Esterified Estrogens

Esterified estrogens is a hormone replacement therapy medication. It is approved for treating menopausal symptoms, reducing symptoms of certain cancers that have spread throughout the body, and treating hormone deficiency in younger women whose ovaries do not produce enough estrogen. This product comes in tablet form and is available by prescription. The tablets, which are available in four different strengths, are generally taken once daily.

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.

(Click What Is Esterified Estrogens Used For? for more information on this topic, including possible off-label uses.)

Are There Side Effects?

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.

(Click Side Effects of Esterified Estrogens to learn more, including potentially serious side effects you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)

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