Vaginal Hormone Therapy

Most local vaginal therapies are presented as primarily local and distinct from full-body hormone therapy. Declining estrogen can affect vaginal, vulvar, clitoral, bladder, and urethral tissues. Local vaginal hormone therapy can deliver estrogen and sometimes testosterone directly to affected tissues. Genitourinary tissue changes can contribute to vaginal dryness, painful sex, reduced arousal, recurrent urinary symptoms, pH changes, microbiome changes, bladder infections, and vaginal infections. Vaginal hormones should be considered for genitourinary symptoms because these symptoms are common, overlooked, and often treatable.