Estradiol (medication)
Estradiol is also available in the U.S. in combination with progestogens for the treatment of menopausal symptoms and as a combined hormonal contraceptive:Estradiol and estradiol esters are also available in custom preparations from compounding pharmacies in the U.S. This includes subcutaneous pellet implants, which are not available in the United States as FDA-approved pharmaceutical drugs. In addition, topical creams that contain estradiol are generally regulated as cosmetics rather than as drugs in the U.S. and hence are also sold over-the-counter and may be purchased without a prescription on the Internet.
Estradiol-containing birth control pill
Combined birth control pills that contain natural estradiol or an estradiol ester (e.g., estradiol valerate) include:It is hypothesized that these contraceptives may pose less of a risk of blood clots than contraceptives containing ethinylestradiol, which is the conventional estrogen that is used in oral contraceptives, but this has yet to be proven. However, incidence of irregular vaginal bleeding may be higher with estradiol-containing contraceptives in relation to the fact that estradiol is a weaker estrogen than ethinylestradiol in the endometrium.