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Pros and Cons of Progesterone Versus Estrogen Cream Supplement

As women enter menopause, both estrogen and progesterone levels decrease. Although the overall estrogen may drop by 50 percent, progesterone will drop to almost zero, according to Dr. John Lee and Virginia Hopkins of the Virginia Hopkins Health Watch. Hormonal balance is critical for well-being. Estrogen and progesterone creams offer a great alternative for women who cannot, or do not want to, ingest oral hormones. However, there can be negative side effects with either cream.

  1. Estrogen Cream: Pros

    • Estrogen creams can treat vaginal dryness, decrease the urge to urinate, lessen pelvic discomfort and minimize uncomfortable intercourse, according to Drugs.com. They may be the best option for peri-menopausal and menopausal symptoms. You have a choice of vaginal creams or skin creams. A vaginal estrogen cream can target issues like vaginal dryness better than an overall skin cream.

    Estrogen Cream: Cons

    • Using estrogen creams, like Premarin®, can increase the risk of contracting uterine cancer, according to Drugs.com. Also, there is a risk for increasing your chance for stroke, heart attacks, dementia and blood clots if you use an estrogen cream alone without progestins (synthetic progestagen similar to progesterone). There are also some contraindications for using Premarin® cream in particular such as liver problems, history of stroke, vaginal bleeding or circulation problems. According to Midlife Passages, estrogen creams cannot substitute for systemic therapies especially to treat conditions like osteoporosis. A 12-week study conducted by Dr. Bachmann and colleagues in 1997, and published in "Primary Care Update for OB/GYNS," determined that although estrogen cream was as effective, women preferred the vaginal ring for treatment.

    Progesterone Cream: Pros

    • Progesterone creams have fewer side effects when compared to oral medications, according to the Virginia Hopkins Health Watch. Additionally, with the cream, your liver does not need to process the progesterone first. According to Dr. Eckhart, progesterone cream can promote healthy hair, happy moods, a sex drive and weight maintenance especially for hip and belly area. Vasomotor symptoms can also be improved with progesterone cream, according to a study conducted by Dr. Helene B. Leonetti and colleagues and published in "Obstetrics & Gynecology."

    Progesterone Creams: Cons

    • Over time, too much progesterone cream can accumulate in your body and worsen a hormonal imbalance. Dr. Eckhart suggests that if women are exposed to xenoestrogens (substances that mimic estrogen) then temporary negative side effects might happen from progesterone creams. Some of these might be more severe menstrual cramps, headaches, increased size for uterine fibroids and thinning hair.

    Estrogen Versus Progesterone

    • Estrogen cannot substitute for progesterone and vice versa. You must know which hormone is lacking and treat accordingly. Also, if you need both, using the creams is not the best option. According to Dr. Rind, estrogen dominance could affect up to 50 percent of women in the United States causing issues such as ovarian cysts. Using progesterone cream is a way to combat estrogen dominance. But to properly evaluate the most effective creams for your situation, have a thorough consultation and physical with a medical professional.

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