The cost of pharmaceutical estrogen products for women would suggest that William Devane, the aging actor who pushes gold and silver in TV ads, should switch to touting estrogen.
According to the Oxford on-line dictionary, estrogen is “any of a group of steroid hormones which promote the development and maintenance of female characteristics of the body. Such hormones are also produced artificially for use in oral contraceptives or to treat menopausal and menstrual disorders,” such as vaginal atrophy.
Of course, menopausal and post-menopausal women already know this, but what most of us never knew before we hit the menopause milestone was that there was a very high cost to treating our “disorders.”
Here’s a breakdown of approximate costs for estrogen products that I have used that treat vaginal dryness (also known as vaginal atrophy):
(1) creams – $100 to $150/one month supply
(2) vaginal suppositories – $536/two month supply
(3) E-String – $586 (item lasts for three months and must be removed and a new one inserted)
Insurance companies deem these feminine pharmaceuticals as high-end luxury items (see my blog “What Your Mother Never Told You About Menopause”). Coupons advertised to reduce the costs may be available on-line but, if you are on a government insurance program such as Medicare, you are out of luck.
I recommend you ask your OBGYN if he/she has samples in their supply closet, especially if you are using the drug for the first time and want to see if it really works or has side effects.
And ask your financial advisor if you should consider investing in companies that produce estrogen products!
The Atrophied Vagina Club 