Transdermal estrogen therapies: Effective alternatives to oral estrogen and compounded bioidentical hormones

Clinical and experimental evidence suggests that non-patch, transdermal estrogen therapies, such as Divigel® (estradiol gel 0.1%), prescribed for the management of moderate-to-severe hot flashes, including night sweats, associated with menopause are effective alternatives to oral estrogen and compounded bioidentical hormones. A review of the evidence was recently published in the January issue of the Journal of Women's Health, authored by Nina Carroll, MD, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Brigham and Women's Hospital. The Journal of Women's Health is the official peer-reviewed journal of the American Medical Women's Association (AMWA).

"There is a great deal of misinformation being conveyed to women about bioidentical estrogen, much of which is being fueled by popular books that have a positive spin on aging, but sometimes err in the scientific information that they present on hormones in menopause," said Dr. Carroll. "This misinformation generates many questions to clinicians about unproven approaches to the medical management of menopause. This article serves as a timely medical source and is designed to enhance clinical knowledge of hormone therapy options with a focus on FDA-approved transdermal estrogen currently available for the treatment of symptoms associated with menopause."