Forms of Estrogen Therapy
Several forms of prescription estrogen
therapies are available.
- Pills – taken daily by mouth
- Patches – applied once or twice weekly to the abdomen below waistline
- Topicals – applied directly to the skin on a daily basis
- Vaginal ring – inserted every 3 months
There's no one-size-fits-all estrogen therapy. Talk with your doctor about your symptom management goals, and the risks and benefits of each estrogen therapy option. Together you can decide if estrogen therapy is right for you.
Vivelle-Dot®
Vivelle-Dot—the #1 prescribed transdermal estrogen patch*—delivers a continuous flow of estradiol (a form of estrogen like your body's own). Vivelle-Dot is an effective treatment for moderate to severe hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness and atrophy associated with menopause. It also helps reduce the risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
What's the Story with Bioidenticals?
There's been a lot of conflicting talk about bioidentical hormones in the media lately. If you're confused about bioidenticals, you're certainly not alone. Many women are asking, what's the deal with "bioidenticals"? According to The North American Menopause Society (NAMS), the term "bioidentical hormone therapy" is often used to describe a medication containing estrogen, progesterone, or other hormones that are chemically exact duplicates of hormones produced by women, primarily in the ovaries. Many FDA-approved, brand-name prescription drugs already contain plant-derived estradiol, a form of estrogen identical to your body's own.
For women interested in the source of estrogen in their therapy, the estrogen in Vivelle-Dot (estradiol) is chemically synthesized from a plant source. This does not mean that Vivelle-Dot is safer or more effective than other hormone therapies.
Compounded Estrogen Therapy
If you're considering estrogen therapy, you've probably heard a lot about the controversy surrounding custom compounded hormones to treat symptoms associated with menopause. Compounding refers to the mixing of hormones for a patient by a pharmacist based on a prescription written by a physician or other authorized prescriber. Some women may have been misled into thinking that compounded products are safer and more effective than FDA-approved estrogen therapy products. This is not the case. Estriol is a hormone often used in compounding—and has not been approved by the FDA—so the safety and effectiveness of the drug are not known. Women should be careful about choosing products that have not been proven safe and effective by the FDA.
"Bioidentical hormones" are compounds that have the same chemical structure as hormones produced naturally in the body. The term, however, has been misused to describe so-called "custom-made" hormone treatments written by physicians or authorized prescribers and dispensed from compounding pharmacies. You do not need to go to a compounding pharmacy to obtain bioidentical hormone therapy or to get dosing that meets your individual needs. There are decades of research and clinical data on FDA-approved estrogen therapies, including Vivelle-Dot, which contain estradiol, a form of estrogen that's identical to your body's own. In addition, many estrogen products like Vivelle-Dot are available in multiple dosage strengths to allow your doctor to prescribe a dose that's right for you. The safety and efficacy of these products have been extensively studied and are covered under most health insurance plans.
If you and your doctor decide that Vivelle-Dot is right for you, you can download a trial voucher to get your first month supply at no cost.