Estrogen Replacement for Menopause
As you begin your journey of exploring HRT, know that estrogen is mentioned the most and although it's only one of three major hormones prescribed during HRT, it's definitely the most talked about.
There are three major forms of estrogen.
Estrone (E1) - is the primary form of estrogen that your body makes after menopause. It's the weakest type of estrogen and is produced in the adrenal glands, fatty tissue and ovaries.
Estradiol (E2) - is the primary form of estrogen in your body during your reproductive years. It's the most potent form of estrogen.
Estriol (E3) - is the primary form of estrogen during pregnancy
If you are at a point where you are ready to discuss with your Hormone Replacement health coach the possibility of replacing your estrogen through HRT, you'll have some options on the formulations available to you.
Estrogen Pill - is estimated to have more possible side effects
Estrogen Patch - more estrogen is absorbed with the patch over the pill
Topical Estrogen (Cream or gel) - absorbed through the skin
Vaginal Estrogen (Cream) - absorbed through lips of the vulva
Estrogen (Estradiol) Patch Placement
I've been on some sort of HRT since late 2019. Most of those years I was taking a pill or troche that included estradiol, progesterone and testosterone. As I continued to study how HRT pills and troches have to be absorbed through the liver before they can be distributed to my body, I began a quest to find a company that would prescribe the cream.
I was on the cream for almost two months when I had some bloodwork drawn to see how things were progressing. My level was lower than it had been on the troche/pill, so on to option three, the patch.
My first patch prescription delivered .05 mg/day and I was to change it twice a week, like Tuesday and Friday. For me, the patch allows more estrogen to get absorbed into my system than the cream. After 8 weeks of use, I had a hormone blood test done and low and behold my estrogen was too high, so we downgraded the dose from .05 to .0375 mg/day. From that point on I was sold on the patches vs. the creams.
HRT Patches (manufactured by Dotti)
The instructions with the patches indicate that:
Before applying the patch, ensure the skin is properly cleaned and prepared by gently washing the area with mild soap and water and then thoroughly drying the skin.
For best results, avoid using lotions, oils, or powders on the skin before applying the patch. Apply patch to trunk of the body, including the lower abdomen, or buttocks. Avoid the waistline, since clothing may cause the patch to rub-off.
Rotate the patch placement to prevent skin irritation and ensure maximum absorption. Avoid areas with excessive hair, cuts, rashes, or scars
Estradiol Vaginal Cream
Why would you need a patch and vaginal cream? Have you heard of vaginal atrophy? You may have symptoms of it and not realize.
Vaginal atrophy is thinning, drying and inflammation of the vaginal walls due to low estrogen. It can cause discomfort with intercourse, urinary problems and increased infections.
I started to notice that sex was painful at times, so I asked my Winona health coach to prescribe a vaginal estrogen cream. I apply this cream daily and for me and my sex life, it's been a GAME CHANGER! Sex isn't painful now and I've started to enjoy it again.
Estradiol, what's a normal Range?
For postmenopausal women, the range you are targeting for is 6-54 pg/ml. In our younger years our levels during certain times of the month may get as high as 400/500 pg/ml.
Here is where bloodwork and labs can be helpful. You don't know if you are at a 0 or 50, so how would your doctor know if you need .05 mg/day or .0375 mg/day of estradiol in your patch or cream prescription?
I've been on HRT with companies that offer bloodwork as part of the plan and a few that don't. If you want the data from labs, click here to see trusted providers, specifically those that offer hormone testing.
Estrogen Therapy Benefits and Side Effects
The benefits of replacing estrogen far outweigh any possible negative side effects.
Benefits of estrogen include:
Protects your Heart
Protects your Brain
Improves Muscle Mass and Bone Density
Boosts your Mood
Improves Sex
Here are some of the adverse effects, breast tenderness, nausea, vomiting, bloating, stomach cramps, headaches, weight gain, hyperpigmentation of skin, hair loss, vaginal itching, abnormal uterine bleeding, also known as breakthrough bleeding. Wow, that sounds like every symptom I had when on my period as a younger woman.
My personal experience with Winona Estrogen Patch
I'm currently going into my 5th year of being on some sort of Hormone Replacement Therapy. I've pretty much tried everything that's out there. Here are my favorites and what I now use today.
Estradiol Patch - I prefer the patch over the cream
Progesterone Pill - I've tried the progesterone cream, but unlike estrogen it doesn't absorb as well for me, so I do better with a progesterone pill
Testosterone Injections - I cycle testosterone for a few months of the year and then take a break.
I have no intention of stopping HRT. There are so many more benefits that just symptom relief. I encourage you to do your research on estrogen to further explore how its power will help you grow old gracefully!
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