ESTROGEN COMPOSITIONS AND THERAPEUTIC METHODS OF USE THEREOF

A pharmaceutical composition comprises at least one estrogenic compound, the composition being adapted for application in a unit dose amount to a vulvovaginal surface and having at least one nonlipoidal internal phase and at least one lipoidal external phase that is bioadhesive to the vulvovaginal surface, wherein the at least one estrogenic compound is present in an amount of about 5 to about 1000 Vg estradiol equivalent per unit dose of the composition, and upon application of the composition to the vulvovaginal surface the at least one estrogenic compound is released over a period of about 3 hours to about 30 days. The composition is useful for vulvovaginal administration to treat atrophic vaginitis or a disorder associated therewith, for example in a menopausal or postmenopausal woman. A method for treating a hypoestrogenism-related condition of the urogenital system of a female patient comprises intravaginal administration of at least one estrogenic compound according to a treatment regimen wherein a series of compositions releasing a progressively increasing daily amount of the at least one estrogenic compound is administered over a period of at least about 1 month.