Is Estradiol The Same As Kliovance?

June 22, 2023

Going through menopause is a challenge that most women will face in their lifetime and the symptoms can be tough to deal with. From hot flushes to mood swings and insomnia, menopause symptoms can wreak havoc on your daily life. However, there are treatments out there that aim to reduce and alleviate your symptoms.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the most common treatment for menopause symptoms as it helps to rebalance the hormones — oestrogen and progesterone — that have depleted in your body. You may have already heard of the most popular HRTs such as Kliovance and Estradiol, but are they the same?

Discover more about Estradiol and Kliovance with healthcare.reviews and learn how you can manage your menopause symptoms with ease.

What is Estradiol?

Estradiol is a type of HRT that contains oestrogen so that it can regulate your hormone levels and decrease symptoms of menopause. It’s usually available as an oral tablet, a patch, a cream or an injection. The creams and gels can also come in different forms such as topical creams for your arms or legs or vaginal creams that aim to help reduce dryness.

Benefits of Estradiol

There are many benefits to taking Estradiol, a major one being that it can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis (bone loss). When you go through menopause, your oestrogen levels drop drastically — leaving you more at risk of fractures and osteoporosis. But by replenishing your oestrogen levels with Estradiol, you can strengthen your bones.

Taking Estradiol can also help reduce symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats — two of the most inconvenient symptoms of menopause.

Estradiol side effects

Estradiol has some side effects and it’s worth understanding them before taking it. Some people can have an allergic reaction to Estradiol too. If you show signs of an allergic reaction such as hives, difficulty breathing or any swelling, seek medical help immediately.

Side effects of Estradiol can include:

Nausea
Stomach cramping
Diarrhoea
Weight gain
Headaches
Breast pain or tenderness
Thinning of your hair or hair loss
Darkening of your skin or a rash
Sleep problems
Heartburn

If you are concerned about any changes to your body when taking Estradiol make sure to speak with your doctor for advice.

What is Kliovance?

Kliovance is another type of HRT that utilises both oestrogen and progesterone to create a combined HRT. It’s not normally recommended for women who go through premature menopause as the risks of using HRT can be slightly different. When taking Kliovance, you’ll need to see your doctor on a regular basis so that they can monitor its effect on your health.

Some people aren’t suitable candidates for Kliovance. For example, if you have or had breast cancer, have unexplained vaginal bleeding, had a blood clotting disorder or have or had liver disease. Any contraindications will be explained to you by your doctor before they offer it to you.

Benefits of Kliovance

Taking Kliovance can provide relief for symptoms that occur because of menopause such as hot flushes. It can also help decrease your risk of osteoporosis as it boosts your oestrogen levels back up. The main benefit of Kliovance is that it alleviates some of the most troublesome menopause symptoms so you can get back to living life to the full.

Kliovance side effects

Kliovance can of course have some side effects.

Common side effects can include:

Headaches
Weight gain
Migraines that are new or worse than before
Depression or low mood
Swelling of your arms or legs
Tenderness or swelling of your breasts
Nausea
Back pain
Uterine fibroids
Bloating
Acne

If you are concerned about any side effects of Kliovance, always speak with your doctor.

Are they the same hormone replacement therapy treatment?

Both Estradiol and Kliovance are hormone replacement therapies, but they do have one major difference. Estradiol is made of just one hormone, whereas Kliovance is made from two. Estradiol contains only oestrogen and Kliovance contains oestrogen and progesterone.

Although they both cause side effects, the side effects they cause can differ slightly too. Kliovance could cause uterine fibroids and Estradiol could cause heartburn — both of which can cause health problems over time.

It’s also worth noting that Kliovance is only suitable if you still have your uterus and ovaries. If you don’t, then an oestrogen-only HRT like Estradiol may be recommended to you. This is because women who have had a hysterectomy cannot get endometrial cancer, something which taking oestrogen can increase the risk. Adding progesterone to HRT for women with a uterus helps reduce this risk.

If you’re ever unsure which type of HRT is right for you, book an appointment with your doctor and they’ll be able to explain the differences and which one will work for your body.

Managing menopause symptoms isn’t always easy and it can take a few weeks at least for HRT to have an effect. Estradiol and Kliovance may be two of the most common treatments available, but they are also different from one another. Knowing which one is right for you is vital if you want to see results — so make an appointment with your doctor today to discuss your HRT treatment options.

If you want to learn more about taking care of your health and prioritising your needs, check out our latest blog posts.

Sources

Cedric Rousseau

Experienced medical communicator