Compare Climara vs. Depo-Estradiol
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Treats low estrogen, relieves menopause symptoms, and lowers your risk of osteoporosis.
Climara (estradiol patch) is a treatment for low estrogen that is used only once weekly, and it may have fewer side effects than oral estrogen pills.
Treats low estrogen and relieves menopause symptoms.
Depo-Estradiol (estradiol cypionate injection) is a good once-a-month option for treating menopause symptoms and low estrogen, as long as you're comfortable with needles.
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3.2/ 5 average rating with 109 reviewsforDepo-Estradiol
Upsides
- Climara (estradiol patch) replaces estrogen to your whole body and relieves many symptoms due to low estrogen, like hot flashes and vaginal dryness.
- The patch is good for people who don't want to or can't take daily pills.
- Climara (estradiol patch) is available as a generic product, which lowers the cost.
- By using a patch instead of a pill, there's a lower risk of side effects such as blood clots and stroke since lower amounts of estrogen are used in patches.
- Lowers your risk of fractures by keeping your bones healthy.
- You only need an injection once a month, which can be less of a hassle than pills, patches, creams, and gels.
- Your doctor can show you how to inject yourself so you can do it on your own at home.
- Replenishes estrogen to your whole body and relieves multiple symptoms.
- Less side effects since lower amounts of estrogen is used compared to the pills.
Downsides
- The patch can fall off, especially if you like to regularly swim, take baths or use saunas or steamrooms.
- Increases your risk of uterine and breast cancer.
- If you have your uterus, you have to use the Climara (estradiol patch) with another hormone called progestin to lower your risk of uterine cancer.
- Can worsen other health conditions, like high cholesterol, asthma, diabetes, fluid retention, underactive thyroid and migraines.
- If you're only having vaginal dryness or inflammation and not hot flashes, it's better to use creams that you can apply to the affected area instead of Climara (estradiol patch).
- Requires injection with a needle, which can be difficult for some people.
- Increases your risk of endometrial and breast cancer.
- If you have an intact uterus, you have to use Depo-Estradiol (estradiol cypionate injection) with another hormone called progestin to lower your risk of uterine cancer.
- Can't be used in people with liver problems.
- Can be expensive since it's only available as a brand name product.
Used for
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Vaginal dryness and inflammation
- Low estrogen
- Ovarian failure
- Prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis
- Hot flashes
- Low estrogen
Dosage forms
- Patch
- Injection
Price
Lowest price
$32.19
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$134.22
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Reviews
Not enough review data.Leave a review
109 reviews so far
40%
saidit'sworth it
28%
saiditworked well
18%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Depo-Estradiol (estradiol cypionate injection)?
Leave a reviewSide effects
16possible side effects
- Breast pain28%
- Lung infection17%
- Stomach pain16%
- Headache13%
- Pain11%
- Swelling of arms and legs10%
- Back pain9%
- Depression8%
- Gas7%
- White or yellow vaginal discharge7%
- Sore throat7%
- Nausea6%
- Stuffy nose6%
- Joint pain5%
- Sinus infection5%
- Itchiness3%
The Depo-Estradiol (estradiol cypionate injection) FDA package insert doesn’t have numbers about how common side effects are.
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)
- Increased risk of heart disease
- Smoking
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- High blood sugar
- High cholesterol
- Age 50 or older
- Dementia
- Age 65 or older
- Pancreas swelling (pancreatitis)
- High levels of triglycerides
- Endometrial cancer
- Taking estrogen replacement 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)
- Increased risk of heart disease
- Smoking
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- High blood sugar
- High cholesterol
- Aged 50 or older
- Dementia
- Aged 65 or older
- Pancreas swelling (pancreatitis)
- High levels of triglycerides