Menopause (sometimes called “the change of life”) is a normal time in a woman’s life when her period stops. During menopause, some women have problems like hot flashes, vaginal dryness and irritation, and weak bones. These things happen because a woman’s body makes fewer hormones.
There are medicines called Hormone Therapy that can help to cut down on some of the health problems that women have during menopause. Women who take hormone therapy for menopause should take the lowest dose that works for them for the shortest time.
Use this guide to help you talk to your doctor about what is best for you. This guide lists some basic information about menopause hormone therapy. Talk to your doctor about all of the risks of taking your hormone medicines.
There are 3 different kinds of hormone therapy medicines:
There are many different estrogen, progestin, and combination medicines. These medicines are taken using different schedules.
Like all medicines, each kind of hormone therapy medicine has common side effects. There are also some serious health problems that can happen in women who take menopause hormone therapy.
The different kinds of hormone medicines are listed on the next few pages. Find your drug on the list. Ask your doctor to tell you what you should know about your hormone medicines. Write down the important facts here.
Brand Name | Generic Name | Product Type |
---|---|---|
Alora | Estradiol | Patch |
Cenestin | Synthetic Conjugated Estrogens | Pill |
Climara | Estradiol | Patch |
Delestrogen | Estradiol Valerate | Injection (Shot) |
Enjuvia | Synthetic Conjugated Estrogens | Pill |
Estrace | Estradiol | Pill Vaginal Cream |
Estraderm | Estradiol | Patch |
Estrasorb | Estradiol | Skin Cream (Emulsion) |
Estring | Estradiol | Vaginal Insert |
Estrogel | Estradiol | Gel |
Femring | Estradiol Acetate | Vaginal Ring |
Femtrace | Estradiol Acetate | Pill |
Menest | Esterified Estrogen | Pill |
Menostar (only used to prevent osteoporosis) |
Estradiol | Patch |
Ogen | Estropipate | Pill Vaginal Cream |
Ortho-Est | Estropipate | Pill |
Premarin | Conjugated Estrogens | Pill Vaginal Cream Injection (Shot) |
Vagifem | Estradiol | Vaginal Tablet |
Vivelle | Estradiol | Patch |
Vivelle-Dot | Estradiol | Patch |
For more information about the risks and side effects for each drug, check Drugs@FDA
Brand Name | Generic Name | Product Type |
---|---|---|
Aygestin | Norethindrone Acetate | Pill |
Prometrium | Micronized Progesterone | Pill |
Provera | Medroxyprogesterone Acetate | Pill |
For more information about the risks and side effects for each drug, check Drugs@FDA |
Brand Name | Generic Name | Product Type |
---|---|---|
Activella | Estradiol/ Norethindrone Acetate |
Pill |
Climara Pro | Estradiol/ Levonorgestrel |
Patch |
Combipatch | Estradiol/ Norethindrone Acetate |
Patch |
Femhrt | Norethindrone Acetate/ Ethinyl Estradiol |
Pill |
Prefest | Estradiol/ Norgestimate |
Pill |
Prempro | Conjugated Estrogen/ Medroxyprogesterone |
Pill |
For more information about the risks and side effects for each drug, check Drugs@FDA |
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Office of Women’s Health
Menopause and Hormone Therapy Information
www.fda.gov/womens/menopause/
This information reflects FDA's current analysis of data available to FDA concerning these products. FDA intends to update this sheet when additional information or analyses become available.
Check the following website for the most recent information about each drug: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/