Estrogen

How it works

After menopause, a woman's body produces less estrogen. This drop in estrogen may contribute to deterioration of the supportive tissues around the bladder and urethra, weakening the tissues and potentially aggravating stress incontinence.

Applying low-dose, topical estrogen in the form of a vaginal cream, an estrogen-containing ring or a patch may help rejuvenate deteriorating tissues in the vagina and urinary tract and relieve some incontinence symptoms.

Topical estrogen might not be recommended if you have a history of breast cancer, uterine cancer or both. Talk with your doctor about the potential risks.

Combination hormone replacement therapy (estrogen plus progestin) isn't the same as topical estrogen and is no longer used to treat urinary incontinence. Oral estrogen replacement also is not the same as topical estrogen, and it might worsen incontinence symptoms.

Side effects

When used correctly, topical estrogen therapy typically doesn't cause side effects.