Estrogen Therapy: Things to Consider with the Estrogen Patch
Women who are going through menopause experience a rapid decrease of estrogen levels in their bodies. Estrogen patches are prescribed by doctors for women who have a lower level of estrogen due to menopause or any other reason. These patches help treat symptoms and reduce the risks that are otherwise associated with low levels of estrogen. Women who are prescribed the estrogen patch need to follow the dosages that their doctors recommend to them.
An estrogen patch is basically a kind of sticker that you apply to your skin. Each patch is individually wrapped. When you open a patch it needs to be applied to the skin immediately. However, the patch should never be placed in the breast area due to possible complications. Each patch contains a different dosage and the patch that you use will depend on your doctor's recommendation. There are also different types of patches that doctor's recommend depending on the symptoms that you are experiencing.
If you are taking the estrogen patch and you forget to apply it when you need to be sure to apply it as soon as you remember. However, never ever apply more patches to your body than prescribed by your doctor because this can cause some negative side effects. The most common side effect is that it will actually worsen the symptoms you are experiencing instead of treating them.
Before a doctor will prescribe an estrogen patch to you, you must first undergo a medical check. Doctors need to determine your sensitivity to estrogen. Not everyone responds to the estrogen patch the same way and many women are actually not well suited to be on the patch. Some of the most common side effects of using the estrogen patch are skin irritation, back pain and headaches. Some women also complain of bloating and abdominal cramps but these are rare side effects. However, some women are more prone to these side effects, which is why it is important to consult your doctor.
One other very serious side effect of using estrogen patches is that they can cause uterus and ovarian cancer. The longer that you use an estrogen patch the more at risk you are to developing these two types of cancer. However, studies have also shown that estrogen patches can reduce the risk of heart disease. The estrogen patch is not used as a medication to help reduce the risk of heart disease because these studies are not conclusive.
Women who are pregnant or have just given birth are actually prohibited from using an estrogen patch. Using the estrogen patch during this time period can increase the risk of reproductive problems that can affect the mother and the fetus. This is why it is very important that women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant do not even consider trying to use an estrogen patch.