Brand Names of Estriol Vaginal Cream
Several estriol vaginal cream brands are available internationally, with Ovestin being the most widely recognized and studied formulation, typically containing 0.5 mg estriol per gram of cream. 1
Available Estriol Vaginal Cream Brands
Ovestin (Organon) is the most commonly cited estriol vaginal cream in clinical studies, containing 0.5 mg estriol per application 2, 3
Colpogyn is another estriol-based cream formulation used for postmenopausal vaginal atrophy treatment, also containing 0.5 mg estriol 4
Synapause is an estriol cream formulation that has been studied in comparative trials against other vaginal estrogen products 3
Clinical Context and Formulation Details
Standard estriol vaginal creams typically contain 0.5 mg estriol per application, with initial dosing of daily application for 2 weeks followed by maintenance dosing of twice weekly 5, 2
A newer ultra-low concentration formulation exists as 0.005% estriol vaginal gel (providing 50 μg per gram), which has demonstrated efficacy with potentially improved safety profile 6
Estriol cream formulations have shown equivalent efficacy to estradiol-based products in treating vaginal atrophy symptoms, with the advantage that estriol cannot be converted to estradiol in the body 1, 7
Why Estriol May Be Preferred in Certain Populations
For women on aromatase inhibitors, estriol-containing preparations are preferable because estriol is a weaker estrogen that cannot be converted to estradiol, potentially avoiding interference with cancer treatment 1, 8, 7
Estriol formulations provide effective symptom relief with restoration of vaginal mucosa, improved maturation values, and decreased vaginal pH, while maintaining minimal systemic absorption 9, 2
Studies demonstrate that both 0.25 mg estriol cream and ultra-low dose 50 μg estriol gel significantly improve vaginal symptoms, vaginal health index, and sexual function compared to placebo 9, 6
Important Clinical Considerations
Unlike estradiol vaginal preparations, estriol does not significantly increase circulating estradiol levels within 2 weeks of use, making it a safer option for women with hormone-sensitive conditions 7, 9
Treatment must be continued long-term, as vaginal atrophy symptoms persist indefinitely and often worsen without continued treatment, unlike vasomotor symptoms that may resolve over time 8, 7
All estriol formulations studied showed excellent tolerability with minimal side effects, though some women reported transient "vaginal heat" during the first days of treatment 2, 4