Vaginal estrogen cream safe for breast cancer

Hormone replacement therapy (HST) is an effective treatment for menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness. However, women who have had breast cancer should not use HST because this therapy increases the risk of relapse. Annoying, if you're dealing with bothersome menopause symptoms. On top of that, the antihormone therapy that women must take for several years after treatment for hormone-sensitive breast cancer is also sometimes accompanied by vaginal dryness, pain during intercourse and bladder infections. These side effects are not uncommon reasons why some women discontinue antihormone therapy early.

For them, there is good news. Researchers find that women who have or have had breast cancer can confidently use local estrogen-based vaginal creams or ovules. This local hormonal treatment eliminates symptoms of vaginal dryness, irritation and pain during intercourse, while not increasing the risk of relapse. The study*, published in November 2023, is a comparative follow-up study that followed nearly 50,000 women between the ages of 40 and 79 who had (had) breast cancer for 6 and 7 years. Those who used vaginal ovules or cream with hormones for vaginal symptoms were at no greater risk of relapse.

*McVicker L, Labeit AM, Coupland CAC, et al. Vaginal Estrogen Therapy Use and Survival in Females With Breast Cancer.JAMA Oncol.Published online November 02, 2023. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.4508