From the Research
Climara is a commonly prescribed once-weekly estrogen patch that delivers estradiol continuously through the skin, and it is recommended for menopausal symptom management, hormone replacement therapy, or as part of gender-affirming care, due to its ability to bypass the liver and provide more stable hormone levels with potentially fewer side effects, as supported by recent studies such as 1 and 2. The patch comes in various strengths ranging from 0.025 mg/day to 0.1 mg/day, allowing for personalized dosing based on individual needs. To use Climara properly, apply the patch to clean, dry skin on your lower abdomen or upper buttock area, rotating application sites weekly to prevent skin irritation. Each patch should be worn for exactly 7 days before replacing it with a new one. Some key points to consider when using Climara or other estrogen patches include:
- Estrogen patches are often preferred over oral estrogen because they bypass the liver, resulting in more stable hormone levels and potentially fewer side effects, as noted in 3 and 4.
- The use of estrogen monotherapy beyond age 65 years was associated with significant risk reductions in mortality, breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, congestive heart failure, venous thromboembolism, atrial fibrillation, acute myocardial infarction, and dementia, as reported in 1.
- The implications of menopausal hormone therapy use beyond age 65 years vary by types, routes, and strengths, with risk reductions appearing to be greater with low rather than medium or high doses, vaginal or transdermal rather than oral preparations, and with E2 rather than conjugated estrogen, as discussed in 1 and 2. Other once-weekly estrogen patch options include Vivelle-Dot and Minivelle, though these are typically changed twice weekly. Side effects may include skin irritation at the application site, breast tenderness, headaches, or nausea, especially when first starting treatment, as mentioned in 5 and 3.