Over the last 2 decades, many anti-aging practices have emerged across the globe, all aimed at slowing or even reversing the physical aging process and its affects on the human body. Hormone replacement has become a leading frontrunner in the search for anti-aging treatment. Currently, women will spend one-third of their lives deficient in certain sex hormones.^[4] That creates a problem considering females are at high risk for many hormone-related medical conditions such as osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease^[2], and cardiovascular disease as they age. Treatment with female hormones has gained widespread acclaim in both the anti-aging and gynecological communities.

Estriol Uses

While estradiol and estrone are the two most common estrogens discussed when referring to women’s hormones, estriol is a third, very important hormone females produce. This is produced in high amounts during pregnancy by the placenta. When not pregnant, women produce small amounts of estriol however.

Considered the weakest of all of the estrogens, with just one-seventh the strength of estradiol^[4], estriol has shown promise as an alternative therapy with many applications. Estriol may be used to treat many hormone related issues including vaginal dryness and urinary frequency in menopause. It may also be used for anti-aging purposes and facial wrinkles.

Estriol Treatment

While estriol has been used in Europe for more than two decades, it is not currently commercially sold in the U.S. without a prescription. Because of its weakness, estriol may also be a better choice for managing symptoms from menopause than the more potent estradiol and estrone. In lower doses, estriol can be effective in maintaining healthy vaginal skin around the cervix, urethra, and vulva without the negative side effects such as endometrial tissue growth, of other stronger estrogens,

Clinical studies report results that support estriol’s efficacy in relieving hot flashes and insomnia in 86 percent of menopausal women within a 3-month period, without side effects.^[1]

Estriol Helps Maintain Healthy Vaginal Tissue

Symptoms including vaginal dryness, atrophied tissue, frequent urination, and reoccurring urinary tract infections affect many women in perimnopause and menopause. Because of declining estrogen levels, thinning of vaginal tissue is common. Estriol can positively affect estrogen receptors in vaginal skin, reducing dryness, thickening skin and mucosa. It can also work to lower vaginal pH, which supports healthy bacteria or flora. This can help prevent infection in the urinary tract.

Estriol For Anti-aging

Some women’s studies indicate that estriol can actually help reduce fine lines and wrinkles when topically applied to the face. As we get older, a decrease in hormone levels plays a significant role in the breakdown of skin with aging.

Increased estrogen levels in the body promote:

• Thicker skin due to increased collagen production and a measurable level of collagen fibers^[5]
• Decrease in fine lines and wrinkles
• Greater elasticity a skin structure
• Increased vascularization (blood vessels carrying oxygen and nutrients)
• Increase in moisture content
• Decrease in excessive sebum production (oil)

One significant study, documented in the International Journal of Dermatology, found that when women, (average age 53) applied estriol cream to the face and neck area for a 6-month period many age-related changes to the skin occurred. In fact, in 96% of the women, elasticity and firmness of the skin improved, in 96%, a noticeable increase in skin moisture was observed, and in 89%, a decrease in the depth of wrinkles was highly significant.^[5]‍

Estriol Side Effects

While many women tolerate estriol with no noticeable problems, others may experience one or more of the following:

• Vaginal skin irritation or itching (subsides after initial treatments)
• Vaginal discharge
• Feelings of being bloated
• Painful urination
• More frequent urination
• Gall bladder issues
• Tiny red marks on skin
• Dark patches on skin
• Leg swelling
• Memory loss
• Pain in the abdomen
• Leg cramps
• PMS tension
• Heart palpitations
• Depression
• Vaginal bleeding or spotting
• Skin rash/sun allergy
• Breast tenderness
• Headache

Where To Get Estriol

Estriol has been widely used throughout Europe and Asia for over 40 years and available as an effective treatment for menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes.^[3] Currently it is available in the U.S. by prescription only, and filled by some compounding pharmacies. It is also available from many Internet providers that do not require a prescription.

A wide body of medical evidence supports the fact that hormones play a key role in the way we age, and how our body responds to various deficiencies. Many women not only suffer with estrogen-related symptoms that can be debilitating, but also life threatening conditions that emerge, as they get older. Estriol provides the necessary support for healthy skin and tissue.