Prempro is considered a hormone replacement therapy (HRT). It contains a combination of conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone acetate. HRTs like Prempro are used to help relieve menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and sleep problems in postmenopausal women.
Key features of Prempro as a HRT:
- Contains estrogen and progestin hormones used to replace declining hormones during menopause
- Available as a pill taken daily
- Prescription-only medication approved by FDA
- Used to help relieve moderate to severe menopausal symptoms
- May help prevent bone loss during menopause
The
conjugated estrogens in Prempro are a mixture of estrogen hormones including estrone sulfate and 17β-
estradiol. As women approach menopause, their ovaries gradually produce less of the hormones estrogen and
progesterone. This often leads to menopausal symptoms like hot flashes.
The estrogens in Prempro help relieve these symptoms by replacing declining estrogen levels.
The
medroxyprogesterone acetate in Prempro is a progestin hormone with effects similar to the progesterone hormone naturally made by the ovaries. Progestins help reduce the risk of endometrial hyperplasia, overgrowth of the uterus lining, which can occur with using unopposed estrogen therapy during/after menopause.
Including progestin is important for women with a uterus to balance the estrogenic effects on the endometrium. ~~Those who have had hysterectomy would use estrogen-only therapy.~~
Some key points about using Prempro HRT:
- Should be used for shortest time to help manage menopausal symptoms
- Potential benefits and risks should be discussed with healthcare provider
- Increased risks like stroke, blood clots, gallstones with use >5 years for women >60 years old
- Not indicated to prevent heart disease or dementia
Benefits seen in clinical studies:
- Reduced frequency/severity of moderate to severe hot flashes
- Improved vulvovaginal symptoms like dryness, pain, irritation
- Prevented bone loss helping maintain bone mineral density
- Lowered LDL cholesterol levels
- Decreased colorectal cancer risk
Potential side effects and risks:
- Headache, breast tenderness, irregular vaginal bleeding
- Increased risk of blood clots, stroke, heart attack, breast cancer
- Gallbladder disease requiring surgery
| Condition | Increased Relative Risk with Prempro Use |
|-|-|
| Stroke | Up to 1.8 times |
| Blood clots | 2 to 4 times |
| Breast cancer | Up to 1.2 times |
| Gallbladder disease | 2 times |
At Vitality Balance Clinic, we provide customized bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) to help relieve menopause symptoms and promote optimal health as women transition through menopause.
Our compassionate doctors take the time to understand your unique needs and goals. We develop individualized treatment plans that may include:
- Bioidentical estrogens and progesterone to help relieve hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, vaginal dryness
- Compounded BHRT preparations personalized based on your hormone levels
- Lifestyle counseling on nutrition, exercise strategies
- Stress reduction techniques
- Supplements to support energy levels, heart health, bone health
We monitor your hormone levels and treatment response through follow-up visits and lab testing. The goal is to find the lowest effective hormone doses to relieve your symptoms while considering your health history and risk factors.
We strive to empower women to make the best decisions regarding their menopausal care and beyond.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation to discuss whether bioidentical HRT could be right for you.
