This significantly reduces the risk of abnormal changes in the uterine lining. Endometrial cancer is not the only risk from estrogen use. Gallbladder disease is another. Women who use estrogens after menopause are more likely to develop gallbladder disease needing surgery than women who don't use estrogens. The drug's labeling also includes a warning about abnormal blood clotting.
Clots can cause a stroke, heart attack, or pulmonary embolus, any of which can be fatal.
Estrogen can produce uncomfortable side effects such as nausea and vomiting. It can enlarge breasts and make them tender. Women who use it can also retain excess fluid, which can aggravate conditions like asthma, epilepsy, migraines, and heart and kidney disease. A spotty darkening of the skin, particularly on the face, can occur. For women who take progestin along with estrogen, menstrual-like bleeding and premenstrual symptoms often occur.