Key takeaways
Climara (estradiol) and Femring (estradiol acetate vaginal ring) are both estrogen replacement therapies used to relieve menopause symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal dryness. Climara is a transdermal patch that you apply to your skin once or twice a week, while Femring is a vaginal ring that you insert every three months. Climara can also help prevent osteoporosis, but it might cause weight gain and you need to avoid swimming with the once-weekly patch. Femring, on the other hand, does not commonly cause weight gain and allows you to swim and have sex without removing it. Both medications require you to use a progestin if you still have your uterus to lower the risk of uterine cancer. However, Femring is only available as a brand name, which might make it more expensive compared to Climara, which has multiple brand options.
