Text Size Print Share

Benefits & Risks

Benefits of Vivelle-Dot®

By delivering a continuous flow of estradiol (a form of estrogen like your body's own), Vivelle-Dot helps control moderate to severe hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness and atrophy associated with menopause. Vivelle-Dot also helps reduce your chances of getting postmenopausal osteoporosis (thin, weak bones). If you are considering using Vivelle-Dot to only prevent osteoporosis from menopause, talk with your healthcare professional about whether a different treatment or medicine without estrogens might be better for you.

Vivelle-Dot is so small and thin, you probably won't even notice you're wearing it. The patented technology of Vivelle-Dot allows it to stay on during bathing, swimming, or exercise.

Summary of Frequently Reported Side Effects
Versus Placebo in a Clinical Study
Vivelle* 0.05 mg/day
Study Population = 103 patients
Headache: 31.1%
Breast Pain: 7.8%
Back Pain: 8.7%
Placebo
Study Population = 157 patients
Headache: 23.6%
Breast Pain: 0%
Back Pain: 6.4%
 

*Vivelle and Vivelle-Dot are bioequivalent (work the same way). For more information
please see Full Prescribing Information.

Risks of Estrogen Therapy

All estrogen therapies carry risk. Estrogens increase the chances of getting cancer of the uterus (womb). You should report any unusual vaginal bleeding right away while you are taking estrogens. Vaginal bleeding after menopause may be a warning sign of cancer of the uterus (womb).

Do not use estrogens (with or without progestins) to prevent heart disease, heart attacks or strokes. Using estrogens (with or without progestins) may increase your chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer and blood clots. Using estrogens may increase your risk of dementia (decline in memory and thinking skills).

Estrogen therapy should not be used if you:

  • Have unusual vaginal bleeding
  • Currently have or have had certain cancers, including cancer of the breast or uterus
  • Had a stroke or heart attack in the recent past (for example, in the past year)
  • Currently have or have had blood clots
  • Currently have or have had liver problems
  • May be pregnant

Common side effects of estrogen therapy include headache, breast pain, irregular vaginal bleeding, stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, vomiting and hair loss.

Before deciding if estrogen therapy is right for you, it's important to have a thorough discussion with your doctor about the individual risks and benefits of estrogen therapy. Dose and length of therapy will be based on your individual health risks and treatment goals.