What Is Esterified Estrogens?
Esterified estrogens (
Menest®) is a prescription hormone replacement medication. Although it is most often used as a hormone replacement for menopausal women, it is approved for several different uses, such as:
- Treating menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness
- Replacing hormones in younger women whose ovaries do not produce enough estrogen, or who have had their ovaries removed
- Reducing the symptoms of certain cancers (in both men and women) that have spread throughout the body.
Just like any medicine, esterified estrogens can cause side effects. However, not everyone who uses the medication will experience problems. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can be easily treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious reactions are less common.
Common side effects of estrogen medications, such as esterified estrogens, include but are not limited to:
- Breast pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headaches
- Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
- Vaginal bleeding.
