Although you may experience symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and irregular periods, only your doctor can tell you whether your estrogen is low and needs some type of supplementation. Of course, birth control pills and hormone replacement medications are among the most common ways women supplement to get more estrogen in their bodies, but there's more diversity in estrogen replacement than you may think. Rings, shots, pills and patches also deliver estrogen to your body, and you can also eat it.
Pop a Pill
More than 17 million use birth control pills, representing about 28 percent of the hormonal contraception in use today. Millions more use the pill for reasons other than birth control, including control of premenstrual syndrome. In addition, menopausal women take an estrogen pill to ease the transitions. Moreover, estrogen pills are taken to relieve vaginal dryness and to prevent osteoporosis. You need to see a healthcare provider to receive a prescription for the pill in the United States, although many seek to buy birth control pills in other countries, where prescriptions aren't needed. Another class of estrogen pills includes raloxifene, which is an estrogen-like drug. It's prescribed mainly to prevent osteoporosis, and it only offers minimal protection against problems associated with menopause. However, according to New York Presbyterian Hospital, it does not pose the same risks as estrogen-based drugs.
Wear a Patch
You can also deliver estrogen through your skin using a patch, which is a prescription medication as well. Like the birth control pill, the patch is used for contraception and for those who need estrogen supplementation. You can place it on your hip, butt or arm, and you wear it for three weeks at a time if you're using it for birth control.
Use a Ring
You can also deliver estrogen through a vaginal ring. Like the patch, you have it inserted and it remains for three weeks when used for contraceptive purposes. It releases a dose of estrogen and progesterone into your body. For women getting supplemental estrogen, your ring may come with a higher dose of estrogen and be left in place for three months. This practice may also be used in combination with an estrogen tablet and cream, both of which are used vaginally.
Get a Shot
You may have estrogen delivered through an injection, sold under the brand name Lunelle. It contains synthetic estrogen and progestin. It is another form of birth control and shouldn't be confused with Depo-Provera shots, which only contain progesterone. Like other hormones, your doctor has to prescribe the shot for you, which you get every 28 to 30 days.
Eat It
Many women are concerned about taking estrogen in synthetic forms. You can eat plant estrogens, known as phytoestrogens. You can find them in a wide variety of foods, such as soy and flaxseed, and to a small degree in berries and citrus fruit. According to the USDA Agricultural Research Service, eating your estrogen from these sources can reduce hot flashes, improve vaginal dryness and increase bone density. You body's cells respond to phytoestrogens as if they are weaker iterations of your natural estrogen.
Caution
MedlinePlus reports that estrogen can increase your risk of endometrial and breast cancer, heart attack, stroke, dementia and blood clots. The longer you take supplemental estrogen, the higher your risk may be. You can make some modifications to your estrogen therapy to decrease your risk. Just remember that deciding to get extra estrogen comes with risks as well as benefits. Make sure you talk with your doctor about both.
References
- American Pregnancy Association: Overview - Types of Birth Control
- New York-Presbyterian: Hormone Replacement Therapy
- MedlinePlus: Estrogen
- MedlinePlus: Estrogen Vaginal
- al-Hikmah; Alternative Methods for Estrogen Replacement; Jackie Hart, M.D.
- "The Independent"; Ladies, Remember to Eat Your Estrogen; September 2010
- Guttmacher Institute; Facts on Contraceptive Use in the United States; June 2010
- USDA Agricultural Research Service; Plant Estrogens Low in Older Women’s Diets; Judy McBride; September 2001
