Medicines To Help You

Menopause

Use this guide to help you talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse about your 

hormone medicines. The guide lists all of the FDA-approved products now 

available to treat this condition. You will also find some general information to 

help you use your medicines wisely.
Menopause (sometimes called “the change of life”) is a normal time in a woman’s 

life when her period stops. During menopause, some women have problems like 

hot flashes, vaginal dryness and irritation, and weak bones. These things happen 

because a woman’s body makes less hormones. 

There are medicines called Hormone Therapy that can help to cut down on some 

of the health problems that women have during menopause. Women who take 

hormone therapy for menopause should take the lowest dose that works for 

them for the shortest time.

Use this guide to help you talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse about what is 

best for you. This guide lists some basic information about menopause hormone 

therapy. Talk to your health care provider about all of the risks of taking your 

hormone medicines.

Women should not take hormone therapy if they:

• Think they are pregnant

• Have unusual vaginal bleeding

• Have or have had blood clots

• Have certain cancers such as breast and uterine

• Have liver problems

• Have had a stroke or heart attack in the past year

10/09 2
Menopause Hormone Therapy

There are 3 different kinds of hormone therapy medicines:

• Estrogen-Only Medicines

• Progestin-Only Medicines

• Combination Estrogen and Progestin Medicines

There are many different estrogen, progestin, and combination medicines. These 

medicines are taken using different schedules. 

Like all medicines, each kind of hormone therapy medicine has common side 

effects. There are also some serious health problems that can happen in women 

who take menopause hormone therapy.

• For some women, hormone therapy may raise their chances of blood clots, 

heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and gall bladder disease. 

• For a woman with a uterus, taking estrogen alone raises her chance of getting 

endometrial cancer. 

The different kinds of hormone medicines are listed on the next few pages. Find 

your drug on the list. Ask your doctor to tell you what you should know about 

your hormone medicines. Write down the important facts here.

10/09 3
Estrogen-Only Medicines

Brand Name Generic Name Product Type

Alora Estradiol Patch

Cenestin Synthetic Conjugated Estrogens Pill

Climara Estradiol Patch

Delestrogen Estradiol Valerate Injection (Shot)

Divigel Estradiol Gel

Enjuvia Synthetic Conjugated Estrogens Pill

Estrace Estradiol Pill

Vaginal Cream

Estraderm Estradiol Patch

Estrasorb Estradiol Skin Cream (Emulsion)

Estring Estradiol Vaginal Insert

EstroGel Estradiol Gel

Evamist Estradiol Skin Spray (Transdermal)

Femring Estradiol Acetate Vaginal Ring

Femtrace Estradiol Acetate Pill

Menest Esterified Estrogen Pill

Menostar* Estradiol Patch

Ogen Estropipate Pill, Vaginal Cream

Ortho-Est Estropipate Pill

Premarin Conjugated Estrogens Pill, Vaginal Cream

Injection (Shot)

Vagifem Estradiol Vaginal Tablet

Vivelle Estradiol Patch

Vivelle-Dot Estradiol Patch

10/09 *Only used to prevent osteoporosis 4
Estrogen-Only Medicines: What You Should Know

Warnings

• Do not use any of these medicines if you are pregnant.

• Do not use any of these medicines if you have unusual vaginal bleeding, blood 

clots, or liver problems.

• Do not use any of these medicines if you have or have had certain cancers such 

as breast or uterine.

• Do not use any of these medicines if you have had a stroke or heart attack in the 

past year.

Common Side Effects

• Painful or Tender Breasts

• Stomach Cramps

• Spotting

• Weight Gain

• Upset Stomach/Nausea

• Hair Loss

Less Common but Serious Side Effects

• Breast Lumps

• Unusual Vaginal Bleeding

• Dizziness

• Fainting

• Problems Seeing

• Severe Headaches

• Chest Pain

• Shortness of Breath

• Pains in Legs

• Vomiting

For up-to-date information about the risks and side effects for each drug

Check http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/

10/09 5
Progestin-Only Medicines

Brand Name Generic Name Product Type

Aygestin Norethindrone Acetate Pill

Prometrium Micronized Progesterone Pill

Provera Medroxyprogesterone 

Acetate Pill

For up-to-date information about the risks and side effects for each drug

Check http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/

10/09 6
Progestin-Only Medicines: What You Should Know 

Warnings

• Do not use any of these medicines if you have had certain cancers, especially 

breast cancer.

• Do not use any of these medicines if you have had heart disease or blood clots.

• Women who have diabetes should talk to their doctor about the risks of taking 

these medicines.

Common Side Effects

• Painful or Tender Breasts

• Stomach Cramps

• Upset Stomach/Nausea

• Vaginal Bleeding or Spotting

• Weight Gain

• Hair Loss

Less Common but Serious Side Effects

• Breast Lumps

• Unusual Vaginal Bleeding

• Dizziness

• Fainting

• Problems Seeing

• Severe Headaches

• Chest Pain

• Shortness of Breath

• Pains in Legs

• Vomiting

For up-to-date information about the risks and side effects for each drug

Check http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/

10/09 7
Combination Estrogen and Progestin Medicines

Brand Name Generic Name Product Type

Activella Estradiol/ 

Norethindrone Acetate Pill

Angeliq Estradiol/

Drospirenone Pill

Climara Pro Estradiol/

Levonorgestrel Patch

Combipatch Estradiol/

Norethindrone Acetate Patch

Femhrt Norethindrone Acetate/

Ethinyl Estradiol Pill

Prefest Estradiol/

Norgestimate Pill

Prempro/Premphase Conjugated Estrogen/

Medroxyprogesterone Pill

For up-to-date information about the risks and side effects for each drug

Check http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/

10/09 8
Combination Medicines: What You Should Know 

Warnings

• Do not use any of these medicines if you are pregnant.

• Do not use any of these medicines if you have unusual vaginal bleeding, blood 

clots, or liver problems.

• Do not use any of these medicines if you have or have had certain cancers such 

as breast or uterine.

• Do not use any of these medicines if you have had a stroke or heart attack in the 

past year.

Common Side Effects

• Painful or Tender Breasts

• Stomach Cramps

• Spotting

• Upset Stomach/Nausea

• Weight Gain

• Hair Loss

Less Common but Serious Side Effects

• Breast Lumps

• Unusual Vaginal Bleeding

• Dizziness

• Fainting

• Problems Seeing

• Severe Headaches

• Chest Pain

• Shortness of Breath

• Pains in Legs

• Vomiting

For up-to-date information about the risks and side effects for each drug

Check http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/

10/09 9
Important Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• Are hormones right for me? Why?

• What are the benefits and risks?

• What are the side effects? 

• How long should I use hormone therapy?

• What is the lowest dose that will work for me?

• Are there other things that I can use or do?

10/09 10
www.fda.gov/womens
To Learn More:

FDA Office of Women’s Health

Menopause and Hormone Therapy Information

http://www.fda.gov/womens/menopause/default.htm

FDA Office of Women’s Health http://www.fda.gov/womens

This guide should not be used in place of talking to your doctor or reading the label on your 

medicine bottle. The drug and risk information in this guide may change. Check 

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/ for the latest facts on each product 

listed in this guide.

TAKE TIME TO CARE... For yourself, for those who need you.