Intrarosa (prasterone) is considered a localized vaginal hormone therapy, not a systemic hormone replacement therapy. While it does contain a hormone (dehydroepiandrosterone or DHEA), Intrarosa works locally in the vagina and is not absorbed into the bloodstream like traditional systemic hormone therapies.
Some key points about Intrarosa:
- Intrarosa is a vaginal insert that contains prasterone, a synthesized form of DHEA. When inserted into the vagina, prasterone is converted into androgens and estrogens to help improve vaginal atrophy symptoms.
- It is used to treat postmenopausal women experiencing moderate to severe vaginal pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia) due to vulvar and vaginal atrophy (VVA). VVA is commonly caused by declining estrogen levels during menopause.
- Since very little prasterone is absorbed systemically, Intrarosa alleviates vaginal symptoms without boosting estrogen levels throughout the body. This localized effect means it does not carry the same risks as systemic hormone replacement therapy.
Some key benefits of Intrarosa:
- Alleviates VVA symptoms like vaginal dryness, irritation, itching, burning, and pain
- Restores vaginal pH and cellular maturation index to premenopausal levels
- Clinically proven to reduce moderate to severe dyspareunia
- Only applied once daily, at bedtime
- Low risk of systemic side effects
Why Intrarosa is considered localized vaginal therapy rather than systemic HRT:
- Administered directly to vaginal tissue rather than taken orally/systemically
- Less than 1% of prasterone is absorbed into the bloodstream when administered vaginally
- Does not affect serum hormone levels - no increase in systemic estrogens or androgens
- No need for estrogen antagonist regimens to manage systemic effects
- Avoids risks associated with systemic HRT like breast cancer, stroke, and thrombosis
At
Hormone Harmony, we offer prasterone vaginal inserts like Intrarosa to our patients experiencing postmenopausal VVA and pain during sex. This localized therapy is an excellent treatment option for women who cannot or do not wish to use systemic hormone therapy but still want relief from urogenital atrophy symptoms.
We thoroughly discuss all aspects of treatment including benefits, proper usage, side effects, and safety profile during an initial consultation.
A customized treatment plan is crafted to meet each patient's individual needs and preferences. Follow up assessments ensure treatment is working as intended without complications.
Patients appreciate how simple and low risk the Intrarosa regimen is while still providing therapeutic vaginal hormonal levels. Most experience significant VVA symptom relief allowing them to enjoy sex again with minimal to no unwanted effects.
Conclusion
While Intrarosa does contain hormones, it acts locally in the vagina without meaningful systemic absorption or increases in circulating sex hormones. For this reason, it is considered a localized vaginal therapy rather than a replacement of hormones throughout the body like traditional systemic HRT. The benefits are restored vaginal function and relief of atrophy symptoms without the risks of estrogen therapy.
