Estradiol Uses

Estradiol is used for the treatment of menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness, itching, and burning. In women who only have vaginal symptoms, topical products such as estradiol vaginal cream or estradiol gel can be applied directly to the vagina and may be more beneficial. 

Estradiol is also used to treat low estrogen levels due to castration, hypogonadism, and primary ovarian failure. This drug may be prescribed for palliative treatment of certain types of metastatic breast cancer and advanced androgen-dependent prostate cancer. Estradiol may be prescribed for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis in women who cannot take non-estrogen medications.

There may be other uses of estradiol—your doctor or pharmacist can give you further drug information.

Estradiol Mechanism of Action

Estradiol is an estrogen hormone. It works by replacing the natural estrogen hormone in the body.

Estradiol Doses

Oral estradiol comes in the form of 0.5 mg, 1 mg, and 2 mg tablets. The recommended dosages are as follows:

• For menopausal symptoms: The usual initial dose of estradiol hormone therapy is 1 to 2 mg daily. This is adjusted to control postmenopausal symptoms. Your provider will start you at the lowest dose that controls your symptoms and reevaluate you at 3- to 6-month intervals to see if you need to continue on estradiol. They may ask you to take the medicine cyclically, i.e., 3 weeks on and 1 week off. 
• For low estrogen due to castration, hypogonadism, or primary ovarian failure: The dose of estradiol is usually 1 to 2 mg daily. This is adjusted to control symptoms. The minimal effective dose is used for maintenance therapy.
• For palliative treatment of breast cancer with metastatic disease: The recommended dose of estradiol is 10 mg three times daily for three months or longer.
• For palliative treatment of advanced androgen-dependent prostate cancer: The recommended dose of estradiol is 1 to 2 mg three times daily. 
• For prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis: Estradiol is prescribed only to women who are at a significant risk of osteoporosis (bone loss) and in whom non-estrogen medications are not appropriate. The lowest effective dose of estradiol is used.