Estradiol Patch: Bioidentical Estrogen for Osteoporosis Treatment
When I was recently diagnosed with osteopenia, which is bone loss but not yet osteoporosis, my doctor wanted to do a few things to help me rebuild my bone density. One was a supplement regimen, which I am doing. Another was prescribing Fosamax for me, which I could not take due to acid reflux, and the third was to put me back on hormones.
I am 54 years old and went into menopause at a very early age, in my early 40's, and only too hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for a few years and stopped. Doctors think that HRT actually helps to prevent bone loss, and this was part of my problem. Back on hormones I went.
My doctor is a female, and very up to speed on HRT, and she said in this day and age there is no reason not to prescribe bio-identical hormones, and she put me on the Estradiol Transdermal Patch, 0.05mg a day.
What Is The Patch?
The Estradiol Transdermal Patch is small, round patch that is flesh colored. The back peels off so you can stick it onto your skin, and it delivers continuous delivery to the body. I love that I don't have to take any pills, just change my patch every Monday morning. The adhesive is pressure sensitive, and you need to press it firmly onto the skin for ten seconds. The patch contains 1.94 mg estradiol, which provides 0.05 mg daily.
Is The Patch Better Than Pills?
My doctor feels that the Estradiol Transdermal Patch is a better and healthier choice, because the medication does not have to go through the liver. Pills that are taken orally have to be processed by the liver, and the estrogen that makes it to the bloodstream may be less than desired. However, the use of the patch allows the estrogen to be absorbed directly into the blood stream.
Studies have shown that the route of administration is important, and that using the patch can minimize any bad effects of HRT on the cardiovascular system.
One site I found said "In order to have similar blood levels of estrogen as those with transdermal estrogen replacement therapy, a much higher dose of oral estrogen is needed."
I am 54 years old and went into menopause at a very early age, in my early 40's, and only too hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for a few years and stopped. Doctors think that HRT actually helps to prevent bone loss, and this was part of my problem. Back on hormones I went.
My doctor is a female, and very up to speed on HRT, and she said in this day and age there is no reason not to prescribe bio-identical hormones, and she put me on the Estradiol Transdermal Patch, 0.05mg a day.
What Is The Patch?
The Estradiol Transdermal Patch is small, round patch that is flesh colored. The back peels off so you can stick it onto your skin, and it delivers continuous delivery to the body. I love that I don't have to take any pills, just change my patch every Monday morning. The adhesive is pressure sensitive, and you need to press it firmly onto the skin for ten seconds. The patch contains 1.94 mg estradiol, which provides 0.05 mg daily.
Is The Patch Better Than Pills?
My doctor feels that the Estradiol Transdermal Patch is a better and healthier choice, because the medication does not have to go through the liver. Pills that are taken orally have to be processed by the liver, and the estrogen that makes it to the bloodstream may be less than desired. However, the use of the patch allows the estrogen to be absorbed directly into the blood stream.
Studies have shown that the route of administration is important, and that using the patch can minimize any bad effects of HRT on the cardiovascular system.
One site I found said "In order to have similar blood levels of estrogen as those with transdermal estrogen replacement therapy, a much higher dose of oral estrogen is needed."
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