What is Menest used for?

Menest is indicated for Treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms associated with the menopause, Treatment of moderate to severe symptoms of vulvar and vaginal atrophy associated with the menopause, Female hypogonadism, Female castration, Primary ovarian failure.

Menest is developed by Pfizer Inc..

What development phase is Menest in?

Menest is FDA-approved (marketed).

What are the side effects of Menest?

Common side effects include Nausea, Headache, Breakthrough bleeding, Spotting, Change in menstrual flow, Amenorrhea.

What is the generic name of Menest?

Estrogens, Esterified is the generic (nonproprietary) name of Menest.

Last reviewed 2026-04-20 · How we verify

Menest (Estrogens, Esterified)

Pfizer Inc. · FDA-approved approved Quality 58/100

Esterified estrogens, sold under the brand names Estratab and Menest, are used for hormone therapy and cancer treatment.

Esterified estrogens, marketed as Menest by Pfizer, hold a niche position in hormone therapy and cancer treatment with 7 approved indications but no ongoing clinical trials. The drug faces strong competition from breast cancer treatments such as Inluriyo, Faslodex, Anastrozole, Tamoxifen, and Letrozole, which may limit its market share. A key risk is the requirement for a PD-L1 companion diagnostic for several of its indications, potentially restricting its patient base. Despite these challenges, the stable revenue from its approved uses suggests a steady but not expanding pipeline.

At a glance

Generic name	Estrogens, Esterified
Sponsor	Pfizer Inc.
Drug class	Estrogen
Target	Estrogen receptor
Therapeutic area	Oncology
Phase	FDA-approved

Mechanism of action

Esterified estrogens are a type of estrogen medication used to treat various conditions in women and men. They work by replacing hormones that are no longer produced by the body, such as during menopause. This can help alleviate symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal dryness. Esterified estrogens can also be used to treat certain types of cancer, including breast and prostate cancer.

Approved indications

Treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms associated with the menopause
Treatment of moderate to severe symptoms of vulvar and vaginal atrophy associated with the menopause
Female hypogonadism
Female castration
Primary ovarian failure
Breast cancer (for palliation only) in appropriately selected women and men with metastatic disease
Prostatic carcinoma - palliative therapy of advanced disease

Boxed warnings

ESTROGENS INCREASE THE RISK OF ENDOMETRIAL CANCERt Close clinical surveillance of all women taking estrogens is important. Adequate diagnostic measures, including endometrial sampling when indicated, should be undertaken to rule out malignancy in all cases of undiagnosed persistent or recurring abnormal vaginal bleeding. There is no evidence that the use of "natural" estrogens results in a different endometrial risk profile than synthetic estrogens at equivalent estrogen doses. (See WARNINGS, Ma

Common side effects

Nausea
Headache
Breakthrough bleeding
Spotting
Change in menstrual flow
Amenorrhea
Breast tenderness
Breast enlargement
Vomiting
Abdominal cramps
Bloating
Dysmenorrhea

Serious adverse events

Hepatocellular neoplasms
Peliosis hepatis
Cholestatic jaundice
Thromboembolism
Anaphylactoid reactions
Erythema multiforme
Erythema nodosum
Chorea
Mental depression
Virilization

Drug interactions

Atorvastatin
Aspirin
Cyclosporine
Dipyridamole
Heparin
Methyldopa
Phenothiazines
Prazosin
Rauwolfia alkaloids
Warfarin
Corticosteroids
Tetracyclines