What are the different types of Estrogen preparations available?
Many approaches include: Systemic and Local: usually not absorbed in high enough doses to help with hot flashes — only vaginal dryness Prescription estrogen creams can be helpful with vaginal atrophy like the FDA-approved estrogen rings Combination Estrogen and Progesterone **If you haven’t had a hysterectomy and still have your uterus, you need both estrogen and progesterone Taking estrogen only will lead to uterine cancer Women who should not take Hormone Replacement Therapy are women who have: • known or suspected pregnancy • history of breast cancer • history of a hormone-sensitive cancer • unexplained uterine bleeding • history of blood clotting disorder What are possible side effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy? • uterine bleeding • breast tenderness • nausea • abdominal bloating • fluid retention • change of shape of cornea (leading to contact lens intolerance) • headaches (migraines) • dizziness • increased breast density (makes mammograms harder to interpret) DOES NOT CAUS
