Bioidentical Estriol: The Better Estrogen in Protecting Against Breast Cancer

Estriol is the weakest of the three estrogens. Estriol studies have shown that apparently it has a lower risk for breast cancer. They have also shown that it possibly may have a protective effect on the breasts. Unlike conjugated estrogens or estradiol, when estriol is taken, it is not converted into estrone. This means that you aren’t exposing yourself to the estrogens that have been linked to cancer.

The studies on estriol are one of the main reasons that more researchers are trying to find a way to use estriol alone as an estrogen replacement. This would be used in place of the commonly prescribed conjugated estrogens or estradiols that are being used now.

The importance and benefits of estriol is its weakness. It seems that estriol offers the benefits of the stronger estrogens, with much fewer side effects and risks. Tests that have been completed have shown that estriol relieves menopausal symptoms, and protects against heart disease and osteoporosis. The other estrogens do the same, but estriol doesn’t appear to increase the risk of breast cancer or endometrial cancer. Actually, many studies have indicated that estriol has an anti-cancer effect, and actually may work better than tamoxifen for women with breast cancer. In addition, studies have also found that estriol seemed to be a better choice for women who have had troubles tolerating the stronger estrogens.

Along with the weakness of estriol being a positive, it is also a negative. Since it is much weaker than the other estrogens, a much higher dose is needed for it to take effect. A high dose can cause nausea, as estriol is the estrogen that rises with pregnancy, often causing morning sickness.

Currently, estriol is not a widely prescribed drug due to the fact there isn’t a current patent on it and no pharmaceutical companies have put a name to it. Hopefully with increasing research and information, there will be an increase in the usage within the next few years.

Megan Mathews, Research and Content

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