Estradiol (transdermal) — Estrogen. Study the mechanism, listed uses and warnings from the US label on one sourced card.
Generic name
Estradiol
Class
Estrogen
Mechanism
Binds nuclear estrogen receptors; reduces the elevated LH and FSH seen after menopause via negative feedback.
Used for
Moderate-to-severe menopausal vasomotor symptoms; Postmenopausal osteoporosis prevention only after considering non-estrogen options and significant osteoporosis risk
Common side effects
Headache; Breast tenderness; Back pain; Nausea; Intermenstrual bleeding
Boxed warning
Unopposed estrogen increases endometrial-cancer risk in people with a uterus. WHI/WHIMS found vascular risks with the studied oral estrogen regimens and increased probable dementia at age 65 or older; increased invasive breast cancer was reported with estrogen plus progestin. The extent of these risks with other doses, routes or products is unknown. Estrogen should not be used to prevent cardiovascular disease or dementia.
Warnings
The label reports stroke/DVT risks with estrogen alone and stroke/DVT/PE/MI risks with studied estrogen-plus-progestin therapy; Gallbladder disease; Undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding is a contraindication
Interactions
CYP3A4 inducers (rifampin, St. John's wort); CYP3A4 inhibitors (ketoconazole, ritonavir)
Brand questions use only name pairings verified against the linked product source. Unverified pairings are withheld from these questions; the other study content remains available.
Label date: 20250724 · For learning, not clinical decisions. US label and brand information; always consult the current source.
Source snapshot checked: 2026-10-21. The source document and selected fields were compared. The complete card has not had an independent clinical review.
Mechanism: Binds nuclear estrogen receptors in responsive tissues; reduces the elevated LH and FSH seen after menopause.
On both cards: Common side effects — Breast tenderness · Warnings — Gallbladder disease · Interactions — CYP3A4 inducers (rifampin, St. John's wort); CYP3A4 inhibitors (ketoconazole, ritonavir)
Only on the Estradiol (topical) card: Used for — Moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms due to menopause · Common side effects — Metrorrhagia; Vaginal mycosis; Nasopharyngitis; Upper respiratory infection · Warnings — PE, DVT and stroke; Breast cancer or estrogen-dependent neoplasia (contraindicated)
Mechanism: Suppresses ovulation in about half of users, thickens cervical mucus, blunts LH/FSH peaks and alters the endometrium.
On both cards: Common side effects — Headache; Breast tenderness; Nausea
Only on the Norethindrone card: Used for — Prevention of pregnancy · Common side effects — Menstrual irregularity; Dizziness · Warnings — Known or suspected pregnancy (contraindicated); Breast carcinoma (contraindicated); Liver tumors or acute liver disease · Interactions — CYP3A4 inducers (reduced efficacy)
Mechanism: Prevents pregnancy primarily by suppressing ovulation.
On both cards: Common side effects — Headache; Breast tenderness; Nausea
Only on the Levonorgestrel / Ethinyl Estradiol card: Used for — Prevention of pregnancy · Common side effects — Menorrhagia; Dysmenorrhea · Warnings — Thrombotic and thromboembolic events; Liver disease; Hypertension · Interactions — Enzyme inducers (reduced efficacy)
An item counts as shared only when both cards use the same wording. If a card does not list an item, that is not a statement that the effect never occurs.
Boxed warnings on related cards
Estradiol (topical): Increased risk of endometrial cancer in a woman with a uterus who uses unopposed estrogen.
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