What is the difference between Intrarosa and Osphena?
Intrarosa (prasterone) and Osphena (Ospemifene) are both treatments for moderate to severe dyspareunia - the medical term for difficult or painful sexual intercourse - a symptom of vulvar and vaginal atrophy, caused by menopause. Falling estrogen levels play a key role in the development of menopausal symptoms.
There are a number of differences between Intrarosa and Osphena, including how they are administered, what they contain and how they work. See the table below for more details.
| Intrarosa | Osphena | |
| Company | AMAG Pharmaceuticals | Duchesnay |
| Approved for |
|
|
| First approved in the US | 2016 | 2013 |
| Active ingredient | Prasterone | Ospemifene |
| Type of drug | Steroid | Selective estrogen-receptor modulator (SERM) |
| How it works | Intrarosa is broken down in the body into active sex hormones (androgens and estrogens). Increasing estrogen levels helps to alleviate the symptoms of menopause | Osphena binds to estrogen receptors in the body. In some parts of the body this activates estrogenic pathways and in others it blocks them. Osphena is not a hormone, but it does mimic the effects of estrogen |
| Formulation | Vaginal insert | Oral tablet |
| How it's used | Inserted into the vagina using an applicator. Used once daily at bedtime | Swallowed once daily, with food |
| Adverse reactions | The most common adverse reactions (≥2%) are vaginal discharge and abnormal Pap smear |
The most common adverse reactions (≥1%) are:
|
Related questions
- How do you use Intrarosa vaginal inserts?
- Treatments for Menopause
- How long does it take for Vagifem to dissolve?
References
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Intrarosa. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2018/208470s001lbl.pdf. [Accessed March 2, 2021].
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Osphena. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2019/203505s015lbl.pdf. [Accessed March 2, 2021].
- Osphena website. Available from: https://www.osphena.com/. [Accessed March 2, 2021].
- Intrarosa website. Available from: https://us.intrarosa.com/. [Accessed March 2, 2021].
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