Glossary

Bioidentical hormone therapy is often used to describe a medication containing estrogen, progesterone, or other hormones that have the same chemical structure as hormones produced naturally in the body.

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The amount of calcium and other minerals present in bone. Measuring BMD is the best way to evaluate bone strength and predict fracture risk.

Compounded hormones are custom mixed by a pharmacist based on a physician's prescription. They can be appropriate for special cases, such as when a woman has trouble handling certain components of drug products. Products made in compounding pharmacies are not subject to the same rigorous oversight and testing as FDA-approved therapies.

Estradiol is the primary form of estrogen produced by the ovaries.

Estrogen is a female hormone produced in the ovaries that plays an important role in a woman's reproductive development.

Treatment in which estrogen alone is used to relieve moderate to severe hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness and atrophy associated with menopause. These symptoms are caused by low levels of estrogen circulating in the body.

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A sudden sensation of intense heat in the body.

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Hormones are substances produced by the body that affect the function of certain bodily tissues and organs.

Surgical removal of the uterus.

Read more about the types of hysterectomy

Menopause is the point in a woman's life when menstruation stops. It is confirmed when 12 months have passed since a woman's last menstrual period. Menopause can occur naturally or when the ovaries are surgically removed.

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Symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and atrophy, including itching, burning, irritation, and shortening and thinning of the vagina and vaginal walls. When moderate to severe, these symptoms can be treated with estrogen therapy.

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Hot flashes that occur at night accompanied by heavy perspiration.

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A thinning of the bones that makes them weaker and easier to break.

Read more about postmenopausal osteoporosis

Two organs, located on either side of the uterus, that contain the eggs released at ovulation and that produce hormones. The ovaries are the main source of female hormones before menopause.

Induced menopause that results from surgical removal of both of the ovaries (bilateral oophorectomy) for medical reasons. Surgical menopause can occur at any age.

Read more about postmenopausal osteoporosis

A form of delivering a medication for absorption through the skin into the bloodstream. Vivelle-Dot^®, for example, is a transdermal estrogen patch that delivers a continuous flow of estradiol (a form of estrogen like your body's own) to your bloodstream through your skin.

Itching, burning, dryness, and thinning of the vaginal walls, and shortening of the vagina due to a decline in estrogen.

Read more about vaginal dryness and atrophy

Vivelle-Dot is an estrogen therapy patch that can help control moderate to severe hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness and atrophy associated with menopause. Vivelle-Dot also helps reduce the risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis.*

Exercise during which the body works against the force of gravity or bears the body's weight. Examples include brisk walking, playing tennis, dancing, and jogging.