S4 Ep174: Is Your Transdermal ESTROGEN... Getting ABSORBED?

Transdermal estrogen in the form of a patch, gel, or cream is often the preferred delivery method for menopausal hormone therapy. Unlike oral estrogen, in addition to other advantages, transdermal estrogen does not increase the risk of blood clots.  But a new study, published in the journal Menopause, indicates that your transdermal estrogen… may not be doing what you think it’s doing. Today, I am speaking with one of the authors of that study, Dr. Louise Newson. 

My Substack post summarizing the study: 
https://drstreicher.substack.com/p/is-your-estrogen-patch-gel-or-spray?r=740mq

Link to article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39689249/

We discuss:

• The advantages of transdermal estrogen
• The realization that blood levels of transdermal estrogen may be below what is expected
• What the study looked at
• Results of the study
• What factors may cause decreased absorption of transdermal estrogen
• Why decreased levels of estrogen are problematic
• Ways to maximize absorption
• Options if serum estrogen levels are low on standard doses of transdermal estrogen
• Concerns of using a higher than standard dose
• The pushback in the UK regarding Dr. Newson’s work
• If it should be routine to measure blood levels of estrogen if using a transdermal product

For more information on Dr. Newson, visit DrLouise Newson.com

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Lauren Streicher, MD is a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, the founding medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause, and a Senior Research Fellow of The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University. She is a certified menopause practitioner of The Menopause Society. She is the Medical Director of Community Education and Outreach for Midi Health.
 
 

Dr. Streicher is the medical correspondent for Chicago’s top-rated news program, the WGN Morning News, and has been seen on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, NPR, Dr. Radio, Nightline, Fox and Friends, The Steve Harvey Show, CBS This Morning, ABC News Now, NBCNightlyNews,20/20, and World News Tonight. She is an expert source for many magazines and serves on the medical advisory board of The Kinsey Institute, Self Magazine, and Prevention Magazine. She writes a regular column for The Ethel by AARP and Prevention Magazine. 
 

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Glossary Of Medical Terminology

Books by Lauren Streicher, MD

•  Slip Sliding Away: Turning Back the Clock on Your Vagina-A gynec