Key takeaways
Prempro (conjugated estrogens/medroxyprogesterone) and Elestrin (estradiol gel) are both medications used to relieve menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats. They belong to the estrogen replacement class, but they have some key differences. Prempro can also be used to prevent osteoporosis after menopause and is a combination of estrogen and progestin. Common side effects include breast pain, headaches, and menstrual cramps. Prempro includes a progestin, which is important for people with a uterus to help protect against uterine cancer. Elestrin, on the other hand, is a topical gel applied to the skin once a day and contains only estradiol, a type of estrogen. Both medications are only available in a branded version. Common Elestrin side effects include breast tenderness and abnormal vaginal bleeding. Both medications can increase the risk of blood clots and certain cancers. Elestrin requires careful application to avoid transferring the gel to others through skin contact. If you have a uterus, you might need to take a progestin with Elestrin to protect the uterus.
