A review of transdermal nonpatch estrogen therapy for the management of menopausal symptoms.
Estrogen therapy is used to the vasomotor symptoms of hot flushes and night sweats which can be severe. In Europe, transderaml estrogen therapy is most commonly prescribed. Transdermal 17beta-estradiol may have fewer health risks than oral estrogen therapy.
J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2010 Jan;19(1):47-55.
Transdermal estrogen avoids first-pass metabolism in the liver so that lower doses are required compared to oral estrogen which undergoes first-pass metabolism and reduces bioavailability.