Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes
Treating menopausal symptoms can often be challenging, as the symptoms tend to vary on an individual basis. Many women experience only local or systemic symptoms, while some experience a combination of both. The cause of menopause is typically the same for many women, regardless of whether the symptoms are local or systemic. Women, specifically those experiencing signs of urogenital atrophy, also tend to feel embarrassed to report these symptoms or think that the local or topical therapy will carry the same risk as does the systemic treatment of menopausal symptoms, known as menopausal hormone therapy . Around 50% of women will experience symptoms of urogenital atrophy, which include vaginal dryness, itching, infections of the urinary tract, urinary incontinence, and dyspareunia. Unfortunately, only 25% of them will seek options for treatment and avoid treatment altogether.
Estrogen therapy requires the efforts of an interprofessional team that includes physicians, pharmacists, and specialty-trained nurses to optimize patient treatment and outcomes.
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Bhrt: The Gold Standard In Hormone Therapy
Your health is the most valuable thing you have, and your health decisions should be made thoughtfully with the support of experts who have the knowledge to provide professional medical advice. Thats why hormone replacement should always be done with the guidance of a hormone health specialist who can evaluate whether you are a good candidate for HRT, and design a treatment plan based on your bodys unique needs.
Rather than relying on self-diagnosis and guesswork, working with a hormone specialist means that your treatment plan will be built around measurable biomarkers and an in-depth understanding of the human body specifically, your body. In addition, your hormone health professional will get to know your patient information and specific risk factors so they can steer you away from treatments that might not be safe for you.
Today, one of the safest and most effective treatment methods for low estrogen is bioidentical hormone replacement therapy . Bioidentical hormones are derived from plants and created to be an identical match to the hormones naturally produced by your body. A high-quality compounding pharmacy can formulate these prescription hormones into an array of administration methods, including pills and pellets.
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. All content on this website is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent diseases.
Does Estrogen Improve Skin
Estradiol and estriol are typically used in gels to treat vaginal dryness in post menopausal women. As far as their success with dry, wrinkled skin is concerned there is one much-quoted study from the University of Vienna Medical School, Austria. The trial was conducted with 0.01% estradiol or 0.3% estriol on 59 postmenopausal women. After six months of treatment, a marked improvement in skin elasticity and firmness was noted wrinkle depth and pore size decreased by over 60% in both estradiol and estriol groups. Skin moisture and collagen synthesis increased significantly.
However, other studies have not been so positive and in 2009, dermatologist Margaret E. Parsons, MD, FAAD from the University of California reviewed them and concluded that at best the results where mixed as to whether estrogen improves the appearance of the skin.
Based on the research conducted thus far, it does not appear that topical or oral estrogens are a viable long-term solution for improving sun-damaged or aging skin, said Dr. Parsons. In my practice, I do not prescribe estrogens for skin rejuvenation because of the lack of consistent data to support their use and the known risks of prolonged estrogen therapy including an increased risk of breast cancer.
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Artificial Estrogen And Natural Estrogen
With the side effects mentioned above, many doctor advise the intake of natural estrogen. Natural estrogen can be found in beans and fruits. Estrogen that are found naturally in plants is called phytoestrogen. Significant amount of phytoestrogen can be found in soya beans and papaya. See health benefits of wholegrains.
Moreover, phytoestrogen contained in plants are easier to be absorbed, and has just the exact amount needed by our body. It is also easier to be elliminated from our body. Nowadays, it is easy to find soya bean products worldwide, such as tofu, tempe , soya milk, and energy bars that contain soya. Papaya can be found in any fruit market now, although the price can be expensive in subtropical countries. However, the highest amount of phytoestrogen is found in soya milk.
Soya products are cheap in Asian countries, therefore much more economical than artificial estrogen.
To get the best result of getting rid of pre-menopause syndrome, it is advised to combined estrogen with regular exercise, not smoking, consuming calcium and foods that contain calcium, and consuming a lot of fruits, vegetables and beans. Young women can also take natural estrogen, to prevent osteoporosis and pre-menopause syndrome which could happen decades later.
What Are The Best Natural Estrogen Supplements
- OPTIMIZE YOUR WELLNESS Natural estrogen supplements can benefit women and men alike. …
- ESTROGEN BLOCKER FOR MEN The combination of grape seed extract and DIM enhanced with bioperine forms the heart of this supplement. …
- HORMONE BALANCE FOR WOMEN Estrogen, cortisol, and thyroid function are intertwined. …
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Personalized Hormone Treatments For You
If by natural estrogen people are referring to over-the-counter instead of prescription medication, then the efficacy of OTC products should be discussed. Some people erroneously assume OTCs are safer, which is not true. OTC creams are still synthetic but what makes them very different from HRT is that they are not regulated by the FDA. Nor are the manufacturers of OTC products required to pass the rigorous testing standards that prescription medications have to adhere to. There are little to no regulations on OTC products and few repercussions for false advertising.
Because OTC products can be purchased without a medical professionals involvement, there is no guidance based on symptoms. This do-it-yourself OTC method to treat menopause symptoms can be dangerous. If a woman waits to take HRT because she has chosen OTC first, she may experience repercussions for the delay in taking HRT that could have prevented the onset of diseases associated with untreated estrogen deficiency.2
What Other Information Should I Know
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your body’s response to topical estradiol.
Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are using topical estradiol.
Do not let anyone else use your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
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The Benefits Of Natural Estrogen Cream May Be Few And Far Between
To say that there are a lot of symptoms of hormonal fluctuation and imbalance is an understatement. These can range from the public and unpleasant to the private and personal, spanning phenomena as varied as:
Whats more, these can interweave and exacerbate each other. Under these conditions, its tempting to want a quick fix.
This is certainly the case for women suffering from low levels of estrogen. Whether youre experiencing symptoms of menopause, perimenopause or other health changes, the effects of low estrogen can be painful, conflict with your daily life, and present serious health implications.
Thats why many women look to over-the-counter natural estrogen cream for relief its fast and easy and looks appealing. After all, these creams are supposedly natural and dont require a prescription surely that means theyre a safe bet, right?
But, the benefits of natural estrogen cream that you can buy OTC are few and far between. Furthermore, you might be putting yourself at risk by using these poorly regulated medications, particularly if you have certain conditions. Instead, the smart choice is to see a hormone replacement therapy professional who can create a customized hormone therapy regimen thats just right for your body.
To examine why its so important to have a professional supervise your estrogen therapy, lets start with one basic question: What causes low estrogen, and how do you know if this condition is affecting you?
What Should I Know About Storage And Disposal Of This Medication
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture . Do not freeze topical estradiol. Keep estradiol gel away from open flame. Dispose of your estradiol gel pump after you have used 64 doses even if it is not completely empty.
Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.
It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location â one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach.
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Could Other Factors Influence Estrogen’s Effectiveness For Skin
Timing might be a factor. In one study, using Premarin cream, researchers observed a trend, although not statistically significant, of improvement in the skin of women who were less than 24 months postmenopausal. Two other studies concluded that the use of topical estrogens, such as Premarin cream or topical estradiol gel, could decrease fine wrinkling, improve roughness of the skin and stimulate collagen synthesis. Yet another found local that estriol, when applied to abdominal skin for three weeks, thickened fibers in the papillary dermis of patients.
Natural Vs Synthetic Estrogens
There are two main types of estrogen therapy: synthetic and natural:
Synthetic estrogens are made in a laboratory and are not identical to the hormones produced by the body.
Natural estrogens, on the other hand, are derived from plant sources and are chemically identical to the hormones produced by the body. This is often termed bio-identical. The most common form of estrogen used for HRT is Estradiol.
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Where To Purchase Estriol Skin Creams
Estriol has been in demand throughout Europe and Asia for nearly 50 years, where its primarily been used to effectively treat vaginal dryness and menopausal symptoms like hot flashes.
When purchased as a topical skin cream no prescription is necessary to acquire estriol in the United States. The numerous estriol creams on the market can be purchased at most pharmacies or through online vendors such as Amazon.
What Are The Benefits Of Taking Estrogen
Estrogen therapy, with or without progesterone, is consistently effective in relieving menopausal symptoms. Estrogen therapy is also beneficial for preventing some estrogen deficiency symptoms.
The benefits of taking estrogen are clear in some of the conditions arising from menopause, but results are mixed in some. Following is an analysis of estrogen therapy benefits in menopause-related conditions:
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Does Estrogen Increase During Menopause
Menopause is a continuation of the estrogen story. At puberty, women start to create more estrogen, and the levels will continue to increase through childbearing years. At perimenopause, estrogen levels begin falling. By adding back the lost estrogen, in combination with progesterone therapy, you can help ease the symptoms of menopause and reduce the risk of other diseases such as cancer, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and many more.
May Have A Protective Effect On The Brain
Data from the KEEPs study showed that transdermal estrogen improves sleep and cognition in younger postmenopausal women. In the study, women receiving transdermal estradiol performed better on memory tests than women receiving oral estrogen or placebo. They also experienced less cortical atrophy and were less likely to show amyloid on brain imaging .
If these benefits sound good to you, why not consider an estrogen patch for your menopausal hormone therapy? At Winona, we routinely prescribe estrogen patches and have seen great results!
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What Is Estrogen Therapy
Estrogen therapy, also known as hormone replacement therapy, is a treatment for alleviating the symptoms caused by menopausal transition . Menopause is when a woman has no periods for one year.
Estrogen therapy is also used for protecting menopausal women against potential diseases that low estrogen levels may cause.
Estrogen therapy is most beneficial for women under 60 years of age or when started early in menopause, within 10 years from menopause. Hormone therapy is unsuitable for breast cancer survivors. For women with an intact uterus, estrogen is usually combined with a progestogen hormone to reduce the risk of uterine cancer.
What Should I Do If I Forget A Dose
If you forget to apply a dose of estradiol gel but remember more than 12 hours before you are scheduled to apply your next dose, apply the missed dose right away. If you remember less than 12 hours before you are scheduled to apply your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule the next day. Do not apply extra gel to make up for a missed dose.
If you forget to apply estradiol emulsion in the morning, apply it as soon as you remember. Do not apply extra emulsion to make up for a missed dose and do not apply estradiol emulsion more than once each day.
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Important Safety Information And Indication
Using estrogen alone may increase your chance of getting cancer of the uterus . Report any unusual vaginal bleeding right away while you are using Premarin Vaginal Cream. Vaginal bleeding after menopause may be a warning sign of cancer of the uterus. Your healthcare provider should check any unusual vaginal bleeding to find out the cause.
Do not use estrogens with or without progestins to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, or dementia .
Using estrogen alone may increase your chances of getting strokes or blood clots. Using estrogens with progestins may increase your chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, or blood clots.
Using estrogens, with or without progestins, may increase your chance of getting dementia, based on a study of women 65 years of age or older.
Estrogens should be used at the lowest dose possible, only for as long as needed. You and your healthcare provider should talk regularly about whether you still need treatment.
Premarin Vaginal Cream should not be used if you have unusual vaginal bleeding, have, or had cancer, had a stroke or heart attack, have or had blood clots or liver problems, have a bleeding disorder, are allergic to any of its ingredients, or think you may be pregnant. In general, the addition of a progestin is recommended for women with a uterus to reduce the chance of getting cancer of the uterus.
If you take thyroid medication, consult your healthcare provider, as use of estrogens may change the amount needed.
Are There Real Benefits Of Natural Estrogen Cream
One popular way of treating low estrogen is with over-the-counter natural estrogen creams. These vaginal creams are easily accessible and relatively affordable. Many women also find the idea of a natural hormone product to be appealing, and erroneously believe it speaks to the products safety. But, these creams are not the best method for alleviating the symptoms of low estrogen.
So-called natural estrogen creams attempt to mimic the effects of prescription medications used to treat low estrogen levels in postmenopausal women. This is often the hormone estradiol, commonly sold as a prescription vaginal cream under the brand name Estrace.
Unfortunately, the natural estrogen creams you can buy over the counter or on the internet are not subject to the rigorous FDA standards to which prescription medications are held. In fact, there is little regulation of any kind on these OTC supplement products, which means that their efficacy and safety are not guaranteed.
And, since your treatment is not guided by a medical professional, you dont know that the product you choose is the right one for you the cream you pick up may not contain the right amount of hormones or even the right hormones. In some cases, the product may not even include accurate and complete drug information. DIY product selection and administration could lead to over or under-dosage, which can either mean ineffective treatment or distressing side effects or both.
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Benefits And Barriers To Treatment With Vaginal Estrogen
The use of vaginal estrogen can provide many benefits for postmenopausal women with GSM. Use should be considered for women in whom symptoms are moderate to severe or for those who do not obtain relief with nonhormonal lubricants and moisturizers.8
First, vaginal estrogen can aid with restoration of the vaginal pH to approximately 5.5 within the normal acidic premenopausal range. This acidic vaginal environment favors the growth of lactobacillus and discourages colonization of pathogens that can contribute to UTIs.2,9 Protection against UTIs with the use of estrogen is unique to local vaginal estrogen. Oral estrogen has less effect on the vaginal tissue and therefore is not recommended to use as treatment for recurrent UTIs.3
Vaginal estrogen stimulates maturation of vaginal epithelial cells, which thickens the glycogen-containing superficial cell layer. Vaginal blood flow, elasticity, and lubrication are made better. By improving the integrity of the vaginal tissue, the GSM symptoms of vaginal dryness and dyspareunia are lessened. Women using oral estrogen for vasomotor symptoms can benefit from vaginal estrogen for complete resolution of vulvovaginal symptoms.3 The peak effect of vaginal estrogen is approximately 3 months, although new users may experience improvements within the first few weeks.2,9