Hormone therapy evolved: benefits of using hormones to treat menopause

Some women may need prescription medications to help control their menopausal symptoms. During menopause, your body produces less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Specifically, your body stops producing estradiol—a type of estrogen produced by your ovaries.¹

Hormone therapy (HT) works by supplementing your body with the hormones that your body used to make more of before menopause. Estrogens and progestogens are types of HT.² HT is the only proven therapy approved by the FDA to treat symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness.^*3 Only you and your doctor can decide if hormone therapy is right for you. Discuss your symptoms with your doctor, and together you can make an informed decision.

Estrogen therapy (ET)

The decreasing amount of estrogen produced by your ovaries is what causes menopausal symptoms. Estrogen therapy is designed to add estrogen to your body during menopause, providing reductions in your symptoms.

Estrogen plus progestogen therapy (EPT)

In addition to relieving many of the symptoms of menopause, estrogen causes the lining of the uterus (womb) to grow and thicken, just as it did naturally before you entered menopause. Before menopause, your body naturally lined the uterus every month and then “shed” this lining during your period. But if the lining stays thickened for longer than normal—if you don’t have a period—it can be unhealthy and may result in cancer of the uterus. Progestogen is a hormone that helps prevent the lining of the uterus from thickening, so it is usually prescribed together with estrogen in women who have not had a hysterectomy. Progestogen is available by prescription.²

Are there risks in taking estrogen therapy?

There are possible risks with estrogen therapy, such as blood clots, stroke, and breast cancer. An increased risk of cancer of the uterus has also been reported with the use of estrogen alone in women with a uterus.³ To decrease the risks, the lowest dose of estrogen should be used to control your symptoms.² There are some additional risks associated with estrogen therapy, so be sure to discuss the risks and benefits of ET with your doctor.

What else do you need to know about ET?

The guidelines set forth by the ACOG, the FDA, and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists state that estrogen should be used in the smallest dose to provide relief and for the shortest period of time possible. There have been many studies that examine the effects of estrogen therapy. Often, the studies are confusing and may have different information. But we now know more about menopause and estrogen therapy than ever before. Your doctor can help you best understand your options in estrogen therapy.

Evamist is approved by the FDA for use after menopause to reduce moderate-to-severe hot flashes. The effectiveness of Evamist in treating other menopausal symptoms has not been demonstrated.

» Footnote References

Important Safety Information

Evamist™ is approved by the FDA for use after menopause to reduce moderate-to-severe hot flashes.

Estrogens increase the chance of getting cancer of the uterus (womb). Report any unusual vaginal bleeding right away while you are using Evamist. Vaginal bleeding after menopause may be a warning sign of cancer of the uterus. Your healthcare provider should check any unusual vaginal bleeding to find out the cause.

Do not use estrogens with or without progestins to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, or dementia. Using estrogens, with or without progestins, may increase your chance of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and blood clots. Using estrogen, with or without progestins, may increase your risk of dementia, based on a study of women age 65 years or older. Evamist should not be used if you have unusual vaginal bleeding; currently have or have had certain cancers, including cancer of the breast or uterus; had a stroke or heart attack in the past year; currently have or have had blood clots; currently have or have had liver problems; or think you may be, or know that you are, pregnant.

The most common side effects that may occur with Evamist are headache, breast tenderness, the common cold, nipple pain, back pain, nausea, and joint pain.

You and your healthcare provider should talk regularly about whether you still need treatment with Evamist.

Please see full prescribing information for Evamist.