Menopause patches transmit hormones through the skin to ease the symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes and vaginal discomfort. The benefits outweigh the risks for most people.

Some menopause symptoms like hot flashes, mood changes, and vaginal discomfort can negatively affect your quality of life.

One of the best ways to treat these severe menopause symptoms is known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which is used to replace the hormones the body is no longer making on its own.

You might find these prescription items in several forms, including transdermal skin patches or “menopause patches.” They’re also available in tablets, topical creams or gels, and vaginal suppositories and rings.

Here’s what you may want to know about these hormone patches that could be an option for your menopause-related symptoms.

Transdermal skin patches are used as a hormone delivery system to treat particular symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness, burning, and irritation.

They are called transdermal (“trans” meaning “through” and “dermal” referring to the dermis or skin). This is because the hormones in the patch are absorbed through the skin by blood vessels and then delivered throughout the body.

Two types of patches include:

  • estrogen (estradiol) patch
  • combination estrogen (estradiol) and progestin (norethindrone) patch

Low-dose estrogen patches are available, but these are principally used for reducing osteoporosis risk. They aren’t used for other menopause symptoms.

What are estrogen and progestin?

Estrogen is the group of hormones produced primarily by the ovaries. It supports and promotes the development, regulation, and maintenance of the female reproductive system and sex characteristics.

Progestin is a form of progesterone, a hormone that affects the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.

The risks of HRT in general may include:

This risk appears to be greater for women over the age of 60 years. Other factors that affect the risks include:

  • dose and type of estrogen
  • whether treatment includes estrogen alone or estrogen with progestin
  • current health condition
  • family medical history

All of these factors underscore the point that you will want to work with your healthcare team to determine what type of treatment may be best for you.

Clinical research indicates that for the short-term treatment of the symptoms of menopause, the benefits of HRT outweigh the risks:

  • A 2017 studyTrusted Source of 27,000 women over an 18-year period, menopausal hormone therapy for 5 to 7 years does not increase the risk of death.
  • This older research reviewTrusted Source of several large studies (one involving over 70,000 women) indicates that transdermal hormone therapy is associated with less risk for gallbladder disease than oral hormone therapy.
  • For the same reason, transdermal hormone therapy is safer thanTrusted Source the oral form, since it also bypasses the liver, decreasing the risk of blood clots.

You’ll notice that the language used to share stats and other data points is pretty binary, fluctuating between the use of “male” and “female” or “men” and “women.”

Although we typically avoid language like this, specificity is key when reporting on research participants and clinical findings.

If you feel that HRT is an option you might consider for managing menopause, you might consider consulting your healthcare team to discuss both the benefits and the risks and whether this could work for you.

The menopause patch and HRT can assist in managing the symptoms of menopause. For many people, it appears that the benefits outweigh the risks.

To see whether it’s right for you, consult with your healthcare team who will consider your age, medical history, and other important personal information before making a recommendation.