Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
Quick facts
- Drug class
- Estrogen [EPC], Estrogen Receptor Agonists [MoA]
- How it is given
- vaginal
- Type
- human prescription drug
- Brand names
- Estradiol Vaginal
- RxNorm ID
- 310169
We do not publish dosing. How much of this medicine to take, how often, and for how long depends on your age, weight, kidney and liver function, other conditions and other medicines. That is a decision for the person who prescribes or dispenses it. Follow the directions on your own pack and ask your pharmacist if anything is unclear.
What it is used to treat
INDICATIONS AND USAGE Estradiol Vaginal Cream, 0.01% is indicated in the treatment of moderate to severe symptoms of vulvar and vaginal atrophy due to menopause.
About this medicine
DESCRIPTION Each gram of Estradiol Vaginal Cream USP, 0.01% contains 0.1 mg estradiol in a nonliquefying base containing purified water, propylene glycol, stearyl alcohol, white ceresin wax, mono- and di-glycerides, hypromellose 2208 (4000 cps), sodium lauryl sulfate, methylparaben, edetate di-sodium, tertiary -butylhydroquinone and polysorbate 80. Estradiol is chemically described as estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3, 17(beta)-diol. It has an empirical formula of C 18 H 24 O 2 and molecular weight of 272.37. The structural formula is: structuralformula
Who should not take it
CONTRAINDICATIONS Estradiol Vaginal Cream, 0.01% should not be used in women with any of the following conditions: 1. Undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding. 2. Known, suspected, or history of cancer of the breast. 3. Known or suspected estrogen-dependent neoplasia. 4. Active DVT, PE or history of these conditions. 5. Active arterial thromboembolic disease (for example, stroke, MI) or a history of these conditions. 6. Known anaphylactic reaction or angioedema to Estradiol Vaginal Cream, 0.01%. 7. Known liver dysfunction or disease. 8. Known protein C, protein S, or antithrombin deficiency, or other known thrombophilic disorders. 9. Known or suspected pregnancy.
Warnings
WARNINGS See BOXED WARNINGS . Systemic absorption may occur with the use of Estradiol Vaginal Cream, 0.01%. The warnings, precautions, and adverse reactions associated with oral estrogen treatment should be taken into account. 1. Cardiovascular Disorders An increased risk of stroke and DVT has been reported with estrogen-alone therapy. An increased risk of PE, DVT, stroke and MI has been reported with estrogen plus progestin therapy. Should any of these occur or be suspected, estrogen with or without progestin therapy should be discontinued immediately. Risk factors for arterial vascular disease (e.g., hypertension, diabetes mellitus, tobacco use, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity) and/or venous thromboembolism (VTE) (e.g., personal history or family history of VTE, obesity, and systemic lupus erythematosus) should be managed appropriately. a. Stroke In the WHI estrogen-alone substudy, a statistically significant increased risk of stroke was reported in women 50 to 79 years of age receiving daily CE (0.625 mg)-alone compared to women in the same age group receiving placebo (45 versus 33 per 10,000 women-years). The increase in risk was demonstrated in year one and persisted [see CLINICAL STUDIES ]. Should a stroke occur or be suspected, estrogen-alone therapy should be discontinued immediately. Subgroup analyses of women 50 to 59 years of age suggest no increased risk of stroke for those women receiving CE (0.625 mg)-alone versus those receiving placebo (18 versus 21 per 10,000 women-years) 3 . In the WHI estrogen plus progestin substudy, a statistically significant increased risk of stroke was reported in women 50 to 79 years of age receiving daily CE (0.625 mg) plus MPA (2.5 mg) compared to women in the same age group receiving placebo (33 versus 25 per 10,000 women-years) [see CLINICAL STUDIES ]. The increase in risk was demonstrated after the first year and persisted 3 . Should a stroke occur or be suspected, estrogen plus progestin therapy should be discontinued immediately. b. […]
Reported side effects
ADVERSE REACTIONS See BOXED WARNINGS, WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS . Systemic absorption may occur with the use of Estradiol Vaginal Cream, 0.01%. The warnings, precautions, and adverse reactions associated with oral estrogen treatment should be taken into account. The following adverse reactions have been reported with estrogen and/or progestin therapy. 1 . Genitourinary System Abnormal uterine bleeding or spotting; dysmenorrhea or pelvic pain, increase in size of uterine leiomyomata; vaginitis, including vaginal candidiasis; change in cervical secretion; cystitis-like syndrome; application site reactions of vulvovaginal discomfort including burning and irritation; genital pruritus; ovarian cancer; endometrial hyperplasia; endometrial cancer. 2 . Breasts Tenderness, enlargement, pain, nipple discharge, fibrocystic breast changes; breast cancer. 3 . Cardiovascular Deep and superficial venous thrombosis; pulmonary embolism; myocardial infarction; stroke; increase in blood pressure. 4 . Gastrointestinal Nausea, vomiting; abdominal cramps, bloating; increased incidence of gallbladder disease. 5 . Skin Chloasma that may persist when drug is discontinued; loss of scalp hair; hirsutism; rash. 6 . Eyes Retinal vascular thrombosis, intolerance to contact lenses. 7 . Central Nervous System Headache; migraine; dizziness; mental depression; nervousness; mood disturbances; irritability; dementia. 8 . Miscellaneous Increase or decrease in weight; glucose intolerance; edema; arthralgias; leg cramps; changes in libido; urticaria; exacerbation of asthma; increased triglycerides; hypersensitivity. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Padagis ® at 1-866-634-9120 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Interactions with other medicines
D. Drug-Laboratory Test Interactions 1. Accelerated prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, and platelet aggregation time; increased platelet count; increased factors II, VII antigen, VIII antigen, VIII coagulant activity, IX, X, XII, VII-X complex, II-VII-X complex, and beta-thromboglobulin; decreased levels of anti-factor Xa and antithrombin III, decreased antithrombin III activity; increased levels of fibrinogen and fibrinogen activity; increased plasminogen antigen and activity. 2. Increased thyroid-binding globulin (TBG) leading to increased circulating total thyroid hormone levels, as measured by protein-bound iodine (PBI), T 4 levels (by column or by radioimmunoassay) or T 3 levels by radioimmunoassay. T 3 resin uptake is decreased, reflecting the elevated TBG. Free T 4 and free T 3 concentrations are unaltered. Women on thyroid replacement therapy may require higher dose of thyroid hormone. 3. Other binding proteins may be elevated in serum, i.e., corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), leading to increased total circulating corticosteroids and sex steroids, respectively. Free hormone concentrations, such as testosterone and estradiol, may be decreased. Other plasma proteins may be increased (angiotensinogen/renin substrate, alpha-1-antitrypsin, ceruloplasmin). 4. Increased plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and HDL 2 cholesterol subfraction concentrations, reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentration, increased triglycerides levels. 5. Impaired glucose tolerance.
If too much is taken
OVERDOSAGE Overdosage of estrogen may cause nausea, vomiting, breast tenderness, abdominal pain, drowsiness and fatigue, and withdrawal bleeding may occur in women. Treatment of overdose consists of discontinuation of Estradiol Vaginal Cream, 0.01% therapy together with institution of appropriate symptomatic care.
Before you take anything new
Tell your pharmacist or doctor about every medicine you take — including ones bought without a prescription, herbal products and supplements. Interactions are one of the most common avoidable causes of harm from medicines, and a pharmacist can check your full list in a couple of minutes.
This page is built from the openFDA record of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approved labelling for this product, effective 13 April 2026. Label text has been shortened and reformatted for readability; safety wording has not been altered in meaning. FDA labelling describes products approved in the United States — brand names, strengths, formulations and approved uses may differ in your country. Always read the leaflet that comes with your own pack. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the FDA. Retrieved 2026-07-30.