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Types of Estrogen Cream for Interstitial Cystitis

Estrogen can be prescribed in many forms: cream, tablet and suppository. But cream estrogen is the form generally prescribed when an individual has interstitial cystitis, a chronic bladder condition that results in pressure and pain in the bladder. This is because the area around the vulva is tender and red, normally, and immediate application of estrogen to the affected area can have faster---and more direct---results than an ingested version.

  1. Interstitial Cystitis

    • Mild burning, discomfort or severe pain accompanies bladder pain and pressure in the condition known as interstitial cystitis. This condition is also known as painful bladder syndrome, and approximately one million Americans suffer from it---women more than men or children, according to the Mayo Clinic. The symptoms can come and go in severity, with the condition sometimes going into remission.

    Treatment

    • Antibiotics are normally the treatment course prescribed for those suffering from interstitial cystitis. Other drugs may be prescribed for symptoms experienced such as frequent or painful urination and the pain due to inflamed tissues. But when interstitial cystitis keeps occurring due to a condition that can be addressed, other medications can also help.

    Estrogen

    • Estrogen decreases after menopause in women, which can cause vaginal and vulvar tissue thinning around the female urethra. This vaginal thinning is also known as atrophic vaginitis, and vulvar tissue thinning is referred to as atrophic urethritis. Both can predispose older females to cystitis on a recurring basis, according to Merck.com.

    Estrogen Cream

    • According to Merck.com, those suffering from atrophic vaginitis or atrophic urethritis can benefit by the use of estrogen cream. Estrogen cream, applied to the vulva, can help reduce the potential for repeated cystitis occurrences. And estrogen suppositories inserted into the vagina can help eliminate the potential for this condition too.

    Types

    • Estrogen cream is prescribed instead of pills for interstitial cystitis.

      There are six common types of estrogen cream used in the United States, according to Drugs.com. They include Estrace, Estring, Femring, Ortho-Dienestrol, Premarin and Vagifem. In Canada there are two common types: Neo-Estrone and Oestrilin.

      These estrogen cream types can only be made available through a prescription and can stop dryness and soreness in the vagina. Using one of them can stop itching, soreness and redness of the vulva, and pain during intercourse, and can also stop the pain experienced during urination---and the frequency of urination.

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