What is the difference between Intrarosa and Osphena?

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Feb 21, 2024.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

Intrarosa (prasterone) and Osphena (Ospemifene) are both treatments for moderate to severe dyspareunia - the medical term for difficult or painful sexual intercourse - a symptom of vulvar and vaginal atrophy, caused by menopause. Falling estrogen levels play a key role in the development of menopausal symptoms.

There are a number of differences between Intrarosa and Osphena, including how they are administered, what they contain and how they work. See the table below for more details.

	Intrarosa	Osphena
Company	AMAG Pharmaceuticals	Duchesnay
Approved for	The treatment of moderate to severe dyspareunia due to vaginal and vulvar atrophy caused by menopause	The treatment of moderate to severe dyspareunia due to vaginal and vulvar atrophy caused by menopause The treatment of moderate to severe vaginal dryness due to vaginal and vulvar atrophy caused by menopause
First approved in the US	2016	2013
Active ingredient	Prasterone	Ospemifene
Type of drug	Steroid	Selective estrogen-receptor modulator (SERM)
How it works	Intrarosa is broken down in the body into active sex hormones (androgens and estrogens). Increasing estrogen levels helps to alleviate the symptoms of menopause	Osphena binds to estrogen receptors in the body. In some parts of the body this activates estrogenic pathways and in others it blocks them. Osphena is not a hormone, but it does mimic the effects of estrogen
Formulation	Vaginal insert	Oral tablet
How it's used	Inserted into the vagina using an applicator. Used once daily at bedtime	Swallowed once daily, with food
Adverse reactions	The most common adverse reactions (≥2%) are vaginal discharge and abnormal Pap smear	The most common adverse reactions (≥1%) are: Vaginal discharge Hot flush Muscle spasms Headache Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) Vaginal hemorrhage Night sweats

References

Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Intrarosa. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2018/208470s001lbl.pdf. [Accessed March 2, 2021].
Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Osphena. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2019/203505s015lbl.pdf. [Accessed March 2, 2021].
Osphena website. Available from: https://www.osphena.com/. [Accessed March 2, 2021].
Intrarosa website. Available from: https://us.intrarosa.com/. [Accessed March 2, 2021].

How do you use Intrarosa vaginal inserts?

Intrarosa (prasterone) vaginal inserts are a bullet-shaped insert or suppository that are inserted into the vagina using an applicator. Continue reading

Does Valerian Root interact with any drugs?

There are over 240 possible drug interactions with valerian, so a drug interaction review by your healthcare provider is important when using this herb. Use caution if combining Valerian with other substances or medicines that cause drowsiness. Continue reading

How long does it take for Vagifem to dissolve?

It takes several hours for a Vagifem insert to fully dissolve, sometimes over 24 hours, and you may find that when you insert a Vagifem the next day, the applicator comes out covered with a sticky gluey substance – this is the previous days dissolving insert which you have touched with the applicator. Continue reading

Drug information

Related support groups

Intrarosa (4 questions, 11 members)
Osphena (2 questions, 22 members)
Menopausal Disorders (28 questions, 231 members)
Dyspareunia (3 questions, 19 members)

Medical Disclaimer