
- Heartburn
- Leg cramps
- Vaginal discharge
- Loss of hair
- Extra hair growth
- Back pain
It is wise to check in with your Doctor regularly, especially if you are experiencing any of the above changes. You may need to alter the dosage, reduce usage or stop using the cream.
Using vaginal dilators with estrogen cream
Vaginal dilators are used to restore normal function to the vagina, which is why they are a successful solution for all kinds of pelvic disorders. Vaginal dilator therapy often leads to sufficient vaginal capacity for sexual intercourse, and reduction of painful physical and psychological symptoms. Dilator therapy is often incorporated into pelvic floor physical therapy, sexual and psychotherapy because of its high success rates.
Women with vaginal atrophy are commonly prescribed a vaginal estrogen cream so it is perfectly normal to use dilators in conjunction with this cream. If using dilators with estrogen cream it is better to do so when the cream is not yet fully absorbed. However, dilators often work best when used with vaginal moisturizers or lubricants, and it is generally recommended that you use moisturizers on a different day to the day you apply estrogen cream. Therefore you may wish to dilate with lubricant on the days you are not using the cream.
The bottom line is that vaginal atrophy or difficult menopause symptoms can easily be remedied with a combination of treatments, the most popular being Estradiol vaginal cream and vaginal dilators. For some women the process takes a few weeks, and for others a few months but with perseverance, these problems usually become manageable - or non-existent! We hope you found this article useful… if so, please check out our blog for regular articles on a wide range of women’s sexual health issues, as well as advice and solutions.
Do you need to order vaginal dilators so you can start your pelvic floor therapy process? Made in the USA. Visit www.vuvatech.com
VuVa Helpful Links:
How do Neodymium Vaginal Dilators work?
7 Reasons for a Tight Vagina and How to Loosen
How to Relax Vaginal Muscles, Vaginismus & Sex
Vaginal Stretching - Keeping in Shape with Dilators
Do Dilators Really Work? Yes, and They can Improve Your Sex Life!
Shop for VuVa Vaginal Dilators
Tara Langdale Schmidt is the inventor of the VuVa Dilator Company. She has pelvic floor dysfunction herself and wanted to create a dilator set that is made in America that women can trust. VuVatech has been in business since 2014 and has helped over 40,000 women all over the globe. She patented the Neodymium Vaginal Dilator, that is clinically proven to help with blood flow and nerve pain.
