Estrogen patch risks

Some women have symptoms during menopause — such as hot flashes , mood swings , and vaginal discomfort — that negatively affect their quality of life. For relief, these women often turn to hormone replacement therapy HRT to replace the hormones their bodies are no longer producing. HRT is considered to be the best way to treat severe menopause symptoms and is available — via prescription — in several forms. These forms include:. Transdermal skin patches are used as a hormone delivery system to treat particular symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness , burning , and irritation.

This is because the hormones in the patch are absorbed through the skin by blood vessels and then delivered throughout the body. There are also low-dose estrogen patches, but these are principally used for reducing osteoporosis risk. Estrogen is the group of hormones produced primarily by the ovaries. It supports and promotes the development, regulation, and maintenance of the female reproductive system and sex characteristics.

Progestin is a form of progesterone, a hormone that affects the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. This risk appears to be greater for women over the age of Other factors that impact the risks include:. Clinical research indicates that for the short-term treatment of the symptoms of menopause, the benefits of HRT outweigh the risks:. If you feel that HRT is an option you might consider for managing menopause, you should contact your doctor to discuss both the benefits and the risks of HRT as they pertain to you personally.

Hormone replacement therapy increases estrogen and sometimes progesterone levels in the body, which can reduce unpleasant symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal dryness.

Estrogen patches for menopause, such as Minivelle , Vivelle , and Climara , are another type of therapy that has been growing in popularity. Vivelle is one type of estrogen patch used by women during menopause. As with all treatment types, there are both benefits and side effects associated with estrogen patch use:.

Depending on the specific product, an estrogen patch may only need to be replaced once or twice a week. Some women find this more convenient than remembering to take a pill every day. However, not enough research has been done to determine if the lower dose of estrogen in patches lowers the risk for side effects. Because the estrogen in patches bypasses the liver, this type of treatment is safer for women who have a liver condition.

Generic alternatives may be available. Estradiol Transdermal Patch pronounced as es tra dye' ole. Why is this medication prescribed? How should this medicine be used? Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow?

What special dietary instructions should I follow? What should I do if I forget a dose? What side effects can this medication cause? What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication? Brand names Other names.

Talk to your doctor regularly about the risks and benefits of using transdermal estradiol. Each brand of estradiol transdermal patches should be applied following the specific directions given in the manufacturer's information for the patient.

Read this information carefully before you start using estradiol transdermal and each time you refill your prescription. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

The following general directions can help you remember some important things to do when you apply any type of estradiol transdermal patch.

Tear open the pouch with your fingers. Do not use scissors because they may damage the patch. Do not open the pouch until you are ready to apply the patch. Remove the patch from the pouch.

There may be a silver foil sticker used to protect the patch from moisture inside the pouch. Do not remove this sticker from the pouch. Remove the protective liner from the patch and press the sticky side of the patch against your skin in the area you have chosen to wear your patch.

Some patches have a liner that is made to peel off in two pieces. If your patch has that type of liner, you should peel off one part of the liner and press that side of the patch against your skin. Then fold back the patch, peel off the other part of the liner and press the second side of the patch against your skin. Always be careful not to touch the sticky side of the patch with your fingers. Press down on the patch with your fingers or palm for 10 seconds.

Be sure that the patch is firmly attached to your skin, especially around its edges. Wear the patch all the time until it is time to remove it. When it is time to remove the patch, slowly peel it off of your skin. Fold the patch in half so that the sticky sides are pressed together and dispose of it safely, so that is out of reach of children and pets. Some brands of patches may leave a sticky substance on your skin. In some cases, this can be rubbed off easily.

In other cases, you should wait 15 minutes and then remove the substance using an oil or lotion. Read the information that came with your patches to find out what to do if a substance is left on your skin after you remove your patch. Ford stressed that the WHI results are from a large, randomized clinical trial. Randomized clinical trials are considered to be the highest level of evidence and, consequently, are routinely used to inform clinical decision making.

Use of menopausal hormone therapy has continued to decline since the early s, when the initial findings of the WHI clinical trial of estrogen plus progestin showed an increased risk of breast cancer and serious cardiac events with the combination.

That decline has since been linked to a parallel decrease in breast cancer incidence rates. In terms of breast cancer risk, Dr. Ford believes the results from the WHI estrogen-alone trial should be reassuring for younger postmenopausal women who have had a hysterectomy and are receiving or considering estrogen therapy.

But both Drs. Ford and LaCroix agreed that for older women, the potential benefits of menopausal hormone therapy of any kind do not outweigh the risks. LaCroix said. Menu Contact Dictionary Search. Understanding Cancer. What Is Cancer?

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