Femoston

What is Femoston HRT?

Femoston is a brand of hormone replacement therapies (HRTs) suitable for postmenopausal women, which contains two types of female hormones — oestrogen and progestogen. This is known as a combined HRT.

Combined HRT is taken every day without a break. These treatments are very effective at reducing symptoms of menopause such as hot flushes and low mood and preventing the development of a brittle bone disorder, and osteoporosis.

What is Femoston used for?

Femoston is for use by postmenopausal women.

During menopause, a woman’s oestrogen levels naturally start to reduce. This can cause many women to endure unpleasant symptoms. Femoston can help to relieve postmenopausal symptoms improving the enjoyment of your daily life.

Postmenopausal symptoms include:

• Hot flushes and night sweats
• Disturbed sleep
• Reduced sex drive
• Difficulty remembering or concentrating
• Vaginal dryness
• Headaches
• Low mood or anxiety
• Fragile bones (osteoporosis)

To find out more about postmenopausal symptoms, you can visit our post menopause symptoms guide.

How does Femoston work?

Like other types of HRT, Femoston works to treat menopause symptoms by replacing the body’s decreasing hormone levels.

Oestrogen is produced by the ovaries, but during the menopause, the levels of oestrogen naturally decrease, resulting in a number of changes in the body — which causes the menopause, as well as various unwanted menopausal symptoms.

Femoston is designed to replace these decreasing hormone levels, easing symptoms around postmenopause.

Femoston is available on prescription as either Femoston Conti and Conti-Low or Femoston 1/10mg and 2/10 mg.

These two versions of Femoston are both combined HRT that contain two hormones that replicate the female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone to reduce symptoms of the menopause. The two hormones contained in Femoston are estradiol (oestrogen) and dydrogesterone (synthetic progesterone).

Femoston Conti

Femoston Conti is available on prescription as either 0.5/2.5mg (low) or 1/5mg tablets. Each tablet contains both estradiol and dydrogesterone and is taken every day with a break.

Femoston Conti can be prescribed to postmenopausal women who have not had a natural menstrual bleed for at least 12 months but have an intact uterus. Women should not expect to have a monthly bleed while taking Femoston Conti.

Femoston Conti benefits

Research has been conducted that has shown that taking HRT that just contains estradiol (oestrogen) can increase the risk of developing uterine cancers.

It is, therefore, recommended that women who still have an intact uterus only take HRT, which contains both Estradiol and synthetic progesterone such as Dydrogesterone.

Femoston 1/10 & Femoston 2/10

Femoston 1/10 and 2/10 are called combined cyclical HRT. This means within each pack you will have 14 tablets that contain just Estradiol, which is taken for the first 14 days and 14 tablets that contain both Estradiol and Dydrogesterone which are taken for the rest of the month.

Cyclical HRT works slightly differently from the Conti as it uses hormones to mimic the body’s natural menstrual cycle to reduce postmenopausal symptoms. Most women will experience a monthly bleed while taking Femoston 1/10 and 2/10.

Femoston 1/10 and 2/10 can be prescribed to postmenopausal women who have not experienced a natural menstrual bleed for at least 6 months but who still have an intact uterus. This will have the potential to cause a monthly bleed in certain circumstances. We would recommend that you check with your GP, menopause specialist or our team before switching between HRT products.

Does Femoston cause weight gain?

One of the reported side effects of Femoston is weight gain. Evidence into the use of HRT, however, suggests that this is more likely to be fluid retention and bloating rather than true weight gain.

After the menopause, it is not uncommon for women to gain weight — especially around their abdomen — due to the imbalance in hormones. Lower oestrogen levels are linked to causing a lower metabolic rate, increase in appetite, loss of muscle mass and fat build-up — all causing weight gain.

Weight gain is also part of the natural ageing process in both men and women as the metabolism starts to slow.

It is therefore important as you age to continue to get a good night's sleep, eat healthily and exercise regularly.

Sources

• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/types/
• https://patient.info/medicine/oestrogen-and-progestogen-for-hrt
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/blood-clots
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stroke/symptoms/
• Femoston Conti Patient Information Leaflet: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/1347/pil
• Femoston 1/10 & 2/10 Patient Information Leaflet: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/3903/pil

Femoston dosage

Before taking Femoston Conti or Femoston 1/10 or 1/20 you must ensure you have read and familiarised yourself with the directions for use in the Patient Information Leaflet.

• Femoston should only be prescribed for and taken by postmenopausal women.
• Take each tablet orally with a glass of water at the same time each day.
• Once you have finished a pack do not have a break. Start a new pack at the same time the next day.

Femoston Conti dosage

Each tablet is contained within its blister which is marked with the days of the week.

Take 1 tablet at the same time each day. You can start your first pack on whatever day is convenient for you.

Femoston 1/10 & 2/10 dosage

Day 1-14: Take 1 tablet daily containing 1 or 2 mg estradiol. Starting from the part of the pack marked with arrow 1.

Day 15-28: Take 1 tablet daily containing 1 or 2 mg estradiol and 10 mg dydrogesterone. Starting from the part of the pack marked with arrow 2.

Femoston Ingredients

Please ensure that you have read the Patient Information Leaflet thoroughly for either Femoston Conti or Femoston 1/10 or 2/10, depending on which you have been prescribed, before starting this medication.

Femoston Conti

The active ingredients in each Femoston Conti tablet include:

• Estradiol hemihydrate either 0.5 mg or 1 mg
• Dydrogesterone either 2.5 mg or 5 mg

The inactive ingredients in each Femoston Conti tablet include:

• Lactose monohydrate
• Magnesium stearate
• Titanium dioxide (E171)
• Iron oxide yellow (E172)
• Iron oxide red (E172)
• Hypromellose
• Macrogol

Please make sure you read the Patient Information Leaflet carefully before taking Femoston Conti.

Femoston 1/10 & 2/10

The active ingredients in each Femoston tablet include:

Femoston 1/10:

• Each white tablet contains 1 mg of estradiol
• Each grey tablet contains 1 mg of estradiol and 10mg of dydrogesterone

Femoston 2/10:

• Each red tablet contains 2 mg of estradiol
• Each yellow tablet contains 2 mg of estradiol and 20 mg of dydrogesterone

The inactive ingredients in each tablet include:

• Lactose
• Magnesium stearate

The inactive ingredients in each Femoston 1/10 tablet include:

• Hypromellose
• Macrogol 400
• Polyvinyl alcohol
• Macrogol 3350
• Titanium dioxide (E171)
• Black iron oxide (E172)

The inactive ingredients in each Femoston 2/10 tablet include:

• Macrogol 400
• Titanium dioxide (E171)
• Black, red, and yellow iron oxides (E172)

You can find the full ingredients list in the Patient Information Leaflet. Please ensure you read this carefully before taking Femoston 1/10 or 2/10.

Femoston side effects

Femoston, as with any other medication, may cause some people to experience side effects.

If you experience severe side effects or an allergic reaction when taking Femoston, you must seek medical advice or attend your nearest emergency department as soon as possible.

If you are concerned about side effects or they are bothering you, please speak to a pharmacist or doctor for advice.

Please ensure that you have read the full list of reported side effects in the Patient Information Leaflet before starting treatment using Femoston.

You should also take time to familiarise yourself with all the warnings and precautions as Femoston, like other HRT, may increase your chances of getting certain health conditions. You should discuss any questions you have with your doctor before taking this medicine.

The most commonly reported side effects associated with Femoston are:

• Headache and migraines
• Breast tenderness
• Vaginal thrush & vaginal bleeding
• Dizziness & sleeplessness
• Indigestion, abdominal pain, wind
• Nausea & vomiting
• Rashes & itching
• Swelling of the hands, ankles and feet & muscle cramps
• Weight gain
• Changes in libido
• Hair loss
• Muscle cramps
• Depression

If you are concerned about any side effects or you do not feel that they are improving over the first few months you should discuss this with a doctor or pharmacist.

If you experience a severe side effect or have an allergic reaction you must seek medical support from your nearest emergency department as soon as possible.

You must read the Patient Information Leaflet thoroughly before using Femoston tablets.

Femoston warnings

Please read the full information regarding warnings and precautions detailed in the Patient Information Leaflet before taking Femoston.

Using combination HRT treatment, including Femoston, increases your risk of developing certain health conditions. You should take time to consider whether HRT is the best option for you at this time. If you have any questions or concerns you should discuss these with your GP or specialist.

Being eligible to continue to purchase Femoston on repeat prescription from The Independent Pharmacy relies upon you having a regular check-up with your GP at least once a year, which must include a breast screen, blood pressure and blood tests and a cervical screening test.

If you experience any of the following generally recognised risk factors, either before or while using Femoston, stop taking and consult your doctor immediately:

• You suspect or develop breast or endometrial cancer
• You have any unexplained vaginal bleeding or endometrial hyperplasia
• You have or have ever had a venous blood clot or have a clotting disorder
• You have had a heart attack, stroke or angina
• You suffer from high blood pressure
• You suffer from cardiac or renal dysfunction

If you have ever experienced any of the following, consult your doctor before starting Femoston and again if your condition worsens during treatment:

• You have recently stopped taking or are currently taking any other prescribed or non-prescribed (including herbal) medication
• Uterine fibroids
• Endometriosis or endometrial hyperplasia
• High blood pressure or very high levels of fat in your blood
• Liver, kidney or heart disorders including liver disease or heart disease
• Diabetes, SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus), epilepsy or asthma
• Gallstones or gallbladder disease
• Migraine or severe headaches
• Hypothyroidism
• Hereditary angioedema

If you have any questions or concerns about the above, discuss these with your GP before starting this treatment.

Likewise, if you are taking Femoston and you notice any symptoms or signs of the above health conditions or anything you are worried about (any problems you’ve had with previous hormone treatment etc), speak to your doctor immediately.

Femoston and cancer

Research into the use of HRT has indicated that combined oestrogen-progestogen HRT such as Femoston may enhance your risk of developing breast cancer and may slightly also increase your risk of developing ovarian cancer. This is a slightly increased risk.

Your chance of developing breast cancer progresses the longer you take HRT. When HRT is stopped your risk returns to normal within five years. It is, therefore, recommended that you only take the lowest dose of HRT for the shortest duration, to manage your symptoms to ensure your breast cancer risk is low.

Femoston and your circulation

Taking any form of HRT, which includes Femoston, makes you 1.5 to 3 times more likely to experience blood clots and 1.5 times more likely to experience a stroke. If you think you are developing symptoms of a blood clot at any time call NHS 111 or are having a stroke call 999.

Femoston: pregnancy and breastfeeding

Femoston should only be taken by postmenopausal women and is not a contraceptive. If you have had a natural period in the last 12 months or you are under 50 years old you should discuss contraception options with your doctor before taking Femoston.

If you become pregnant while taking Femoston stop taking it straight away and contact your doctor. You should also not take Femoston while breastfeeding.