Does vaginal estrogen use increase the risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes?

J Fam Pract. 2023 Nov;72(9):389-393. doi: 10.12788/jfp.0688.

Abstract

NO. In general, nonoral estrogen use for menopausal symptoms is associated with a lower cardiovascular (CV) risk profile than oral estrogen use (strength of recommendation [SOR], B; meta-analysis of cohort studies). Vaginal estrogen use is associated with lower risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) and similar risk for myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism (DVT/ PE) compared with nonuse (SOR, B; cohort studies). Vaginal estrogen therapy also is associated with lower CV-related mortality for 3 to 5 years compared withnonuse (SOR, B; cohort study). No high-quality randomized trials address this topic.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis

MeSH terms

  • Cohort Studies
  • Coronary Disease*
  • Estrogens / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Myocardial Infarction* / chemically induced
  • Myocardial Infarction* / epidemiology
  • Pulmonary Embolism*
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Estrogens