Q&A 88: Estriol vs. Estradiol as an HRT for brain health

Estradiol is the most potent endogenous estrogen, extensively studied, and the primary estrogen component in numerous approved HRT formulations used for managing menopausal symptoms.....

Question

I have recently learned about estriol use for hormone replacement (HRT) and that it is supposed to be better than estradiol for brain health. Can you tell me if this is true or not? Thank you!

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Answer

In short, the evidence is weak and is based on small studies. However, the topic is an important one, so I have produced both a concise summary and a more detailed response that may be of interest to women with multiple sclerosis (MS).