5 things you should know about estradiol
You may see the word ‘estradiol’ on your prescription, hear it during an appointment or come across it when looking for answers about why you haven’t been feeling quite like yourself.
But what exactly is estradiol?
Estradiol is an anti-inflammatory, beneficial form of estrogen produced predominantly by your ovaries.
Levels naturally change throughout a woman’s life - such as during perimenopause and menopause, during the luteal phase of your menstrual cycle and after giving birth - and can also be affected by hormonal conditions, surgery or treatments.
At Newson Clinic, estradiol is one of the main hormones our clinicians discuss with women because changing levels can affect many different parts of the body.
These changes can impact how you feel both physically and mentally. Symptoms such as poor sleep, anxiety, low mood, brain fog, fatigue, joint pains or changes to your bladder and vaginal health may all be relevant when discussing your hormones and treatment.
If you’d like to learn more about hormone treatments that may be appropriate for you, you can explore appointments at Newson Clinic.
Here are five things to know about estradiol and your treatment:
1) Fluctuating estradiol can affect many different parts of your body
Estradiol affects many parts of your body, including your brain, bones, heart, muscles, joints, skin, bladder and vagina.
Because its effects are so wide-ranging, changes in estradiol levels may affect several areas at once. You might notice poor sleep, anxiety, low mood, brain fog, fatigue, joint pains or changes to your bladder or vaginal health without immediately realising they could be connected.
That’s why our clinicians look at the full picture when it comes to how you are feeling, rather than focusing on each symptom separately.
You can read more about how we treat you at Newson Clinic, including the hormones we prescribe and how treatment is reviewed and adjusted over time.
Estradiol is not the only hormone that matters. Progesterone and testosterone also have effects throughout the body, and the hormones that may be appropriate for you will depend on your symptoms, medical history and response to treatment.
If symptoms are affecting your day-to-day life, you can explore appointments at Newson Clinic.
2) There is no ‘typical’ experience of low or fluctuating estradiol
At Newson Clinic, your treatment is shaped around you. Hormonal symptoms can affect women in very different ways and may overlap with other conditions, so appointments are never based on a one-size-fits-all approach.
You may notice hot flushes and night sweats. Someone else may notice anxiety, headaches, poor sleep or problems concentrating. Another patient may feel they are no longer quite themselves.
We want to understand what has changed, how you feel now and the impact your symptoms are having, while also considering your current and future health.
Our evidence-based approach to hormone treatment explains more about how treatment is guided by symptoms, response and, where appropriate, hormone levels.
3) Estradiol comes in many forms - Your appointment can help find the right one for you
Estradiol is often prescribed as a patch, gel or spray, which allows it to be absorbed through the skin. This is known as transdermal estradiol. It is bioidentical, meaning it has the same chemical structure as the estradiol your body naturally produces. Some estradiol tablets are also bioidentical.
Dr Louise Newson explains more about estrogen in patches, gels and sprays, including how they are absorbed and the different ways they can be prescribed.
At Newson Clinic, the type and dose of estradiol you are prescribed will depend on your symptoms and how you respond to treatment.
If you have come across terms such as bioidentical, body identical or synthetic, and would like to understand what the various phrases mean, our bioidentical hormones explained guide explains in detail.
You may also see estradiol pessaries or estradiol cream mentioned when looking for treatments for vaginal or urinary symptoms. These are local vaginal treatments, rather than treatments such as patches, gels and sprays that work throughout the body.
Vaginal hormones can help with symptoms including dryness, irritation, pain during sex and urinary symptoms. Different products contain different types of estrogen, including estradiol and estriol, so it is useful to check exactly what a particular treatment contains.
You can read more about the differences in Dr Louise Newson’s guide to vaginal hormones, or her guide to estrogen-only gel and spray.
4) Your estradiol dose doesn’t need to look like anybody else’s
Two women can use the same estradiol product at the same dose, but their bodies may absorb very different amounts through the skin and into the bloodstream. So, comparing your dose with a friend’s, family member’s or something you have seen online doesn’t tell you what is right for you.
Our clinicians look at how you’re responding as an individual. If symptoms are still affecting you, your clinician may review your dose, the type of estradiol you are using, how you are using it and, where useful, your blood test results.
Blood tests can provide useful extra information, but results are considered alongside your symptoms and how you feel.
Our own research helps explain why this individualised approach matters. In a study of 1,508 perimenopausal and menopausal women, we found wide variation in how much estradiol women absorbed through their skin.
Around one in four women needed a higher dose to get enough estradiol into their body, while almost one in three women using standard doses still had low estradiol levels in their blood.*
*Our guide to why women are prescribed different doses of hormone treatment explains more.
5) Starting estradiol is not the end of the conversation at Newson Clinic
Our clinicians are dedicated to continually reviewing and optimising treatment where necessary. Here's why:
Hormone levels, symptoms and your response to treatment can all change.
That’s why follow-up appointments are important. They’re a chance to talk about what has improved, what is still affecting you and whether your treatment needs adjusting.
This might mean changing the dose or type of estradiol you use, reviewing progesterone or testosterone, or looking at another part of your health.
Want to talk about your symptoms or estradiol treatment?
You don’t need to know exactly which hormone, dose or formulation you need before coming to see us.
At Newson Clinic, your 45-minute initial appointment gives you time to talk about your symptoms, medical history, previous treatment and what you would like to improve.
Your clinician can discuss the options that may be appropriate for you, including different forms and doses of estradiol where relevant, and your treatment can then be reviewed and adjusted as your needs change.
