Some women cannot tolerate wearing patches because they look or feel too obtrusive. Although they can be worn in the shower, they should probably be removed before swimming or a hot tub. An estrogen cream has been developed which has a rapid-drying property and this may be more suitable than patches for some women, since it doesn't rub off onto clothing and it disappears instantly. Many report that the natural creams available from Women's International Pharmacy to dry quickly and to work extremely effectively. Sometimes women complain of breast tenderness with both skin creams and vaginal creams, but this often goes away in a short time.
Patches are usually a little more expensive than oral estrogen.
Vaginal creams Inserted with a vaginal applicator, the cream is applied directly to the vagina. This method of using estrogen is especially helpful for women who experience vaginal or urinary tract discomfort. It begins to work immediately for vaginal problems, from severe atrophy to mild itching, by rebuilding the vaginal walls. Often doctors seem to worry that when taken through the vagina, the amount of estrogen absorbed is so variable that it is difficult to know if the woman is getting too much. The estrogen is absorbed directly through the vaginal epithelium into the blood stream.