02/22/2026
WHAT ABOUT ESTRADIOL PATCHES AND VAGINAL ESTROGEN???
I get this question repeatedly and I totally understand the confusion.
There is SYSTEMIC estrogen replacement and there is VAGINAL estrogen replacement.
Let’s break each down a bit. Keep reading 👇🏾
Consider their roles as separate —>
Systemic estrogen replacement for perimenopause/menopause comes most commonly in the form of patches, topical gels or oral pills. These forms of HRT are for the “body” symptoms of menopause like hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, brain fog, joint pain, etc. These forms increase estrogen levels in your blood to help alleviate most symptoms of menopause.
But are NOT THE TREATMENT FOR GENITOURINARY SYNDROME OF MENOPAUSE. They don’t specifically help your coochie.
Vaginal estrogen — is THE TREATMENT FOR GENITOURINARY SYNDROME OF MENOPAUSE. It specifically helps your coochie! It gets directly into the v***a and vaginal tissues to improve their health and appearance of your coochie. It can be used alone OR in combination with other forms of estrogen replacement like patches, gels, or pills —-> because it’s low dose enough that it doesn’t affect the levels of estrogen in your blood. You aren’t getting “over estrogenized” combining it with your patch.. If you’re already on the patch or pill but still struggling with recurrent UTIs, vaginal dryness, painful s*x, v***a pain, overactive bladder, etc —> vaginal estrogen SHOULD be added.
Likewise- Vaginal estrogen can’t treat hot flashes and the other menopause symptoms so YOU CAN USE BOTH YOUR ESTROGEN PATCH AND VAGINAL ESTROGEN YALL!
Majority of my own patients are on what I like to call “The Trifecta” - estrogen patch, progesterone, and vaginal estrogen.
I really hope this helps. Spread the knowledge to your friends, your family, your wives, your daughters,