Hormone replacement therapy
If severe side-effects of low levels of estradiol in a woman's blood are experienced (commonly at the beginning of menopause or after oophorectomy), hormone replacement therapy may be prescribed. Often such therapy is combined with a progestin.
Estrogen therapy may be used in treatment of infertility in women when there is a need to develop sperm-friendly cervical mucus or an appropriate uterine lining.
Estrogen therapy is also used to maintain female hormone levels in male-to-female transsexuals.
Blocking estrogens
Inducing a state of hypoestrogenism may be beneficial in certain situations where estrogens are contributing to unwanted effects, e.g., certain forms of breast cancer, gynecomastia, and premature closure of epiphyses.
Estrogen levels can be reduced by inhibiting production using gonadotropin- releasing factor agonists (GnRH agonists) or blocking the aromatase enzyme using an aromatase inhibitor, or estrogen effects can be reduced with estrogen antagonists such as tamoxifen. Flaxseed is known to reduce estradiol.
Hormonal contraception
A derivative form of estradiol, called ethinylestradiol is a major component of hormonal contraceptive devices. Combined forms of hormonal contraception contain ethinylestradiol and a progestin, which both contribute to the inhibition of GnRH, LH, and FSH.
The inhibition of these hormones accounts for the ability of these birth control methods to prevent ovulation and thus prevent pregnancy. Other types of hormonal birth control contain only progestins and no ethinylestradiol.
List of estradiol medications
Products
- Oral versions: Estrace, Estradiol acetate, Estradiol valerate, Estrofem
- Transdermal preparation: Alora, Climara, Vivelle-Dot, Menostar, Estraderm TTS, Estraderm MX, EvaMist
- Ointments: Divigel, Estrasorb Topical, Estrogel, Elestrin
- Injection: Estradiol cypionate, Estradiol valerate
- Vaginal ointment: Estrace Vaginal Cream
- Vaginal ring: Estring (estradiol acetate), Femring
- Estradiol combined with a progestin: Activella, AngeliQ, Cyclo-Progynova
Notes
Not all products are available worldwide. Estradiol is also part of conjugated estrogen preparations such as Premarin, though it is not the major ingredient (Premarin consists of hundreds of estrogen derivatives. As the name indicates, it comes from the urine of pregnant mares.)
Further Reading
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