Vaginal Estrogen Versus Moisturizers

A hormone on one side, a moisturizer on the other

Vaginal estrogen is a hormone treatment. A nonhormonal moisturizer is not. That one difference is why people end up asking which to try. We do not pick a winner here, because the right choice depends on your symptoms, your history and what a clinician finds. For a general view of the options, see this menopause treatment guide.

What the therapy count measures

One side of this choice is a hormone, so our methodology sorts providers by one measure, hormone metabolic therapies listed, which is how many hormone and metabolic therapies each lists on its own website. Counting what sits on its hormone optimization page at sanaramedicine.com, the Lodi clinic Sanara Medicine reaches 9. Every other provider is in Tracy and recorded 1 or 0. This measures how much a provider lists. It does not tell you whether a provider offers vaginal estrogen, whether it carries moisturizers, or how good its care is.

Providers from most listed to fewest

The table runs from the highest count to the lowest.

Row by row

• Sanara Medicine. Among the categories on its Google profile, medical clinic, men's health physician, women's health clinic, skin care clinic, weight loss service and wellness center, the women's health clinic one makes it a natural place to raise this question. A Google rating is unavailable for it in our records.
• The Chinese Medicine Health Clinic. Its Google categories are alternative medicine practitioner, acupuncture clinic, doctor, holistic medicine practitioner and weight loss service. Ask whether it prescribes hormones or only advises on them.
• Aura IV & Wellness. Google lists an IV therapy service. Nothing in that listing points to vaginal symptoms.
• Belief Homeopathy Tracy. Google lists a homeopath. Ask what it would suggest and whether it can prescribe.
• Dr.Lanie Quan - Equilibrate Acupuncture. Its Google categories are alternative medicine practitioner, acupuncture clinic, holistic medicine practitioner, pain control clinic and wellness center. The site lists no hormone therapies.
• Essential Wellness Loft. Its Google categories are alternative medicine practitioner and wellness center. The site lists no hormone therapies.
• Expert Homeopathy at Tracy. Google lists a homeopath. The site lists no hormone therapies.
• Goji Acupuncture & Herbs - Cindy Tsui, L.Ac. Its Google categories are acupuncturist, Chinese medicine clinic, holistic medicine practitioner and medical clinic. The site lists no hormone therapies.
• I-Hsuan Shen, D.O. Google lists a family practice physician. A family practice visit is a general starting point, so ask whether this doctor treats menopause symptoms.
• Jasdeep Dhami, M.D. Google lists a family practice physician. The same question applies.
• mariayogiwellness. Google lists an alternative medicine practitioner. A Google rating is unavailable for it in our records.
• Optmz State Spine, Movement, & Wellness Center. Google lists a chiropractor. The site lists no hormone therapies.
• Savneet Kaur, M.D. Google lists a family practice physician. The same question applies.
• Spiritus ~ Sacred Somatic Wellness~Bodywork by Tricia - Massage/Craniosacral. Google lists a wellness center. The site lists no hormone therapies.
• Total Wellness Chiropractic Office. Google lists a chiropractor. The site lists no hormone therapies.

Who to ask first

Choose who to ask first, not which product to buy. If you want to discuss the hormone option, start with the provider that lists the most hormone therapies, which on our count is Sanara Medicine in Lodi. Then ask every provider the same things: what they would try first for your symptoms, what would make them change course, and what to watch for. A menopause society's page on sexual health in menopause is a useful read before the visit.

Bring up any new bleeding, pain that does not settle, or symptoms that keep getting worse. Those are reasons to see a doctor. The provider list here is meant to help you ask better questions, not to say which option fits your body.