Do not confuse Estrogen Replacement Therapy with Hormone Replacement Therapy. There is a significant difference between the two. Estrogen replacement therapy, which would include ethinylestradiol, is meant to replace lost hormones in a women’s body to what they were prior to menopause on a daily basis and only if she has had her uterus removed [or a hysterectomy] and this would be known as [ERT].

If a women still has her uterus than she would be required to take an added hormone component called progestin so that the estrogen she takes will not affect the lining of the uterus known as the endometrium, which could cause cancer. Therefore, the ethinylestradiol plays an important role in Hormone replacement therapy by balancing the therapeutic role the hormones play in treating symptomatic menopause in middle age females. So it is easy to remember, women with a uterus need HRT, women lacking a uterus due to hysterectomy must have ERT.

Doctors will recommend HRT that is a combination of ethinylestradiol and usually norethindrone, which is the progestin or a variety of progesterone. Ethinylestradiol by itself comes in a tablet or pill version and many will choose this oral form but estrogen is also available in other types of curatives. There are vaginal creams, the vaginal ring known as NuvaRing, another popular form of ethinylestradiol, implants and injections.

There are now also patches that one applies on the skin and the ethinylestradiol is then absorbed through the epidermis. The progestin part of the HRT equation is also available in pill form sometimes in combination with the estrogen. It also comes in various forms such as an intrauterine apparatus, vaginal gel and also in shot form.

Once a woman decides in concert with her doctor that the benefits outweigh any risk with hormone replacement therapy, they should consider using the least effectual amount for the shortest time period advisable, but not more than 3 to 4 years. Ethinylestradiol is a very effective medication for the treatment of menopausal symptoms in women but there are other alternatives a person may want to consider. Drugs in the form of estrogen cream, antidepressants, and certain products derived from soy and even whole HRT and ERT therapy regimens of the herbal/ natural supplement variety have been proven effective at alleviating symptoms of menopause. Some physicians will even recommend these natural protocols as a primary treatment before resorting to the more quantifiable HRT methods of treatment.

Contraceptives

© admin for Contraceptives and Birth Control Pills, 2009. | Permalink | No comment

Add to del.icio.us

Search blogs linking this post with Technorati

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Contraceptives.