What happened to Ovestin cream and what to use instead

Why can't I get Ovestin cream anymore?

You may have been prescribed Ovestin cream. Ovestin is the brand name for a cream that contains estriol (an oestrogen). It is used inside the vagina or around the genital area to help with symptoms of peri-menopause or menopause, such as vaginal dryness or other symptoms vaginal atrophy (1, 2).

Your pharmacy may have told you that they are unable to get hold of Ovestin cream. You may hear it is "out of stock" or "discontinued".

This is because the manufacturer, Aspen, has rebranded Ovestin to "Estriol Cream".

As Aspen no longer supplies this product under the “Ovestin” brand, pharmacies can no longer order it in stock.

How is Estriol cream different to Ovestin cream?

The good news is there is no difference. The ingredients in the Ovestin cream and Estriol cream (made by the same manufacturer, Aspen) are the same.

The manufacturer has not changed any of the ingredients, just the name. Even the packaging still looks like Ovestin.

Is Estriol cream as strong as Ovestin cream?

Ovestin cream contains 1 milligram of estriol per gram, this is also written as strength 0.1%.

The Estriol cream (also manufactured by Aspen) contains the same amount of estriol (3). You should find that these creams are as effective as one another.

Be careful. There are other estriol creams which are different strengths (e.g. 0.01%). These may not be the same strength as Ovestin/Estriol cream and will work differently if the cream is stronger or weaker.

Why has the manufacturer rebranded this medicine?

When medicines are first released into the market, they usually have a brand name and a patent, which prevents other manufacturers from producing the same medicine without permission.

It is normal for branded medicines to have a patent protection for several years.

When the patent for a branded medicine expires, other manufacturers can produce generic versions of the same medicine. This is usually a positive thing, as

it can increase the availability of a medicine for everyone but also means that the brand names for the products change.

In the case of Ovestin, its patent has now expired. You may see other generic versions of estriol produced by other manufacturers in the future.

At time of writing, Aspen has simply rebranded Ovestin cream to a generic name, but the ingredients are the same and appear to be the only manufacturer of estriol 0.1% cream.

How can I make sure Estriol cream is the same as Ovestin cream?

Other generic versions of this cream may be available. Creams made by other manufacturers may contain slightly different ingredients.

You may wish to consider the Estriol cream manufactured by Aspen. This is because this cream contains the same ingredients as Ovestin and is the same strength.

Can I get Estriol cream privately?

By starting an online consultation, you can request Estriol cream for the treatment of vaginal symptoms of the menopause through Oxford Online Pharmacy’s independent doctor.

What else can I use as an Ovestin alternative?

There are a range of vaginal oestrogen products which you may wish to consider. For example, there is a water-based gel (Blissel) or small estriol capsule pessaries (Imvaggis) which also contain estriol.

There are also products that contain estradiol, a slightly different version of oestrogen. These include a ring pessary which only requires replacement every 90 days (Estring) which might better suit women who find the cream/gel/pessary difficult or inconvenient.

Read more about about our full range of vaginal oestrogen products.

What happens if I stop using Ovestin cream or Estriol cream?

If you stop using any form of vaginal oestrogen, your vaginal or urogenital atrophy symptoms may return. If you are thinking about stopping, we recommend you speak to your GP or women’s health specialist. This is to help talk through why you want to stop using treatment and provide the support and advice you need to make the right choices for your health.

If you are considering stopping due to side effects or not getting on with the product you are currently using, you may wish to consider another type of vaginal oestrogen or HRT.

To understand the range of alternative vaginal oestrogen products, read our comprehensive guide or contact us for a confidential discussion with one of our experts.

References

1. NHS website. Vaginal oestrogen [Internet]. nhs.uk. 2023 [cited 2024 Oct 31].
2. BNF is only available in the UK [Internet]. NICE.
3. PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER Estriol 1mg/g cream [Internet]. [cited 2024 Oct 31].