Estring

Estring Side Effects

Reviewed by Daisy Chau, PharmD, Allison Gourley, PharmD

Last reviewed on April 1, 2025

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

Headache (13%)
Vaginal discharge (7%)
Vaginal yeast infection (6%)
Back pain (6%)
Vaginal inflammation (5%)
Vaginal discomfort or pain (5%)
Upper respiratory infection (5%)
Vaginal bleeding (4%)
Bacterial growth in the vagina (4%)
Arthritis (4%)
Trouble sleeping (4%)
Stomach pain (4%)
Sinus inflammation (4%)
Nausea (3%)
Flu-like symptoms (3%)
Joint pain (3%)

Less Common Side Effects

Bone pain
Breast pain
Hot flashes
Vaginal damage
Urinary tract infection
Sore throat
Allergy
Family stress
Dizziness
Vomiting
Abnormal vision
Weight changes

Estring serious side effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.

Blood clot in arm or leg: swelling, pain, or tenderness in the arm or leg; skin that's warm to the touch
Blood clot in the lung: trouble breathing, chest pain
Heart attack: chest pain, arm pain, shortness of breath, cold sweat, lightheadedness
Stroke: sudden weakness on one side of the body, drooping face, changes in your speech or vision, confusion, bad headache
Toxic shock syndrome (TSS): fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, dizziness, sunburn rash on face and body
Unusual or heavy vaginal bleeding

Source: DailyMed

The following Estring side effects have also been reported

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

Vaginal yeast infection

Incidence not known

Change in vaginal discharge

clear or bloody discharge from the nipple

decrease in the amount of urine

dimpling of the breast skin

fast heartbeat

fever

hives, itching, or rash

hoarseness

inverted nipple

irritation

joint pain, stiffness, or swelling

lump in the breast or under the arm

noisy, rattling breathing

pain or feeling of pressure in the pelvis

pain, redness, or swelling in the arm or leg

persistent crusting or scaling of the nipple

redness of the skin

redness or swelling of the breast

sore on the skin of the breast that does not heal

swelling of the eyelids, face, fingers, lips, hands, feet, or lower legs

tightness in the chest

troubled breathing at rest

troubled breathing or swallowing

vaginal bleeding

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

Dizziness

drowsiness

nausea

stomach pain

tenderness of the breasts

unusual tiredness or weakness

vomiting

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Back pain

headache

itching or pain of the vagina or genital area

thick, white vaginal discharge with mild or no odor

weight gain

Less common

Body aches or pain

chills

cough

diarrhea

ear congestion