How does the prescription medicine Ospemifene function for estrogen deficiency?
Answer
It mimics estrogen's beneficial effects on vaginal tissue by acting as a SERM.
Ospemifene is an important alternative for women who have contraindications for estrogen use but still suffer from symptoms related to estrogen deficiency, such as vaginal dryness. It is classified as a Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator, or SERM. Functionally, a SERM works by binding to estrogen receptors in target tissues, such as the vaginal lining, and activating them in a manner that mimics the beneficial effects of natural estrogen. Crucially, it is taken orally, but its action is designed to be specific enough that it does not carry the same broad systemic impacts associated with traditional systemic hormone replacement therapy.
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