Health Information
Estrogen Therapy (ET)
How It Works
Estrogen therapy (ET) increases the Reference estrogen Opens New Window level in your body. Estrogen impacts multiple systems of the body.
When given through an estrogen patch, vaginal ring, or skin cream or gel (transdermal estrogen), estrogen enters the bloodstream directly, without passing through the liver. The estrogen in pills must be processed by the liver before entering the bloodstream, which puts stress on an impaired liver.
Low-dose vaginal estrogen affects only the urinary and genital area. For more information, see Reference Low-Dose Vaginal Estrogen for Dryness and Atrophy.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: August 8, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
Reference Carla J. Herman, MD, MPH - Geriatric Medicine |
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