17 β Estradiol

Indications

Estradiol is used to treat moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms due to menopause. It is also used for the symptoms of vulvar and vaginal atrophy due to menopause.

⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.

Pharmacology

The estrogens the body makes itself are largely responsible for developing and maintaining the female reproductive system and the secondary sexual characteristics. The estrogens circulating in the blood keep converting from one form to another in a dynamic equilibrium. Even so, estradiol is the principal intracellular human estrogen, and at the receptor level it is substantially more potent than its metabolites, estrone and estriol. In normally cycling adult women, the main source of estrogen is the ovarian follicle, which secretes 70 to 500 mcg of estradiol daily, depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle. After menopause, most of the body's own estrogen comes from androstenedione, which the adrenal cortex secretes and the peripheral tissues convert to estrone. So estrone and its sulfate-conjugated form, estrone sulfate, are the most abundant circulating estrogens in postmenopausal women. Estrogens act by binding to nuclear receptors in estrogen-responsive tissues. To date, 2 estrogen receptors have been identified, and their proportions vary from tissue to tissue. Circulating estrogens modulate the pituitary secretion of the gonadotropins, luteinizing hormone (LH) and FSH, through a negative feedback mechanism. In postmenopausal women these hormone levels are raised, and estrogens act to bring them down.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Estradiol is not meant to be used in pregnancy. There are no data on the use of EstroGel in pregnant women. Epidemiologic studies and a meta-analysis, however, have not found a higher risk of genital or non-genital birth defects (including cardiac anomalities and limb-reduction defects) after exposure to combined hormonal contraceptives (estrogens and progestins) before conception or during early pregnancy.

Estrogens are present in human milk and can reduce milk production in breast-feeding women. This can happen at any time, but it is less likely once breast-feeding is well established. The development and health benefits of breastfeeding should be weighed together with the mother's clinical need for EstroGel and any possible adverse effects on the breastfed child, whether from EstroGel or from the mother's underlying condition.

⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Dosage Reference

⚠️ Reference ranges from official sources only. Consult your doctor for personalized dosing.

Adults: When a postmenopausal woman who still has her uterus is prescribed estrogen, the doctor should consider adding a progestogen to lower the risk of endometrial cancer. A woman without a uterus generally doesn't need a progestogen with her estrogen. In some cases, though, women who have had a hysterectomy and have a history of endometriosis may still need one. Use estrogen alone, or with a progestogen, at the lowest effective dose and for the shortest time that fits the treatment goals and the risks for that woman. Reevaluate postmenopausal women from time to time, as clinically appropriate, to decide whether treatment is still necessary. Treatment of Moderate to Severe Vasomotor Symptoms due to Menopause Estradiol 0.06% 1.25 g per day is the single approved dose for moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms due to menopause. The lowest effective dose of Estradiol 0.06% for this use has not been determined. Before the canister is used for the first time, it must be primed. Remove the large canister cover and fully depress the pump 5 times. Discard the unused gel by rinsing it thoroughly down the sink or by placing it in the household trash. After priming, the pump is ready to use. The recommended area of application is the arm. Apply a thin layer over the entire arm, inside and outside, from wrist to shoulder. Treatment of Moderate to Severe Symptoms of Vulvar and Vaginal Atrophy due to Menopause Estradiol 0.06% 1.25 g per day is the single approved dose for moderate to severe symptoms of vulvar and vaginal atrophy due to menopause. The lowest effective dose of Estradiol 0.06% for this use has not been determined. When prescribing only for these symptoms, first consider topical vaginal products. Before the canister is used for the first time, it must be primed. Remove the large canister cover and fully depress the pump 5 times. Discard the unused gel by rinsing it thoroughly down the sink or by placing it in the household trash. After priming, the pump is ready to use. The recommended area of application is the arm. Apply a thin layer over the entire arm, inside and outside, from wrist to shoulder.

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Indications

Pharmacology

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Dosage Reference

Side Effects & Interactions

Side Effects

Key Interactions