Estradiol topical and Burning: What Users Say

• Ell...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 21, 2020

For Atrophic Vaginitis "Horrible itching, burning, swelling from any topical estrogen I tried - Estrace, Vagifem, Premarin. After 3 years of suffering, all with normal cultures (no infection), I insisted on biopsy of vulva - showed probable hypersensitivity reaction from allergy!!! Stopped all estrogens, but atrophic vaginitis returned with different burning and dryness, and painful sex. Then researched and found out that topical estrogens can cause all my symptoms from allergic reaction to the preservatives and other ingredients! My gyn had no clue. I researched this, and told doctor to order Estriol cream in VERSABASE cream base - VERSABASE is hypoallergenic. I AM CURED - the compounded Estriol in VERSABASE has fixed my atrophic vaginitis without allergic reaction. I have my vagina back! Find a compounding pharmacy - I use Estriol 1 mg/gram compounded - daily x 2 weeks then twice a week. Call around as the different compounding pharmacies have huge price differences for the same compound. Good luck!!!!"

• Poo...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 10, 2020

For Atrophic Vaginitis "Does anyone know if any of the ingredients have changed recently? I have been using Vagifem for almost 15 years once a week and never experienced any burning, but recently, out of the blue, I have burning and cannot understand why, as I am using the brand and not the generic as that caused horrible problems. It works great but not happy with the irritation. Thank you."

• Gra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 6, 2019

For Atrophic Vaginitis "I am 71 years old and my doctor prescribed estradiol for vaginal atrophy. I was reluctant to try it, but my symptoms worsened, so I started the estradiol three times a week. After a few weeks, I was symptom-free and feeling great. However, after three months, my symptoms gradually returned, and now I have burning all day and the urination urgency off and on during the day. My symptoms abate at night. My doctor doesn’t have any answers as to why the medication stopped working. Does anyone else have this problem, and what was your solution?"

• AEa...
• October 23, 2019

For Atrophic Vaginitis "Amneal had two companies producing their Yuvafem product. One company located in the USA (pink packaging) and the other in Denmark (blue packaging). I did not experience issues with the product manufactured in Denmark although the packaging was inferior to Vagifem. Amneal no longer uses the company in Denmark. The product in the pink packaging manufactured in the USA is as awful as the many negative reviews reflect. Burning and itching was the worse negative symptoms for me. Why is the FDA not aggressively addressing this? I have been battling with Amneal and it isn't a pleasant experience. I plan to escalate to the Attorney General of my state. Unfortunately, too many politicians take money from the pharmaceutical companies so they do nothing to help stop this abuse. I also take issue with the majority of insurance companies refusing to cover Vagifem or charge exorbitant copays for a medication women need to maintain good health, yet many have no problem with covering Viagra."

• Man...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 12, 2021

For Atrophic Vaginitis "Worst 'medication' I've ever had. Horrific headache, couldn't even get up out of bed safely the day after one and only application, extreme nausea and dizziness, next few days spotting, vaginal pain, burning for the next two weeks until I took some acid regulators. Subsequently have been sleepless, extremely low on energy, cystitis, cold sore - basically everything saying the body's taken a beating. One pessary. Still battling it four weeks later. Never again."

• sam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 3, 2020

For Atrophic Vaginitis "I tried Vagifem for two weeks, and while I think it probably helped with soreness inside and plumped things up, it also caused irritation of the urethra, whereby I had a constant pressure, feeling like a need to wee all the time, burning, and stinging inside. I couldn't live with it, and it kept waking me up at night. These symptoms started when I used Vagifem and stopped when I stopped it. I really hope there is an alternative, as I think, for many, Vagifem is a miracle."

• Ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 19, 2018

For Atrophic Vaginitis "For those who commented about burning from using Estrace... I also had burning from it. My research led me to believe that the propylene glycol and/or glycerin in the product were the culprits. I switched to a hypoallergenic form of estradiol from a good compounding pharmacy and that solved the problem. No burning and the estradiol was so helpful."

• Anonymous
• October 20, 2017

For Atrophic Vaginitis "Help! Can anybody who has had burning after using this horrible cream tell me how long does the burning last? Anyway how do you stop the burning? I put it in once and have been burning for 24 hours... any way to stop the burn?"

• InP...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 28, 2019

For Atrophic Vaginitis "I am 53 and had a complete hysterectomy 27 years ago and have been taking oral Premarin. Dr. Put me on the Estradiol patch which gave me headaches, so we just stopped all HRT. A few weeks later, I developed a UTI and had extreme vaginal and urethra pain. I was put on Estradiol Cream which irritated all of my skin, so they switched me to Estradiol vaginal tablets. I have been using it for 10 days and I am burning, aching, and it feels like something is stuck in me. I do not like this cream and am wondering if the Premarin cream would work better. I keep wondering if this pain will ever go away. Has anyone had symptoms for over 10 days while using the cream?"

• Msa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 14, 2020

For Atrophic Vaginitis "I’m 60 years old and have had multiple urinary tract infections over the years. My doctor just started me on Vagifem 3 weeks ago, as well as progesterone oral tablets. In the last week, the burning, itching, and irritation are driving me crazy. I’m trying to deal with it and applying topical OTC creams as well as natural balms to try and calm my vaginal area down. I’m going back to the doctor tomorrow as I can’t stand this anymore. I was really hoping this medication would work for me, I wonder what the next step will be?"

• Ley...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 9, 2014

For Atrophic Vaginitis "At 46, I began having UTIs, urinary frequency/urgency, and burning vaginal dryness. I was prescribed Estrace, but the standard formula caused me burning as well. However, a compounded version of estradiol in a hypoallergenic formula has been very helpful. My vaginal burning has stopped, and the urinary urgency/frequency has improved dramatically over the last 2+ months. I think Estrace can be very helpful, and if you're sensitive to it (the propylene glycol can be an irritant), a compounded version can be extremely helpful."

• men...
• August 10, 2018

For Atrophic Vaginitis "This cream has been a miracle. I had a hysterectomy 20 years ago and have been off estrogens for at least 15 years. About five years ago started having all kinds of vaginal discomfort. I think I was also battling a bacterial infection. Tried everything for that too. Finally settled on using boric acid capsules once a week for quite some time and the Estrace three times a week. I used about 1 gram. After several months, finally I was able to stop the boric acid. I also was able to cut my Estrace back to once a week 1 gram. Before using this, I was so sensitive that I would be burning and itching just from wiping with toilet paper. The tissue was so thin it looked shriveled up down there. I noticed I had what appeared to be blood blisters on my labia, which have gone away. The skin has plumped up too and is so much healthier. I would give this a ten except the cost is ridiculous."

• nur...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 30, 2020

For Atrophic Urethritis "I used Vagifem for years, and the only issue was occasional yeast infections at the beginning, but the drug was effective for vaginal atrophy. Years later, in an HMO that will only prescribe generics, so forced to use Yuvafem. Initially, it seemed okay, but in the last 3 months, I noticed symptoms of burning, itching, and UTI returned. Simultaneously, I just read that Teva, the current generic manufacturer of Yuvafem that I'm using, has been indicted by U.S. Federal prosecutors for drug price-fixing along with other drug manufacturers. While they are only under investigation for price fixing, I hope the FDA is also investigating these companies to determine whether they are interfering with the drug formulation, i.e., cutting with fillers. Caveat emptor - while Vagifem is costly, we may be throwing money down the drain with generics that have filler instead of the drug."

• bgk...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 29, 2020

For Atrophic Vaginitis "The last 2 times when I used Estrace cream, I had bad burning and felt like I had a UTI. Out of desperation, I decided to try a vaginal yeast infection cream w/applicator to see if it made a difference. It did, both times! Within hours, the symptoms decreased. By the next day, no further issues. Had no idea others had burning from the Estrace cream until I got on this site. May check out getting it compounded. I wonder why after years of using the Estrace (brand name), did this start all of the sudden. Have the ingredients changed?"

• DeD...
• April 23, 2016

For Atrophic Urethritis "I have been using Estrace cream for 11 years, and it's been working. I use about 1/3 applicator every 5 or 6 days. Suddenly, it stopped working. I don't have a bladder infection, I already went through yeast infection treatment, both Diflucan and vaginal creams, and my vagina still burns. The Estrace cream relieves it, but only for about 6 or 10 hours. I am 70 and not sexually active. I know years ago the urologist said everything looked kind of shriveled up and dry down there. Could the hormone cream just not work anymore? Now, what do I do?"

• Whi...
• June 22, 2019

For Atrophic Vaginitis "I have used Vagifem for years without any issues whatsoever. It worked well and caused no problems. Then my insurance switched me to Yuvafem, and it's been a nightmare. If I could give this drug a zero, I would have. Burning, redness, the feeling of having a UTI, then actually getting a UTI for the first time in 20 years, painful intercourse. The drug is completely ineffective for what it is supposed to do, and it is causing plenty of problems. When I looked at the ingredients, I see that estradiol is the same, but the carrier ingredients are different, specifically, Yuvafem uses propylene glycol. So, I could deal with the awful packaging if the drug actually worked and didn't cause so many problems, but it doesn't work and had me thinking I had some terrible infection for the last 3 weeks till my doctor and I figured out it was the Yuvafem. I will be trying out the Estring, and if I can't deal with it, I will be paying the big bucks and going back to the Vagifem."

• amy...
• October 12, 2019

For Atrophic Urethritis "I used this once 3 weeks ago. Immediately had horrible burning and was up all night with what felt like a UTI. Am now on my 3rd antibiotic due to the inflammation and feel like these symptoms will never go away. It may be a Godsend for some, but if you are allergic, it is a nightmare."

• col...
• June 30, 2020

For Dyspareunia "Used one Imvexxy tablet. Felt burning. Spotting, which I thought was blood. It was washed out pinkish, but it may have been the pink outside of the tablet. Felt burning for a day or two and will not use again."

• Cas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 14, 2019

For Atrophic Vaginitis "I tried 1 gram of Estrace 4 days in a row. I had extreme dryness prior to taking it. It corrected that, however, I experienced itching, burning, and several trips to the bathroom at night to urinate. I am through with it!"

• Anonymous
• January 15, 2025

For Atrophic Vaginitis "I’ve been using this since my hysterectomy back in 2005 with no issues, twice a week, but in the last two months, I’ve noticed burning, which I thought was a UTI infection or bladder infection. Did three rounds of antibiotics. I saw no difference. I also think that they must’ve changed the ingredients in this hormone replacement because I’m experiencing itching, burning, and I feel like I have to pee all the time. It is so bad that I’m waking up at night with a burning sensation."

• Ela...
• January 13, 2020

For Atrophic Vaginitis "First used Vagifem and seemed to work okay. Then, like others, was switched to Yuvafem. Started having extreme itching, so washed regularly and applied moisturizer. Then burning started too and nothing helped to get over itchy, burning, and then burnt skin. I stopped Yuvafem when spotting started. Skin began to clear up after two weeks. Then I used one tablet and extreme itching and skin was burnt again. I began to have pain in my joints, so bad that I entered an emergency room. I went off Yuvafem and 5 days later could walk again. After only one tablet, joint pain and burnt skin returned. My doctor could not find anything. He suggested that I was allergic to Yuvafem. So today, I decided to check reviews and found that Yuvafem is a dangerous drug."

• Ela...
• January 13, 2020

For Atrophic Vaginitis "First used Vagifem and seemed to work okay. Then, like others, was switched to Yuvafem. Started having extreme itching, so washed regularly and applied moisturizer. Then burning started too and nothing helped to get over itchy, burning, and then burnt skin. I stopped Yuvafem when spotting started. Skin began to clear up after two weeks. Then I used one tablet and extreme itching and skin was burnt again. I began to have pain in my joints, so bad that I entered an emergency room. I went off Yuvafem and 5 days later could walk again. After only one tablet, joint pain and burnt skin returned. My doctor could not find anything. He suggested that I was allergic to Yuvafem. So today, I decided to check reviews and found that Yuvafem is a dangerous drug."

• jjg...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 27, 2015

For Atrophic Vaginitis "The Estring was my answer to vaginal dryness and extremely painful intercourse. And I wasn't even in menopause yet. I also had vulvodynia causing extreme burning and pain. I had tried the cream, Estrace, but could never keep it up and didn't want to deal with it. Finally, my doctor recommended the Estring. After 2 or 3 weeks, I was feeling completely normal again. I've been using this for almost 9 months now, and I no longer have any pain, and the vulvodynia seems to be gone. It's a miracle. I can actually have pain-free sex once again."

• Dee...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 13, 2019

For Atrophic Vaginitis "1. Tablets fall out of the applicator. Half the time, I can see the tablet rattling around inside the plastic packaging before I even attempt to open it. 2. Packaging is impossible to separate. I have to use scissors. I'm only 52 and don't have arthritis-I can only imagine the struggle older women must have to open the packaging. 3. It doesn't work as well as Vagifem! I've been using it for over a year now and find that my symptoms of dryness, burning, etc., fluctuate from package to package. I never had this problem on Vagifem."

• Anonymous
• September 14, 2011

"I am a 54-year-old postmenopausal woman and have been using Estrace cream 1 mg every night for about a month for vaginal dryness. All of a sudden, I am experiencing itching and burning. I wonder if I have an infection from this cream."