I have been prescribed estrace (estradiol) cream 0.01%, long term, it is very expensive, is there a cheaper option, and are there serious riks involved with this?

Maybe (not) . . .: We used to consider estrogen replacement therapy to be risk free. However results of the women's health initiative turned our recommendations on their ear after concluding that Premarin (conjugated estrogens) & prempro are problematic when started in women 10yrs past menopause. But says nothing about use of pure Estradiol products like Estrace in a non-oral form. Currently we prescribe to treat symptom, not to prevent.