Vaginal Hormone Use Before Prolapse Surgery

Why do I need vaginal hormone cream before my pelvic prolapse surgery?

Vaginal estrogen in cream or pill form is often prescribed to menopausal women before vaginal surgeries, such as prolapse surgery. Estrogen is a hormone made predominantly by the ovaries. Under the influence of estrogen, the vaginal lining has a thick cellular wall. When estrogen production decreases around the time of menopause, loss of estrogen causes a thin vaginal lining.

We often prescribe vaginal estrogen cream before surgery for conditions like cystocele, rectocele or uterine prolapse. The bulge of prolapse may further thin the tissue of the vagina. The estrogen helps to thicken that vaginal tissue and assist with the healing of the
vagina post operatively.