As your body adjusts, some side effects are common and typically resolve within a few weeks.
Breast tenderness & swelling
What it is: Experienced by 80-90% of women and usually resolves in a few weeks. It's often a sign of iodine deficiency.
What helps: Iodine supplementation (1500 mcg, 3-7x per week) is recommended and can resolve tenderness.
Mild to moderate uterine cramping
What it is: Experienced by 70-80% of women due to increased blood flow to the uterus. It typically resolves on its own within 2 weeks.
What helps: Magnesium and ibuprofen (800 mg every 12 hours) can help. Contact us if cramping persists past 2 weeks.
Spotting or breakthrough bleeding
What it is: Experienced by 10-15% of women during the adjustment period.
What helps: If bleeding becomes heavy, stop Oestra® until it stops (usually 3-5 days), then resume. Contact Inner Balance if you have concerns.
Bloating or gas
What it is: Experienced by 10-15% of women and resolves on its own in 2-4 weeks.
What helps: A low-fiber diet, Ox bile (250 mg a day), and digestive enzymes with large meals are recommended.
Vaginal irritation or burning
What it is: Less than 5% of women may experience this after the first application, which subsides after about an hour. This is often a sign of vaginal atrophy, which Oestra® treats .
What helps: This typically gets better within 7-10 days. Please contact us for adjustments if it doesn’t.
Your cycle on Oestra®
Oestra® is designed to work with your natural cycle.
You will still ovulate: Oestra® does not work like birth control and has not been shown to suppress ovulation.
You control your period: To mimic the body's natural rhythm, we recommend you stop using Oestra™ for 2-3 days every 28 days to allow for a withdrawal bleed.
Lighter, shorter periods: Oestra® helps prevent estrogen dominance and the excessive buildup of the uterine lining, which means periods are typically lighter and shorter over time.
Potential rare adverse reactions & what to do
Allergic reaction: Less than 0.5% of users may have a mild allergic reaction, appearing as mild vaginal swelling. Discontinue use and contact us. Note: Vaginal irritation that stops after 1 hour is not an allergic reaction . Hives, rash, or severe swelling are very rare; discontinue use if they occur.
Heavier than expected period: Less than 5% of women may have additional heavy bleeding in the first month. Please contact us to help make adjustments and recommendations .