How oestrogen cream helps menopause

Dr Lee was recently chatting with a woman in her late 60s who had never heard of oestrogen cream. Never used it. Never been told about it. Instead, she occasionally bought a lubricant from the pharmacy – but only for sex, not for her overall vaginal health.

This lady is not alone. So many women go through menopause, or live for decades after it, without knowing this simple, effective treatment exists.

Dr Lee and Dr Eileen sit down for a chat about how oestrogen cream can help - in more ways than one.

What happens to your vagina after menopause?

During menopause, your ovaries produce less oestrogen and progesterone. We know this affects our bones, but it also affects the skin and tissues in and around the vagina. Without oestrogen, the skin becomes thinner, loses fatty tissue, and isn’t as well supported.

This can lead to:

• Irritation, itching, or burning
• Pain during sex
• Less support for pelvic organs (which can cause prolapse of the bladder, uterus, or rectum)
• More frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Why oestrogen cream (or pessaries) can help

Topical oestrogen cream, used just twice a week, feeds the skin around the vagina. This keeps it plump, elastic, and better able to support the organs around it. That means less discomfort, fewer UTIs, and a better chance of keeping everything in place where it belongs.

If creams aren’t your thing, pessaries (small tablets you insert into the vagina) work in much the same way. They dissolve, release oestrogen into the local tissues, and barely enter your bloodstream – so this isn’t the same as hormone replacement therapy.

Sex is lasting longer – so comfort matters

These days, many women enjoy sex well into their 60s, 70s, and beyond. Vaginal oestrogen isn’t just about making sex more comfortable – but if that’s a happy side effect, all the better!

Why don’t more women know about it?

Sadly, there’s no standard “postmenopausal check-up” where things like this are discussed. Sometimes, even doctors – especially male doctors – don’t bring it up. That means the responsibility often falls on us to start the conversation.

Here’s what to do:

1. Speak up – tell your doctor if you have irritation, dryness, burning, or pain during sex.
2. Ask directly – “Would a topical oestrogen cream or pessary help me?”
3. Don’t wait – the sooner you address these symptoms, the better your long-term vaginal and pelvic health.

Menopause isn’t the end of comfort, intimacy, or feeling good in your body. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of giving one small part of you the care and attention it’s missing.

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