Can i get estrogen over the counter

Hormone replacement therapy may increase the risk of developing endometrial cancer and gallbladder disease. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking this medication. Hormone replacement therapy may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication. Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children.

Store it at room temperature and away from heat and moisture not in the bathroom. Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program.

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location — one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach.

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory.

You should have a complete physical exam, including blood pressure measurements, breast and pelvic exams, and a Pap test at least yearly.

Follow your doctor's directions for examining your breasts; report any lumps immediately. If you are taking hormone replacement therapy to treat symptoms of menopause, your doctor will check every 3 to 6 months to see if you still need this medication.

If you are taking this medication to prevent thinning of the bones osteoporosis , you will take it for a longer period of time.

Before you have any laboratory tests, tell the laboratory personnel that you take hormone replacement therapy, because this medication may interfere with some laboratory tests. Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription. It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription over-the-counter medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements.

You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies. Estrogen and Progestin Hormone Replacement Therapy pronounced as ess' troe jen pro jes' tin. Why is this medication prescribed?

How should this medicine be used? Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow? Lubricants are designed for short-term effect, to make intercourse immediately more comfortable.

They can be water-based, silicon-based, or a hybrid of the two. Vaginal moisturizers are designed for longer-term maintenance of your vaginal tissues. They don't contain hormones, so don't require a prescription. They're typically used every several days. However, one study found that of over 2, women that used EPO after discontinuing hormone replacement therapy, reported EPO as useful for controlling the symptoms of low estrogen with menopause.

Red clover is an herbal supplement that contains a handful of plant compounds called isoflavones that may act like estrogen in the body. These isoflavones include:. One review study examined the impact of red clover on hot flashes and hormone levels in women. The researchers found four studies that showed a significant increase in estrogen levels with red clover supplements. Dong quai is a traditional Chinese medicine commonly taken for the symptoms of menopause.

Like the other herbal supplements above, dong quai contains compounds that function as phytoestrogens. In one study , researchers examined the possible estrogenic compounds in 17 popular herbal supplements.

They found two possible compounds in dong quai that exhibit estrogenic activity. In many cases, if you have low estrogen you might also have low progesterone. This is especially common during menopause, when most of the female hormones drop drastically.

Progesterone is most commonly boosted through creams and medications, but some may prefer a more natural approach. One possible way to boost progesterone is through herbal supplements. One study found that chasteberry was able to raise mid-cycle progesterone levels. However, not all herbal supplements are effective for boosting progesterone.

Another study found that multiple Chinese herbal medicine supplements actually lowered progesterone levels. A better way to naturally raise progesterone levels is through a healthy diet and lifestyle. Eating a varied diet can provide the body with the nutrients it needs for progesterone metabolism.

This includes foods such as cruciferous vegetables, nuts, and whole grains. Keeping a healthy weight, staying on a consistent sleep schedule, and managing stress can help to keep hormones balanced as well. Natural interventions might not be effective for everyone. Certain people are extremely sensitive to the symptoms of low estrogen, which include:.

Hormone replacement therapy is a common treatment for menopause. It involves replacing estrogen and progesterone through:. The risks of hormone replacement therapy include an increased risk of:. Too much estrogen, also called estrogen dominance , can be caused by a variety of factors. Some women naturally produce more estrogen than progesterone.

Supplementation for low estrogen can also cause this type of hormonal imbalance. Men can also experience estrogen dominance, which presents as gynecomastia, erectile dysfunction , and infertility. If you begin to experience any of these symptoms after using natural estrogen supplements, it may be due to too much estrogen.

You can discuss other interventions, such as hormone replacement therapy. You can also explore other dietary and lifestyle changes that may help to reduce low estrogen symptoms. If you notice any adverse side effects after beginning herbal supplements for low estrogen, see a doctor immediately.

Estrogen and progesterone are important sex hormones, especially in the female body. Low estrogen and progesterone are generally caused by menopause or other health conditions.