Free HRT dose equivalency calculator
Switching from a patch to a pill? Or pills to a gel? Tap what you use now and your dose. You'll see the same dose in every other form, in plain English.
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This is a rough guide, not a prescription. Your doctor sets your real dose. Still have your uterus? You'll also need progesterone with any of these.
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Vaginal creams, vaginal tablets and low-dose rings (like Estring) work right where you put them.
They're great for dryness, itching, pain during sex and bladder trouble. But very little reaches the rest of your body. So they don't convert to a patch or pill dose, and they usually won't stop hot flashes.
Using Femring? That one is different. It works on your whole body, like a patch. A 0.05 mg Femring is about the same as a 0.05 mg patch.
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A 0.05 mg patch, a 1 mg estradiol pill, a 0.625 mg Premarin pill and 2 pumps of estradiol gel are all about the same "standard" dose. Here's what low, standard and high doses look like in every form.
Where many women start
The most common dose for hot flashes
Used when lower doses aren't enough
The right dose is the one that makes your symptoms go away with the fewest side effects. Most doctors start low and go up only if you still feel off after a few weeks.
Same dose doesn't always mean same experience. Keep these in mind.
A pill goes through your liver before it reaches your blood. Patches and gels go straight through your skin. That's why doctors often prefer them if you have a higher risk of blood clots.
Vaginal cream and low-dose rings treat dryness and pain during sex. They stay mostly in one area, so they won't replace a patch or pill for hot flashes.
Estrogen on its own can thicken the lining of your uterus. Taking progesterone with it keeps that lining healthy.
Your doctor will match the dose and check in after a few weeks. Some women need a small tweak up or down to feel their best.
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Roughly, yes. Most US doctors treat a 0.05 mg patch, a 1 mg estradiol pill, and a 0.625 mg Premarin pill as the same standard dose. Your body handles them differently, though: a pill goes through your liver first, while a patch goes straight through your skin.
When you swallow a pill, your liver breaks down most of the estrogen before it reaches your blood. A patch or gel skips that step, so it needs far less estrogen to do the same job.
Switch with your doctor's help. They will pick the matching dose and check how you feel after a few weeks. Some women need a small adjustment up or down.
No. Vaginal cream, vaginal tablets, and low-dose rings like Estring mostly stay in the vaginal area. They treat dryness, pain during sex, and bladder symptoms, but they usually won't stop hot flashes.
If you still have your uterus, yes. Estrogen on its own can thicken the lining of the uterus and raise the risk of uterine cancer. Progesterone protects against that. If you have had a hysterectomy, you usually don't need it.
There is no single best form. Patches and gels are often preferred if you have a higher risk of blood clots, because they skip the liver. Pills are simple to take. Your doctor will help you pick the one that fits you.
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For educational use only. This is not medical advice. Always talk to your prescriber before you change your dose or form of estrogen.
Doses are matched through a standard equivalence of 0.05 mg/day transdermal estradiol ≈ 1 mg/day oral estradiol ≈ 0.625 mg/day conjugated estrogens, the US "standard dose" used in menopause guidance. Gel pumps assume 0.06% estradiol gel (0.75 mg estradiol per pump), with 1 pump ≈ a 25 mcg patch, following the British Menopause Society equivalence guide. Results are rounded to the nearest common strength. Low-dose vaginal products act locally and are not converted.