Inner Balance Oestra Cream HRT Patient Review
- Peggy B. - Experienced HRT Patient Reviewer
- Aug 1, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Nov 2, 2025
If you have followed any of my HRT experiences, you know that I've tried many of the online providers and their Hormone Replacement products. At different times over the past 18 months, I've tried, Winona, Midi Health, Alloy, MyMenopauseRx, Joi Women's Wellness and now I can add Inner Balance to that list.
In this blog I'll cover my experience as a patient thus far, with Inner Balance's Oestra cream.
Inner Balance, what they Treat
General HRT
Perimenopause
Menopause
Endometriosis
PCOS
Postpartum
Your First Step to Balance
I was super intrigued to try this one as it specifically mentioned sleep as a benefit. I've been on one version of HRT or another since December of 2019. At times, my sleep improved a bit, but none of them had the impact on my sleep that Inner Balance's Oestra Cream has had. I've been using the cream for about 5 weeks.
Step 1 - Complete Inner Balance's 5- Minute Health Quiz
Step 2 - Receive your prescription Treatment (No visit required)
Step 3 - Start treatment and get ongoing support
Oestra includes Progesterone and Estradiol.
Get Your Joy Back
Whether you are in full blown menopause or just curious as to if you've hit the peri-menopause years, Dr. Sarah Daccarett and her team is here to help.
Inner Balance offers their Oestra Cream which is to be applied vaginally. Their product contains Progesterone, Estradiol and Ellage Cream as the base. Over the past six years at different times I've tried vaginal Estradiol 0.01% creams, but was never really sure I was applying them correctly.
In this case, I wanted to be sure I was doing it right so I purchased disposable vaginal applicators so I could ensure I was using the product as it's intended. To be clear, Inner Balance doesn't require that you use an applicator, but for me, I knew this would make the application process less stressful. The 60 pack of applicators from Amazon was an additional $14.99.
Dr. Sarah Daccarett, Founder & CEO, Inner Balance
A week or so after I received my prescription, I got an invitation via email from Inner Balance marketing team. Dr. Daccarett was going live and would be answering questions and explaining how her Oestra cream is intended to work. I attended a session in July 2025.
There were questions from women in all stages of life. Some were still having periods and others, like me were completely past that stage. It seemed to me that many of the woman were trying HRT for the first time so unlike me who has been on HRT for a while, I assumed my experience would be a bit different from the first timers.
Dr. Sarah did indicate on the call that the starting dose of her Oestra Cream is one pump which is what I've been taking. She also indicated that on month four, in many cases they up the dose to two pumps. My first container was enough HRT for one pump daily for three months. I couldn't help but wonder since I've been on the Estradiol patch .050/twice weekly and 200 mg of progesterone/daily if the one pump was going to be enough for me?
I have noticed much improvement in my sleep, but this past week, I did experience a few night-sweat episodes. For a few nights I did up to two pumps and did notice that I didn't have night sweats. For most who are new to HRT, it seems Dr. Sarah feels you need to gradually up your dose after you get through the first three months.
The best Hormone Replacement Therapy for Sleep
I've seen many studies and read many papers on the benefits of progesterone on sleep. However, everything I've seen is based on progesterone topical creams or progesterone in a tablet. I've not seen or heard of a progesterone cream that is applied vaginally, so I did some further Google research.
While progesterone, including vaginal progesterone, can be associated with improved sleep, it's not a direct or guaranteed solution for everyone. Progesterone can help regulate sleep patterns and potentially reduce sleep disturbances, but the specific effects and optimal route of administration (oral, vaginal, etc.) can vary.
Natural Progesterone: Progesterone is a hormone naturally produced in the body that plays a role in regulating sleep.
Sleep-Promoting Effects: Progesterone can promote sleep by increasing levels of GABA, a neurotransmitter that induces relaxation and reduces anxiety.
Menopause and Sleep: Progesterone, often in combination with estrogen, is used to manage menopausal symptoms, which can include sleep disturbances.
Vaginal Progesterone: Vaginal progesterone is a common method of hormone replacement therapy, but its effects on sleep can vary.
Individual Differences: Responses to progesterone can vary from person to person, and the optimal route of administration (oral, vaginal, etc.) may differ.
Other Factors: Sleep problems can be caused by various factors, and addressing underlying causes is essential.
Medical Advice: It's crucial to consult with a healthcare professional to determine if progesterone is appropriate for you and to discuss potential benefits and risks.
In summary, Progesterone, including vaginal progesterone, can be beneficial for sleep, but it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. Individual factors and the underlying causes of sleep issues should be considered. Always consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice.
Dr. Daccarett's Oestra cream is the first vaginal cream I've seen that contains both progesterone and estradiol. With the Ostra cream I noticed that I fell asleep faster and stayed asleep, which is my biggest problem.
What does Inner Balance's Oestra Cream Cost?
The initial cost is $199 per month and they auto bill you for the first six months. When the Oestra Cream is sent to you, it comes in a container that is good for three months, so you get month two and three even before you pay for it. Then once you hit month four, depending on your prescription and how you are doing, you may continue on one pump per day or you may be increased to two pumps per day.
Starting with month seven, the cost goes down to $99 per month. They do offer a refund if after six months you are not satisfied. See their website for details.
As a comparison, Winona's Estrogen Patch + Progesterone Tablets cost $188 per month. When you consider that Inner Balance goes down to $99 on month seven, over the course of a year you'll spend $456 more on Winona compared to Inner Balance.
The cream is bioidentical and considered natural, but does require a doctor's prescription to obtain. Once you complete the Inner Balance 5-minute quiz, they'll confirm your identity with state ID and send the product directly to you.
I was not able to use my HSA card for this purchase as they don't accept HSA credit cards. Inner Balance has been Legit Script Certified and is able to display their certification on their website.
Inner Balance HRT Review
Oestra, by Inner Balance is different from other hormone replacement therapies. Their delivery via vaginal cream allows for faster absorption and more stable hormone levels than oral pills or topical patches, per founder, Dr. Sarah. It's an all-in-one treatment, one or two pumps per day deliver estradiol, progesterone and testosterone (via conversion), saving you from juggling 3-5 separate prescriptions.
Before I started Oestra, I was on three prescriptions. The estradiol patch, progesterone tablets and a few times per week the estradiol vaginal cream. Depending on how I feel over the next few months it would be great, if I could reduce to one product rather than three I'm on currently.
Estrogen can be a topical cream, a topical gel, a troche (pill) or a patch. When I finished three months on a topical estrogen cream with my second go-around of HRT and then had hormone blood work done, my estrogen levels were so low, my new HRT doc was surprised I was even on HRT! That's when I realized, that although topical cream is the least expensive formulation of estrogen, it wasn't really cutting it for me. I then switched to a patch, which definitely works and absorbs well. But that also meant I had to take progesterone tablets. Due to how progesterone tables get absorbed by my kidneys, I never really felt the sleep benefit that I was looking for.
I'll likely stay on the Oestra cream for at least six months as I want to see how things go after I get to month four. At that point, I'll provide an update of my progress and share with you, my audience. If my sleep continues to be better, that will be benefit enough to justify the additional cost.
Should you have questions, be sure to check out my website or feel free to email me at peggyb@hormonetherapyhub.com.
