Today, pharmaceuticals offer women various means of eliminating menopausal symptoms. In pharmacies you can buy hormonal patches that help relieve painful symptoms during menopause caused by a lack of sex hormones . Most often, doctors advise patients to use the Klimar menopause patch. It is a hormone replacement therapy drug that normalizes the body’s condition during the menopausal period and reduces the likelihood of developing pathologies associated with hormonal changes.
Estrogen deficiency is a consequence of either menopause or removal of the gonads
The need for contraception during menopause
Menopause is the time when all reproductive processes are completed and a resting phase begins in the genital area. For this reason, pregnancy during this period is undesirable. All organs and systems will experience additional stress under the influence of menopausal syndrome, and physiological changes will occur in the genitals. Conceiving a child during menopause will create additional stress on the body, and its consequences can be dangerous.
Pregnancy and childbirth during menopause are more difficult for women. The reason is that the body has exhausted its reproductive functions. By this age, organs begin to malfunction, which can negatively affect the process of gestation. Over the years, the risk of having a child with developmental pathologies increases.
Pros and cons of the contraceptive patch
Transdermal hormonal patch for menopause has the following advantages:
- Gentle and gradual entry of the hormone into the body (about 50 mcg of estradiol is released daily, which is absorbed by the skin and enters the bloodstream at a constant rate, which eliminates the development of an overdose).
- Safe use in contrast to tablets, which can eliminate hot flashes but lead to venous thrombosis. Transdermal treatment with a hormonal patch does not lead to such complications.
- Estrogen enters the female body directly into the blood, bypassing the stomach and liver, so it has no effect on the functioning of these organs.
- Conflicts with other medications are excluded, so it is allowed to use several drugs at once to obtain maximum effect.
- If an allergy develops, it is enough to simply remove the hormonal patch, after which its components will not enter the body. This cannot be said about tablets and injections, the removal of which requires special measures.
- Easy to use. A hormonal patch for menopause must be glued to the skin of the thighs, buttocks or back. If the plate is properly secured, you are allowed to shower.
The main disadvantage of the hormonal patch remains its high cost. The average price of a monthly course will be $20.
Benefits of patch treatment
The effectiveness of treatment with patches is high, since these products:
- provide a constant flow of estrogen into the body;
- do not have a negative effect on the digestive tract, since they do not come into contact with the intestinal and gastric walls;
- do not increase the likelihood of developing thrombosis;
- act quickly because the active components penetrate through the skin directly into the blood;
- compatible with any oral medications;
- easy to use, allow you to quickly interrupt therapy if an allergic reaction or other adverse symptoms occur.
Mechanism of action
The hormonal patch must be glued to the skin, after which the estrogen located on the surface of the plate penetrates through the dermis into the female body, where a constant and stable level of hormones is formed in the blood.
A transdermal hormonal drug for menopause prevents the development of an overdose. This is achieved due to the peculiarities of introducing the active component of the plate. The concentration of the hormone entering the blood depends only on the area of the product in contact with the skin.
Only a gynecologist will be able to determine the type of patch and its area. You can't do this on your own. Before starting to use hormonal and non-hormonal drugs, you must consult a doctor and undergo all tests.
Eliminating menopause symptoms with a patch
The hormonal patch for menopause supplies the female body with estrogen in a certain amount. The following menopausal symptoms can be eliminated through replacement therapy:
- insomnia;
- fluctuations in emotional state;
- mental disorders, depression;
- decreased libido;
- hot flashes, excessive sweating ;
- tachycardia;
- blood pressure surges.
If you believe the words of doctors and customers, the drug accelerates the cleansing of the body from toxins and breakdown products, reduces the concentration of cholesterol in the blood, and normalizes metabolism. With the help of a patch, you can defeat osteoporosis at an early stage.
Indications
Therapeutic hormonal patches for menopause are indicated for patients who cannot take hormones in tablet form.
This should include:
- side effects from tablets on the gastrointestinal tract;
- diseases of the digestive system of chronic and acute forms: ulcers, gastritis;
- gallbladder disease, chronic or acute inflammation of the organ, stone formation;
- disruption of the small intestine, poor absorption of active ingredients;
- hypertension (high blood pressure);
- diabetes;
- high risk of blood clots as a result of thromboembolism;
- bad habits of the patient.
The use of a transdermal hormonal drug during menopause makes it possible to reduce the possible negative consequences of hormone replacement therapy and ensure the supply of estrogen even to those women who, for health reasons, cannot take drugs in the form of tablets.
Side effects and contraindications
Transdermal therapy using hormonal patches is simple but requires caution. The use of synthetic hormones has many contraindications. It is prohibited to use patches during menopause if you have:
- thrombosis and thromboembolism;
- breast cancer in women;
- malignant hormone-dependent tumors;
- vaginal bleeding of various etiologies;
- individual intolerance.
For certain diseases, the use of the patch should be extremely careful, in consultation with a medical specialist. Such diseases include:
- dysfunction of the liver, gallbladder, urinary system;
- existing or past endometrial oncology;
- migraine;
- diabetes;
- asthma;
- epilepsy;
- pathologies of the heart and circulatory system;
- porphyrin disease;
- otospongiosis.
The use of the patch is accompanied by a fairly large number of side effects:
- increased fibroids or the emergence of new uterine diseases;
- pain in the mammary glands;
- bloody vaginal discharge of a spotting nature, similar to menstruation;
- discomfort in the stomach and intestines;
- breast swelling;
- swelling;
- nausea , sometimes the urge to vomit;
- increase in body weight;
- flatulence;
- headaches;
- dizziness;
- weakened vision;
- nervous disorders.
If the above adverse reactions occur, you must either stop using the drug or ask your doctor to adjust the dosage.
How to apply the patch
To get the maximum effect from using a hormonal patch during menopause, you must follow some rules.
These include:
- The product can only be applied to clean and dry skin. Do not place the plate near the mammary gland or lower abdomen. This will cause an increased concentration of the hormone in these organs, which is extremely undesirable.
- If the product is positioned correctly, you can take water procedures - its strong adhesive base reliably secures the patch to the skin.
- Strictly follow the recommendations of the gynecologist. And although the product is safe, you should not violate the recommended doses or use the plate for longer than the prescribed time.
Places for sticking the patch
special instructions
- The transdermal hormonal agent does not affect the ability to drive a car or use other mechanisms.
- It is not recommended to smoke or drink alcohol during treatment. It is possible to combine the product with other medications used for menopause (with the exception of contraceptives), but only after consulting a doctor.
- The use of hormonal patches during pregnancy and lactation is prohibited.
Rules for gluing the patch
The patch is removed from the bag and glued to dry and clean skin in the area of the spinal column or buttocks. The product should not be glued to the skin of the mammary glands. In order for the strip to stick better to the body, you should press it with your fingers and keep it pressed for 10 minutes. It is not advisable to stick the patch on areas of the body that are constantly in contact with clothing. The product is worn for a week, then comes off. A new patch is glued to another suitable area of the body.
During treatment, showering and even bathing are allowed. But you should not go to the bathhouse or sauna, otherwise the patch will come off due to exposure to hot steam.
According to the instructions for use, continuous use of the drug is allowed. The duration of treatment for menopause is determined by the condition of the female body and the factors that caused the unpleasant symptoms. So, before surgical removal of the ovaries, it is recommended to use the patch for 2–3 weeks. To get rid of the symptoms of menopause, 2 treatment options are practiced: with continuous therapy, the patch is applied weekly, with cyclic therapy, a pause is made after 3 weeks.
The best means
During menopause, on the recommendation of a doctor, you can purchase a transdermal hormonal product from various manufacturers. Before using them, you should carefully read the instructions.
Estraderm
This remedy is designed to eliminate hot flashes during menopause. The plate is attached to the skin for 4 days. During this time, the active substance is gradually absorbed into the body through capillaries.
Estraderm patch
If hot flashes do not stop during menopause, you can stick a new product on for another 4 days. If unpleasant symptoms continue, you can use the product for a long time.
Klimara
This drug quickly eliminates hot flashes during menopause. The product can be of different sizes and dosages, and its validity period is 7 days. This time is enough to eliminate the symptoms of menopause.
Klimara patch
If the patient has severe and repeated hot flashes, then after using the patch, the next one can be attached immediately and continue to do so until the condition is completely normalized.
Chinese patches
At the pharmacy you can buy products made in China. They are not hormonal, as they contain extracts of medicinal plants and phytoestrogens.
Such remedies for menopause effectively reduce the intensity of hot flashes and normalize the level of sex hormones in the blood. Chinese drugs act gently and do not lead to the development of side effects.
Analogues of the Klimara patch
Pharmacies sell many drugs to eliminate menopausal symptoms for women. Among the effective and popular medicines of domestic and imported production, the following can be noted:
- Divigel. Gel for topical use based on estradiol. The drug reduces the symptoms of menopause, helps improve the condition of the vaginal walls, and eliminates dryness of the genital tract. It is recommended to use the gel during the menopausal period, before and after surgery on the organs of the woman’s reproductive system.
- Dermestril. These hormonal patches have different widths, which can be used to determine the dose of the active substance. The drug can be applied to the buttocks, lower back, and spine. You should use 2 patches per week. The initial dosage is 50, then increases to 100. Course therapy: the drug is used for 3 weeks, then a week-long pause is taken.
- Estrofem. Tablet hormonal drug based on estradiol. Take 1 tablet per day. The course lasts 3 months. After the course, the dosage is adjusted, if a positive effect of treatment is not observed, then it is increased. The medication is prescribed for hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. Admission is allowed to women under 65 years of age.
- Estrogel. Anti-climacteric gel for external use. Indicated for severe menopausal symptoms and the appearance of osteoporosis. A small amount of gel is rubbed into the shoulders, stomach or lower back once a day. The application area should be two palms. You can also make applications based on the drug.
- Octodiol. An antimenopausal and antitumor drug, sold in tablet form and as an external gel. Normalizes the female reproductive system during menopause, provides the body with hormones, and prevents osteoporosis. Contraindications are intolerance to the components, pregnancy, hormone-dependent oncological tumors of the genital organs or breast in women, vaginal and uterine bleeding of unknown etiology, thrombophlebitis, thromboembolism.
- Menorest. The drug is sold in the form of patches with different doses of the active substance. The dosage starts at 50 mcg and is then determined by the doctor. After using external medications, the condition of the vaginal walls is normalized, libido increases, and the symptoms of menopause disappear.
Menopause is a difficult period in a woman’s life, during which vaginal discharge changes, the cyclicity of menstruation is disrupted, and unpleasant symptoms appear. You can cope with painful symptoms by knowing everything in general about menopause and choosing the right hormonal medications. The Klimara patch, which helps overcome hot flashes and other menopausal phenomena, is sold by prescription and costs an average of 1,200 rubles.
Features of application
The patch will be most useful if it is attached in the right place. It is best to do this on the skin of the back and buttocks. The product should not be glued to the mammary glands and the integument near the genitals.
Hormones do not penetrate into the blood capillaries, but primarily into the surrounding tissues. The latter can respond to female sex hormones from the patch.
Mode of application:
- Wash the skin thoroughly with soap and dry well. There should be no cream on its surface.
- The protective film from the product must be removed immediately before gluing it. Apply the plate to the skin carefully, evenly and without folds.
- First, you need to try a patch with a minimum concentration of hormones, and if the body reacts normally, you can increase the dose.
- The duration of treatment is determined individually depending on how quickly the unpleasant symptoms are eliminated.
If, after using the product, itching and redness of the skin, headaches, nausea and vomiting occur, then it is better to remove the plate.
If all recommendations are followed, a woman during menopause will be able to get rid of hot flashes, changes in blood pressure, insomnia and attacks of aggression.
Price
Pharmaceutical companies today produce many types of hormonal patches that help eliminate the symptoms of menopause. Their prices vary. It largely depends on the manufacturing company, the composition of the drug, and the number of patches in one package.
Cost of popular hormonal patches for menopause:
- Klimara (Germany) – from 1300 rubles;
- Estraderm 50 TTS (Estraderm TTS, Dermestril) No. 8 – from 1900 rubles;
- Dermestril (Estradiol) 50 TTC No. 8 – from 2050 rubles;
- Estramon 50 transderm patch, N6 – from 3600 rubles.
Before purchasing a hormonal patch, you must consult a gynecologist and undergo a diagnosis. Self-medication is not recommended, as you may not only fail to achieve the desired result, but also worsen your general condition.
Release form and method of use
Klimara is an oval-shaped patch. Length – 4.5 cm, width – 3.3 cm. On the inside there is a film to which is attached a homogeneous transparent layer with synthetic estradiol, identical to natural. Adhesive plasters are sealed in bags. There are 4 sachets in a cardboard box.
Using the hormonal patch is as easy as using other patches. Need to:
- separate the protective film from the base;
- attach the product to the skin with the adhesive side.
