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We have provided a brief overview of the main resources women use when trying to relieve menopausal side effects, especially ones like vaginal dryness, itching, and pain, as well as painful sex. Now, we always recommend talking to your doctor about what you are taking/using, as medications can interact with one another - and your body - in lots of unique ways. But, when it comes to research, we understand the need to be in charge and have some knowledge of what your options are.
ITEM |
COST |
OTC (over the counter) |
BIOIDENTICAL |
Biote |
$400/$500 per session |
X |
|
Revaree |
Approx $50/60 |
X |
|
Silky Peach |
$49.95 |
X |
X |
Premarin |
$186 (GoodRX) |
||
Julva |
$70 |
X |
X (DHEA) |
Estrace |
$45 |
X |
Ok, now you have a brief idea of how things differ in cost, whether you can get them ‘Over the Counter’ and whether they contain hormones. But, let’s take a more in depth look at what each item actually is, what it is supposed to do, and whether it might be a good option for you!
ITEM | FUNCTION | PROS | CONS |
Pellet BHRT | Hormone pellets which are inserted into the subcutaneous tissue in the hip or stomach area with a small incision. The pellet dissolves slowly over a period of months releasing a stable amount of hormone. | Easy - once inserted don’t need to think about it again Provides a more or less stable stream of hormone | Have to work with a provider which increases cost. Peak hormone rise is felt during the first month and then a drop thereafter. Symptoms return around 3-4 months. More expensive than other forms of BHRT. Risk of pain/infection at the insertion site. Can’t change the dose after implantation, could be too low or too high. Hormones will be released into fatty tissue where they are stored, a smaller portion gets into the bloodstream. |
DHEA – hormone supplement | The major hormone from which many other sex hormones flow as well as supporting health in its own right. Creams have the advantage over pills and capsules because they are not processed by the liver first. | Supplementation can provide the base for production of many other sex hormones. DHEA is linked to wellness, vitality and optimal body function. | Overuse can result in aggression in men; male pattern baldness and hirsutism in women. |
DIM – a supplement called diindolylmethane, a metabolite of indole-3-carbinol | Breakdown of the estrogens estradiol and estrone both lead to the formation of estrogen metabolites. These include 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OH), 4-hydroxyestrone (4-OH), and 16a-hydroxyestrone (16a-OH). These metabolites have different biological activity. The 2-OH metabolite has weak estrogenic activity and is protective. The 4-OH and 16a-OH have a greater amount of estrogenic activity and can be harmful and carcinogenic. Diindolylmethane (DIM) promotes healthy estrogen metabolism and creates a better balance of estrogen metabolites. DIM helps to restore healthy hormone balance by adjusting the balance of estrogens and also by blocking an enzyme called aromatase which converts testosterone to estrogen. DIM is produced when we eat cruciferous vegetables like broccoli. A supplement provides a higher level of DIM. | Estrone is often the predominant estrogen post menopause. DIM helps metabolize estrone to the more protective metabolite 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OH) If cancer cells are present, studies have shown that DIM can inhibit the growth of tumors. Reduces symptoms of estrogen dominance | Rarely, may cause an upset stomach if taken without food. |
Estriol creams | Provide a supply of estriol. Estriol creams are primarily applied to the vulva to restore the health and plumpness of vaginal and vulva tissue. | Easy to use Affordable Estriol is the weakest estrogen and is safe for long term use Can be used even after breast cancer | Always discuss use of estriol with your practitioner if you currently have breast cancer |
Estradiol creams | Estradiol is a more powerful estrogen and most often prescribed by a doctor. Estradiol supplementation is most often provided post menopause when estrogen levels have dropped significantly. The estradiol will be used throughout the body. It is ideally balanced by progesterone. Application can be vaginal or on thin areas of the skin such as the inner arms, behind the knees. | Easy to apply. Provides estrogen postmenopause to reduce symptoms associated with low estrogen | Estradiol should be used along with progesterone to reduce symptoms of estrogen dominance and to protect breast and uterine tissue. Some women may not need the strength of estradiol and do better with estriol- the weaker estrogen. |
Hormone Replacement like Premarin | Pharmaceutical progestin and estrogen cream used for relieving symptoms associated with hormone imbalance that occurs with menopause. These hormone-like substances do not have the same chemical structure as the hormones made by the body. | Doctors are familiar with Premarin and will prescribe it Premarin may be covered by insurance | Synthetic hormones do not interact with the body in the same way as bioidentical hormones and may have unintended consequences. Progestins do not help and protect the brain, bones, heart, and other organs in the way that bioidentical progesterone does. Despite insurance coverage may not be cheap |
Estrogen only Hormone Replacement like Estrace | Estrace is an example of a vaginal estrogen product made by a pharmaceutical company. The estrogen in this cream is typically estradiol, the powerful estrogen. This type of vaginal estradiol has "systemic" effects, meaning that it can affect parts of the body other than where the medicine is directly applied. | Doctors are familiar with Estrace and will prescribe it Estrace may be covered by insurance | The estradiol in the cream may be too strong for women and cause symptoms of estrogen dominance, especially if the cream is not balanced with progesterone. Despite insurance coverage may not be cheap Ideally, will need to add progesterone as well. |
Vaginal Atrophy and Lasers.
Another option that comes up frequently is the use of lasers to help repair the lining of the vagina. Lasers are their own beast, and we have talked about them in depth in this blog. You can check it out if you want to understand how vaginal lasers work, and the pros and cons of this option.
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Disclaimer: The information provided above is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Statements made have not been evaluated by the FDA nor are they intended to treat or diagnose. Any health concerns should be discussed and evaluated by your primary health care provider.
Parlor Games, LLC ● kate@parlor-games.com ● 5304 River Rd N Ste B ● Keizer OR 97303
Disclaimer: The information provided above is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Statements made have not been evaluated by the FDA nor are they intended to treat or diagnose. Any health concerns should be discussed and evaluated by your primary health care provider.
28 Day Challenge Subscription Details
We ship you a 28 day supply of Silky Peach Cream for only $29 (more than 25% off our normal price) when you sign up for Subscribe & Save.
Follow the directions we include in the package and apply Silky Peach cream on your tender bits for 28 days.
Decision Day:
5 days before your subscription rebills, we’ll send you an email reminder with a link. If you decide Silky Peach is nice but not your thing… you can click that link and cancel your subscription without even talking to anyone. No hassle — no questions asked.
If you are like 72% of our Silky Peach customers, you’ll love it and can't imagine life without it. In that case, do nothing, and we’ll welcome you to the Parlor Games family and ship Silky Peach Cream to your door step every month for the same discounted price of $29 — locked in for as long as you remain a subscriber.
Important note about our easy-breezy subscriptions:
We know that some companies make it hard to cancel a subscription — that’s not us. Our mission is to save the world — one vagina at a time! If you decide you don’t need Estriol as an ongoing solution for dryness, incontinence, UTIs and keeping sex fun and comfortable again, we understand. Five days before we ship your next order, you'll receive an email with a link to cancel right there in the message.
No hunting, no searching, we got you. Respect is where it’s at.
FYI – Estriol is beneficial for skin integrity and mucous membranes. It’s great for vaginal atrophy and also amazing for use on the face and neck. Applying a small amount — about 1 pump — can help build the collagen and plump up the cells to reduce wrinkles. Who knew!!
OUR HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
We want you to feel safe and confident trying any of our products. That's why we promise 100% money-back guarantee on the purchase price of the first bottle of any of our products. Balancing hormones DOES take some time, so please try it for 28 days. If after 28 days you are unhappy, or the product just hasn't worked for you, simply contact us and we'll process a refund of your full purchase price upon receipt. Sorry, shipping fees are not refundable.