HRT like Premarin vs. estradiol gels

[landis]

What is the difference in these 2 treatments? Is the gel safer? I can't seem to find much about the difference.

[CherryCola]

Transdermal applications of estradiol bypass the liver - and many issues with taking estradiol orally is the concern for blood clots - so that *could* be avoided by applying it to the skin instead. Estradiol is also made within the body so you're adding something that has the exact same chemical structure as the hormones made by your own ovaries

Premarin is not identical to the estrogens your body creates. It does contain estrone (which your body makes) but also horse estrogens (which concerns many women). However Premarin has been around for at least a half a century and is sometimes much more affordable than estradiol cream and often covered under most insurance plans.

[landis]

Originally Posted by CherryCola

Transdermal applications of estradiol bypass the liver - and many issues with taking estradiol orally is the concern for blood clots - so that *could* be avoided by applying it to the skin instead. Estradiol is also made within the body so you're adding something that has the exact same chemical structure as the hormones made by your own ovaries

Premarin is not identical to the estrogens your body creates. It does contain estrone (which your body makes) but also horse estrogens (which concerns many women). However Premarin has been around for at least a half a century and is sometimes much more affordable than estradiol cream and often covered under most insurance plans.

Thank you SO much! Do the creams have risk associated with them too though? That is what I am concerned about mainly. I am not having symptoms bad enough to warrant anything. My doctor says she put me on the cream to avoid losing bone density later.

[CherryCola]

I would supplement for only two reasons:
1) Clinical deficiency
2) Awful symptoms

And I must disclose my bias: mid-20s on BHRT (estradiol cream and progesterone troches) because of my screwy pituitary gland.

There are risks associated with estrogen replacement (in general) but honestly it's terribly difficult to wade through the studies - often times even the word "estrogen" is debatable. But most of those studies were done using synthetic hormones (like Premarin). So I'm not sure if you can make assumptions about estradiol based on Premarin's effects (but there could be research out there to suggest estradiol is detrimental to health). I think if your library has Suzanne Somer's book Breakthrough - you should check it out. Plus anything by Dr. Northrup would be a good reference for women and hormones. I suspect both would also mention the estrogen/bone loss connection.

[landis]

Originally Posted by CherryCola

I would supplement for only two reasons:
1) Clinical deficiency
2) Awful symptoms

And I must disclose my bias: mid-20s on BHRT (estradiol cream and progesterone troches) because of my screwy pituitary gland.

There are risks associated with estrogen replacement (in general) but honestly it's terribly difficult to wade through the studies - often times even the word "estrogen" is debatable. But most of those studies were done using synthetic hormones (like Premarin). So I'm not sure if you can make assumptions about estradiol based on Premarin's effects (but there could be research out there to suggest estradiol is detrimental to health). I think if your library has Suzanne Somer's book Breakthrough - you should check it out. Plus anything by Dr. Northrup would be a good reference for women and hormones. I suspect both would also mention the estrogen/bone loss connection.

Thank you very much!!!

[nonstickpam107]

Estradiol gel is bioidentical. Has no pregnant horse urine in it.

There are MANY studies of conjugated estrogens, and horse estrogens and cancer.

There are NO studies of estradiol causing cancer.

The choice is pretty clear to me. And I've waded through 23 YEARS of studies.

Pam