It is a patch you apply to your skin twice a week. Estradiol is FDA-approved, plant-based, bioidentical hormone treatment for the alleviation of vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats) due to menopause.

Estradiol patch is the preferred treatment for women who smoke, are overweight, or are being treated for or are at high risk for developing diabetes. Any woman prescribed MHT can choose the patch if she prefers the convenience of a twice weekly patch to daily oral estrogen pills.

Prescription required. One of our menopause trained doctors will review your medical history to determine if this is the right treatment for you.

Estradiol in MHT is chemically identical or bioidentical to the estrogen produced in ovaries prior to menopause. Rarely, some women experience mild side effects such as breast tenderness, bloating, spotting and headaches. Most of these are transient and improve over time. Data from the Women's Health Initiative revealed a slight increase in the risk of breast cancer for women who took estrogen and progestin for more than five years. To put this risk in perspective, a 50 year old woman's risk of developing breast cancer by age 60 is 2.8% without MHT. A 50 year old woman's risk of developing breast cancer by age 60 while on MHT is 3.37%. In this same study, women who took estrogen without progestin (women with hysterectomies) actually had a lower risk of breast cancer than nonusers. If you have a history of breast or endometrial cancer, are a BRCA1/2 carrier, have undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, coronary heart disease, blood clots or stroke, estrogen use may not be recommended to you. To assess your individual options and risk levels, we recommend an in person consultation with a gynecologist or oncologist.

Estradiol comes in many convenient forms for women to choose from. Pills are good for women who prefer the convenience of a daily pill to deliver systemic estrogen over an adhesive patch that delivers the estradiol through the skin directly into the bloodstream. In pill form, the estradiol is metabolized by your liver before it reaches your bloodstream and therefore, some research suggests that this form is associated with a very slight increase in the risk of getting a clot or stroke when compared to transdermal estradiol, in particular for women with a BMI over 30, smokers, and family history of heart disease. For many women, this is not a significant concern and form factor can be chosen based on personal preference. If you have a uterus, progesterone is important to take in addition to estradiol because it keeps the lining of your uterus (the endometrium) thin and reduces your risk of endometrial cancer. Typical dosage: 0.5mg - 1mg orally/daily. At Alloy, per NAMS guidelines, we start at the lower 0.5mg and go up if you need more to control your symptoms.

Hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disruptions, vaginal dryness, prevention of osteoporosis