Divigel(R) (estradiol gel) 0.1 Percent Offers Lowest Approved Dose of Estradiol for Treatment of Moderate to Severe Hot Flashes Associated with...( -Estrogen Continues to be Gold Sta...),Health

-Estrogen Continues to be Gold Standard for Management of Hot Flashes-

MAPLE GROVE, Minn., May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Medical specialists from around the country will gather this week to discuss the latest research in obstetrics and gynecology, and menopause and estrogen therapy will be among the information presented.

"Estrogen therapy continues to be the gold standard for the management of hot flashes, the most common physical sign of menopause," said Dr. Ricki Pollycove, fellow, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and clinical faculty member, University of California, San Francisco. "However, because of misconceptions that still exist today due to the influx of conflicting information that has emerged since the Women's Health Initiative Study, women may not be aware that advances in low-dose hormone therapies exist."

In June 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Divigel(R) (estradiol gel) 0.1 percent, the lowest approved dose of estradiol available for the treatment of moderate to severe hot flashes associated with menopause. Guidelines from the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) indicate that estrogen hormone therapy should be used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest amount of time.

"Transdermal estrogen therapies, such as Divigel(R), are emerging as an effective and safe mode of treatment," said Dr. Pollycove.

The estrogen in Divigel(R) is derived from plant sources and is bioidentical to the primary estrogen produced by a woman's ovaries before menopause. Certain older oral estrogen therapies contain conjugated estrogens derived from the urine of pregnant mares. Divigel(R) is a quick-drying gel that is odorless when dry, and is available in convenient, individual-use packets. One packet of gel is applied daily to an area that measures approximately 5 x 7 inches on the thigh, the smallest application area compared to all other available gel or lotion estrogen products. After the g
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