Hormones, estrogen, progesterone, HRT products

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Typical Hormone Products

The following can be prescribed as hormone replacement therapy for menopause and postmenopause:
	Estrogens: Oral, Patches, Vaginal Creams, Other
	Progestogens: Oral Progestins, Natural Progesterone, Combination products

ESTROGEN PRODUCTS

The asterisk(*) shown by the product denotes the natural, or bio-identical, forms of estrogen. These hormones are formulated in a lab from certain ingredients (usually from plant sources) to match the chemical structure and effect of estradiol, estrone, or estriol (the 3 primary estrogens) that occur naturally in the human body (endogenous). None of the products made up primarily of estrone are completely bio-identical to the human hormone estrone.

ESTROGENS: oral

Brand	Type of Estrogen
Estrace*	estradiol
Estradiol, generic*	estradiol
Estratab	esterified estrogens (mostly estrone)
Menest	esterified estrogens (mostly estrone)
Ogen, Ortho-Est	estropipate (a form of estrone)
Premarin	conjugated equine (horse) estrogens (CEE), mostly estrone
Tri-Est or Bi-Est*	estriol, estradiol and estrone (or estriol and estradiol only)

ESTROGENS: Patches & creams

ESTROGEN: patches		ESTROGEN: vaginal creams
Alora*	estradiol	Estrace*	estradiol
Climara*	estradiol	Estradiol, generic*	estradiol
Estraderm*	estradiol	Estriol, generic*	estriol
FemPatch*	estradiol	Ogen estopipate	estrone
Vivelle*	estradiol	Premarin	conjugated equine estrogens (CEE)

OTHER forms of estrogen:

Estinyl (ethinyl estradiol)—primarily used in birth control pills
Estring* (estradiol vaginal ring insert used for 3 months)
Raloxifene (Evista)—the first "designer" estrogen (tamoxifen derivative)
Skin gels and creams made by compounding pharmacies: • Tri-Est* (80% estriol, 10% estrone, 10% estradiol) • Bi-Est* (80% estriol and 20% estradiol)
EstroGel* or OestroGel* (17beta-estradiol) transdermal preparation —Available in Canada, Europe and the U.S.

NOTE: Compounding pharmacies can customize combinations of natural estrogens in one capsule or in a cream base, as well as other forms. To find a compounding pharmacy in your area, see our listing.

PROGESTOGENS: PROGESTINS AND PROGESTERONE

While progesterone and all progestins are created in the lab from plant materials, only natural progesterone is bio-identical to the human hormone progesterone. All other progestins, known as synthetic progestins, have altered molecules, which makes them patentable. Norethindrone acetate is more androgenic—having male hormone properties—than medroxyprogesterone acetate, and is widely used in birth control pills.

We invite you to read a comprehensive presentation by Dr. Jane Murray about natural progesterone. And to learn the difference between synthetic progestins and natural progesterone, please click here.

ORAL SYNTHETIC PROGESTINS:

Amen	medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA)
Aygestin	norethindrone acetate (NETA)
Cycrin	MPA
Megace	megesterol acetate
Norlutate	NETA
Provera	MPA

NATURAL PROGESTERONE:

Crinone	micronized progesterone vaginal gel (to date, approved for fertility treatment, not menopause)
Progesterone	oral micronized (must be compounded)
Progesterone	micronized in cream, gel, suppository; progesterone can also be given by injection
Prometrium	oral micronized capsules suspended in peanut oil

COMBINATION HRT PRODUCTS:

PremPro	CEE + MPA (tablet taken every day)
PremPhase	CEE + MPA (tablet taken cyclically)
Estratest	esterified estrogens + methyltestosterone
Estratest HS	esterified estrogens + methyltestosterone
Premarin + methyltestosterone	CEE + methylT
CombiPatch	Estrogen + Norethindrone acetate (NETA)
Ortho-Prefest	17(beta)-estradiol* + Norgestimate, a progestin, (tablet)

NOTE: Compounding pharmacies can customize combinations of natural estrogens, progesterone, testosterone, etc., in one capsule or in a cream, as well as other forms. To find a compounding pharmacy in your area, see our listing.