Postpartum Vaginal Estrogen for Breastfeeding Patients

Description

Sexual dysfunction is very common in the postpartum period and is more common in people who breastfeed or pump. This research study was designed to help determine whether postpartum patients who use vaginal estrogen cream while breastfeeding have improved sexual function compared to postpartum patients who do not.

Conditions

Breastfeeding, Postpartum Sexual Dysfunction, Vaginal Atrophy

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

Sexual dysfunction is very common in the postpartum period and is more common in people who breastfeed or pump. This research study was designed to help determine whether postpartum patients who use vaginal estrogen cream while breastfeeding have improved sexual function compared to postpartum patients who do not.

Postpartum Vaginal Estrogen for Sexual Function in Breastfeeding Patients: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Postpartum Vaginal Estrogen for Breastfeeding Patients

Condition
Breastfeeding
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Cleveland

University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44106

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Age 18 or older
  • * Sexually active
  • * Singleton, term (37 weeks 0 days) birth
  • * Planning to breastfeed or pump during the study period
  • * History of successful breastfeeding or pumping after a prior pregnancy
  • * Between 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum (patients may be recruited at any time during the postpartum period, but the study period will not start until 6 weeks postpartum)
  • * Ability to consent in English
  • * Not meeting any exclusion criteria
  • * Preterm delivery
  • * Perinatal mortality
  • * History of difficulty breastfeeding
  • * 3rd or 4th degree perineal laceration
  • * Any contraindications to estrogen, including, but not limited to, breast cancer or a history of breast cancer, estrogen-dependent neoplasia, active deep vein thrombosis (DVT)/pulmonary embolism (PE) or a history of these conditions, active arterial thromboembolic disease (for example, stroke and MI) or a history of these conditions, known anaphylactic reaction, angioedema, or hypersensitivity to estrogen, hepatic impairment or disease, protein C, protein S, or antithrombin deficiency, or other known thrombophilic disorders.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 50 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center,

Rachel Pope, MD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center

Study Record Dates

2025-10