| Delivery methods: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topical/Transdermal | Oral | Transvaginal | ||
| Estrogens: E1 = estrone; E2 = estradiol; E3 = estriol | ||||
| Brand-name choices available through regular pharmacies | Most of these products provide only E2 (estradiol)The exception is Bezwecken E3 vaginal suppositories, which deliver 1 mg estriol per suppository |
Lotion • EstrasorbGels • Divigel • Elestrin • EstroGel Spray Patches |
Cream • EstraceVaginal rings • Estring (90-day vaginal ring – provides local delivery to vaginal tissues only) • Femring (90-day vaginal ring – provides systemic delivery) Vaginal suppositories |
|
| Compounded bioidentical hormones available through compounding pharmacies | Primarily estradiol (E2), but depending upon a woman’s hormone panel, E1, E3, or other hormones may also be included |
• Liquid lotion in dropper bottle | • Sublingual (under the tongue) troches (tro’-keez) • “Melts” • Solution in dropper bottle |
• Estriol vaginal cream in a pH-balanced base, concentrations of 0.6 mg/g or 0.8 mg/g |
| P = Progesterone (P) | ||||
| Brand-name choice available through regular pharmacies | Capsule: • Prometrium (micronized progesterone in peanut oil) |
Capsule can be placed in vagina (speak with your practitioner about this first) | ||
| Compounded bioidentical hormones available through compounding pharmacies | • Compounded topically-applied cream or lotion | • Capsules (micronized progesterone, usually in olive oil) • Troches (lozenges) • “Melts” • Solution in dropper bottle |
||
| T = Testosterone | ||||
| Compounded bioidentical hormones available through compounding pharmacies | • Compounded topically-applied cream, gel, or lotion | • Solution in dropper bottle • “Melts” • Troches (lozenges) • Tablets of varying doses |
||
| Others | ||||
| DHEA | A hormone precursor, sometimes prescribed in support of adrenal function | • Compounded topically-applied cream or lotion | • Solution in dropper bottle • “Melts” • Tablets |
|
| Pregnenolone Cortisol Thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) |
Most women don’t think of these as forms of hormone replacement therapy, but prescriptions are sometimes individualized and compounded for women. In particular, many women do well on natural forms of thyroid hormone replacement. |
• Solution in dropper bottle • Tablets • Capsules |
||
Last Updated: January 7, 2024
