A nationwide Danish study published in Stroke, the journal of the American Stroke Association, has found that vaginal estrogen tablets do not increase the risk of recurrent ischemic stroke in postmenopausal women who have previously experienced a stroke. This research provides critical safety data for a population that has been largely excluded from hormone therapy studies due to perceived cardiovascular risks.
The study analyzed prescription data from more than 34,000 postmenopausal women aged 45 and older who had experienced a first ischemic stroke between 2008 and 2017. Researchers compared stroke recurrence rates between women who used vaginal estrogen tablets and those who did not use the treatment. Unlike systemic hormone replacement therapies such as oral estrogen, which are known to increase stroke risk, vaginal estrogen tablets dissolve locally and are absorbed through the vaginal mucosa, providing relief from menopausal symptoms like vaginal dryness and discomfort during intercourse without significantly elevating systemic estrogen levels.
Lead author Kimia Ghias Haddadan, M.D., from Copenhagen University Hospital, explained the significance: "It is well known that taking systemic hormone replacement therapy may increase the risk of stroke after menopause. While other studies have not detected an increased risk of stroke associated with the use of vaginal estrogen in healthy postmenopausal women, there is no data on whether vaginal estrogen tablets pose an increased risk for women who have already had a stroke." The study findings, available at https://www.ahajournals.org/journal/str, show no increased risk of second stroke regardless of current use, recent use, past use, or dosage levels.
The research has substantial implications for clinical practice, as it addresses a critical gap in women's healthcare. Postmenopausal women with stroke history often suffer from debilitating menopausal symptoms but have been denied estrogen therapy due to safety concerns. This study suggests that vaginal estrogen may be a safe option for improving quality of life without increasing stroke risk. However, researchers caution that the findings do not imply that vaginal estrogen prevents strokes, only that it doesn't appear to increase recurrence risk.
Samar R. El Khoudary, Ph.D., M.P.H., FAHA, chair of the American Heart Association's 2020 Statement on Menopause Transition and Cardiovascular Disease Risk, noted the study's importance despite limitations: "As an epidemiologist, I see this study as a valuable contribution because it focuses on a population often excluded from hormone therapy research and examines an increasingly used route of administration." The American Heart Association provides additional resources on women's cardiovascular health at https://www.heart.org.
While the study has limitations, including potential healthy user bias and reliance on prescription rather than adherence data, its large nationwide design and comprehensive adjustment for health and demographic factors strengthen its conclusions. The findings are particularly relevant given the aging global population and increasing number of women living with stroke consequences, offering healthcare providers evidence-based guidance for managing menopausal symptoms in this vulnerable group.
