Estrogens - ES-troe-jenz and progestins - pro-GEST-ins are female hormones. They are produced by the body and are necessary for the normal sexual development of the female and for the regulation of the menstrual cycle during the childbearing years.
The ovaries begin to produce less estrogen after menopause - the change of life. This drug is prescribed to make up for the lower amount of estrogen. Estrogens help relieve signs of menopause, such as hot flashes and unusual sweating, chills, faintness, or dizziness. Progestins help to regulate the effects of estrogens.
Estrogens are prescribed for few reasons:
Estrogens may also be using for other conditions as determined by your family doctor.
There is no medical evidence to support the belief that the use of estrogens will keep the patient feeling young, keep the skin soft, or delay the appearance of wrinkles. Nor has it been proven that the use of estrogens during menopause will relieve emotional and nervous symptoms, unless these symptoms are causing by other menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes or hot flushes.
Estrogens and progestins are available only with your family doctor's prescription, in the following dosage forms:
Some commonly using brand names are:
In the USA
Other commonly using names are:
For quick reference, the following estrogens and progestins are numbered to match the corresponding brand names.
This information applies to the following medication: 1. 17 beta-estradiol and norgestimate - seh-ven-TEEN BAY-tuh es-tra-DYE-ole and nor-JES-ti-mate 2. Ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone - ETH-in-il es-tra-DYE-ole and nor-eth-IN-drone 3. Estradiol and norethindrone - es-tra-DYE-oleand nor-eth-IN-drone