Compare Climara Pro vs. Prefest
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Relieves hot flashes and lowers your risk of osteoporosis.
The Climara Pro (estradiol / levonorgestrel patch) is effective at treating menopause symptoms, and it can be a good choice for women who need estrogen/progestin combination medications but prefer to use a patch once a week instead of pills every day.
Relieves menopause symptoms and lowers your risk of osteoporosis.
Prefest (Estradiol / Norgestimate) is effective at treating symptoms related to menopause and bone loss. It has a difficult dosing schedule to follow, but doesn't affect your cholesterol and triglyceride levels as much as other estrogen products.
Upsides
- Once-a-week patch. Good for people who don't want to take daily pills.
- Replaces estrogen in your body and relieves multiple symptoms from low estrogen, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness.
- Fewer side effects than pills since patches contain lower amounts of hormones.
- Good for women with an intact uterus. The progestin in the patch protects against the risk of cancer in the uterus.
- The Climara Pro (estradiol / levonorgestrel patch) patch has a lower risk of causing blood clots and stroke compared to other forms containing the same medicines.
- Prefest (Estradiol / Norgestimate) replenishes estrogen to your whole body and relieves multiple symptoms due to low estrogen (hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness).
- Lowers your risk of fractures by keeping your bones healthy. Make sure you also get enough calcium and Vitamin D.
- Improves mood, energy, and mental alertness for some people.
- Good for women with an intact uterus. The norgestimate (a progestin) protects against the risk of cancer in the uterus caused by estrogen treatment.
- Doesn't affect your cholesterol levels as much as other estrogen treatments.
Downsides
- More potential side effects than medications with one ingredient since Climara Pro (estradiol / levonorgestrel patch) exposes your whole body to two hormones.
- Increases your risk of developing blood clots and stroke.
- You may get irregular bleeding and spotting that can last a few months to a year.
- The patch can fall off, especially if you like to regularly swim, take baths, or use saunas.
- Can be expensive since it's only available as a brand name product.
- More potential side effects since it exposes your whole body to two hormones, estrogen and norgestimate (a progestin).
- Dosing schedule can be hard to follow with the 2 different kind of pills (estrogen-only and estrogen/progestin pills).
- Increases your risk of developing blood clots and stroke.
- You may get irregular bleeding and spotting that can last a few months to a year.
Used for
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Vaginal dryness and inflammation
- Prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis
Dosage forms
- Patch
- Pill
Price
Lowest price
$241.37
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$194.00
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Side effects
22possible side effects
- Skin irritation41%
- Vaginal bleeding37%
- Breast pain19%
- Lung infection13%
- Back pain6%
- Depression6%
- Flu like symptoms5%
- Pain5%
- Headache5%
- Stomach pain4%
- Gas4%
- Swelling of arms and legs4%
- Joint pain4%
- Airway inflammation4%
- Sinus infection4%
- Accidental injury3%
- Infection3%
- High blood pressure3%
- Weight gain3%
- Bladder infection3%
- Rash2%
- Vaginal inflammation2%
22possible side effects
- Headache23%
- Upper respiratory-tract infection21%
- Breast pain16%
- Back pain12%
- Abdominal pain12%
- Influenza-like symptoms11%
- Arthralgia9%
- Vaginal bleeding (all)9%
- Dysmenorrhea8%
- Sinusitis8%
- Vaginitis7%
- Pharyngitis7%
- Fatigue6%
- Pain6%
- Nausea6%
- Viral infection6%
- Flatulence5%
- Tooth disorder5%
- Myalgia5%
- Dizziness5%
- Depression5%
- Coughing5%
Risks and risk factors
- Endometrial cancer
- Using estrogen for more than one year
- Breast cancer
- Personal or family history of breast cancer
- Using estrogen for more than one year
- Increased risk of blood clots and stroke
- Personal or family history of blood clots
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Dementia
- Age 65 or older
- Pancreas swelling (pancreatitis)
- High levels of triglycerides
- Endometrial cancer
- Using estrogen for more than one year
- Breast cancer
- Personal or family history of breast cancer
- Duration of use
- Increased risk of blood clots and stroke
- Personal or family history of blood clots
- Obesity
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Harm to fetus
- Women of childbearing age
- Pancreas swelling (pancreatitis)
- High levels of triglycerides
- Ovarian cancer
- Family history of ovarian cancer