Estrogen is a hormone commonly known for its role in female sexual and reproductive health. It’s also present in males. Estrogen also helps your bones, skin, heart, and cognitive health.
You may experience an imbalance in estrogen levels due to menopause, diabetes, or high blood pressure. A doctor or healthcare professional may recommend estrogen therapy or prescribe estrogen medications. But there are also OTC alternatives.
Let’s take a look at estrogen pills, their effects, and their advantages and disadvantages.
OTC estrogen products
OTC estrogen products may help relieve menopausal symptoms. Some come in the form of creams. These will often have different application instructions than prescription creams and work differently.
There are also some menopausal supplements, such as Amberen and Estroven — both of which claim to help manage menopause symptoms. Additionally, flaxseed may help with night sweats, while black cohosh may help with both night sweats and hot flashes. Still, research results so far prove inconclusive.
Isoflavones are a popular, more recent supplement for menopausal symptoms, and some studies show benefits while others show inconsistent results.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements in the same way as they do prescription medications. For example, Amberen and Estroven don’t have FDA approval, though both companies say their products comply with FDA standards.
Before taking any menopausal supplements or other OTC options to balance your estrogen levels, it’s best to first consult with a doctor or healthcare professional, as they will be able to assess your current medications. They’ll ensure there are no interactions that could worsen underlying health conditions.
Estrogen pill uses
Doctors or healthcare professionals may prescribe estrogen pills to balance estrogen in your body. Estrogen pills are one type of estrogen replacement therapy or hormone replacement therapy (HRT). You also use estrogen pills in gender-affirming therapy.
Estrogen replacement therapy can address an estrogen imbalance due to menopause and conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), diabetes, and obesity.
Estrogen pills can help address symptoms that come with menopause, such as:
- vaginal dryness
- hot flashes
- changes in mood
- problems with sleep
- anxiety
If you’re experiencing symptoms of an estrogen imbalance, your doctor or healthcare professional may prescribe or recommend taking estrogen pills.
The types of estrogen include:
- estrone
- estradiol
- estriol
Most estrogen medications require a prescription. Some of these medications include:
There are also OTC options to help you relieve menopausal symptoms in the form of supplements.
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