What’s the difference between local and systemic hormone therapy, and can they be used together?

Local hormone therapy (like vaginal estrogen creams) and systemic hormone therapy (like pills, patches, sprays, or gels) serve different purposes, and yes, they can be used together!

Local hormone therapy is designed to treat symptoms in a specific area, most commonly the vagina and bladder. For example, Alloy’s Estradiol Vaginal Cream is a low-dose, topical treatment that relieves vaginal dryness, itching, burning, painful sex, and frequent UTIs by rejuvenating the tissue in and around the vagina. It is absorbed locally and does not significantly affect the rest of your body.
Systemic hormone therapy (such as the Estradiol Patch, Estradiol Pill, Evamist® Spray, or Estradiol Gel) is absorbed into your bloodstream and treats whole-body symptoms of menopause like hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, and bone health.

You can absolutely use local vaginal estrogen alongside systemic hormone therapy. In fact, this is often recommended if you have both whole-body symptoms and persistent vaginal or bladder symptoms. Local estrogen is safe to use with systemic therapy, and it’s also safe for women who are not candidates for systemic estrogen.

If you want to learn more about the differences and how they work, check out this helpful chapter from our YouTube video with Dr. Mary Jane Minkin: Systemic vs. Local Vaginal Estrogen.

For more details on Alloy’s local and systemic options, visit:

Here at Alloy, we’re all about helping you find the right combination for your unique needs!

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