Ships from the UK with tracking.

Femoston Conti (estradiol, dydrogesterone) is a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women who are post-menopausal and have an intact uterus. The medication both alleviates the symptoms of menopause as well as helps keeps bones strong, reducing risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Off-label the medication may be used to treat symptoms of perimenopause (the transition to menopause), when symptoms are severe. Treatment in this area is highly variable.

How Femoston Conti Works

This medication contains two active ingredients:

• Estradiol, an estrogen hormone responsible for the development and maintenance of female sexual characteristics and reproduction, among other functions.
• Dydrogesterone, a progestin hormone responsible for the development and breakdown of the lining of the uterus. In menopause, progestins inhibit growth of the uterine lining outside of the uterus.

Women who have had their uterus removed do not need to take a progestin; estrogen-only therapy will be fine. Patients can browse estrogen-only therapies as well as other combinations of estrogen/progestin here.

Progestins are also sometimes taken on their own, as birth control (called a mini pill), fertility treatment, and to address numerous medical conditions. Progestin-only medications and combinations can be found here.

Combined, the two ingredients found in Femoston Conti restore declining estrogen levels while dydrogesterone protects the uterus lining from unchecked growth due to estrogen supplementation. It is the decline in estrogen that causes many of the symptoms of menopause, including:

• Thinning hair
• Dry skin
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Chills
• Sleep disruptions
• Vaginal dryness
• Painful intercourse
• Increased vaginal/urinary tract infections
• Loss of breast fullness

...and others. Symptoms can vary radically from person to person, with some lucky individuals experiencing none at all. HRT is usually considered only when symptoms are severe, as it does carry risk of serious side effects. Dosage and duration of treatment is at the lowest effective dose for the shortest time possible, and the need to continue treatment should be reassessed every six months.

How to Take Femoston Conti

This medication comes in tablets of varying strengths. Dosage should be determined by a doctor, who can evaluate symptoms, hormone levels, risk factors, and results. Dosage may increase or decrease with time, according to patient response. 1mg/5mg estradiol/dydrogesterone tablets are the standard starting dose, though this may vary.

Once dosage has been determined, a single tablet is taken per day. Food is optional, though a full glass of fluid is recommended. Femoston Conti tablets come in blister packs with each day of the month marked, for ease in remembering to take tablets daily; generic brands may vary. As a general rule there should be no breaks between tablets or packs---a tablet is taken every day. Rarely doctor instructions may vary.

Duration of treatment may span several months to years. Again, the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time is preferable.

Warnings & Side Effects

Some women shouldn't use Femoston Conti at all, namely those with a history---including family history---of:

• Breast cancer
• Estrogen-dependent tumors
• Porphyria
• Untreated endometrial hyperplasia
• Blood clots
• Liver disease
• Certain cardiovascular issues

For the most part women who don't suffer from the above can take Femoston Conti with few side effects, though those with precursors to the above may require special monitoring. There is a slight association with an increased risk of breast cancer, blood clots, heart attack, and stroke; these generally occur after HRT has been taken for years, or taken by women already predisposed to such conditions. Some women experience spotting the first few months of treatment.

Warning signs that indicate Femoston Conti should no longer be taken include:

• Jaundice or other liver impairment
• New migraine headaches
• Significant increase in blood pressure

Femoston Conti can interact with other medications, particularly other estrogen- and/or progestin-containing medications. Speak with a doctor or pharmacist before mixing medications.

Ships from the UK with tracking.

Femoston Conti Low (estradiol, dydrogesterone) is a lightweight hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for postmenopausal women with an intact uterus. Each tablet contains 0.5 mg estradiol and 2.5 mg dydrogesterone.

Both ingredients in this product are primary female sex hormones, responsible for the development and maintenance of female characteristics and the reproductive system. Production of these hormones declines naturally with age, reaching their low point with menopause. This can produce a range of unpleasant symptoms:

• Dry skin
• Thinning hair
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Chills
• Irritability
• Sleep disruptions
• Vaginal dryness
• Painful intercourse
• Loss of breast fullness

After 2 to 4 weeks of taking Femoston Conti Low the above symptoms will begin to improve.

Femoston Conti Low also prevents loss of bone mineral density, and may be used by women at risk of bone loss even when other menopause symptoms aren't present or aren't especially bothersome. However, higher strengths of the medication found in regular Femoston Conti may be preferred.

Who Uses HRT

Femoston Conti Low is meant for postmenopausal women who have an intact uterus, and who are experiencing menopause symptoms severe enough to be disruptive to daily life. This can also apply to younger women who have had their hormones disrupted through surgery, medications, or injury.

It's actually the estradiol in Femoston Conti Low that relieves menopause symptoms; the progestin---dydrogesterone---is added to protect the uterus from side effects of estrogen, such as endometrial cancer, though it does produce mild benefits as well. Women who have had their uterus removed do not need to take a progesterone/progestin, and can make use of estrogen-only treatment. Estrogen-only treatments and other combinations of estrogen with a progestin can be browsed here.

In all cases Femoston Conti Low---or any HRT---should be taken at the lowest effective dose and for the shortest possible time. The need to continue HRT should be reassessed every six months. Continued, long-term use of HRT can produce serious side effects, particularly in women with other medical conditions present.

How to Use Femoston Conti Low

Femoston Conti Low is the lowest possible dose of Femoston Conti. It may be given as a starter dose, increased after several weeks to regular Femoston Conti strengths, or it may prove suitable on its own. The Low version of the product in particular may be given to women who are at relatively high risk of experiencing adverse reactions from higher doses.

Regardless of which strength of the medication is being taken, dosage is the same:

• Take one tablet once per day.
• Food is optional; fluid is recommended.
• Take tablets at the same time each day.

Brand-name Femoston Conti Low comes in blister packs with each day of the month marked to help patients keep track. Generic versions may vary. There should be no gaps in taking tablets---once per day, every day. Occasionally one may be missed; skip it entirely and resume treatment with the next dose.

Treatment may continue for 6 months to several years, provided no side effects develop.

Potential Complications

Patients taking estrogen HRT are at a slightly increased risk of breast cancer, other estrogen-dependent tumors, blood clots, heart attack, and stroke. This risk goes up with the duration of use of estrogen HRT, and is further complicated when the women taking it are already at risk for those factors.

Women with the following should generally avoid Femoston Conti Low:

• Breast cancer/history of breast cancer
• Estrogen-dependent tumors
• Porphyria
• Untreated endometrial hyperplasia
• Blood clots/history of blood clots
• Liver disease
• Cardiovascular issues

Other, more common side effects are much milder and generally not cause for concern. They're usually transient, as well, meaning they'll stop occurring after the first few weeks of treatment. Common side effects are:

• Headache (not migraine)
• Spotting
• Vaginal discharge
• Tender breasts
• Gastrointestinal symptoms

Rarely more serious side effects develop, which call for discontinuation of Femoston Conti Low:

• Jaundice or other symptoms of liver impairment
• New migraine headaches
• Significant increase in blood pressure

Femoston Conti Low can interact with other treatments, particularly other estrogen- and/or progestin-containing medications. Speak with a doctor or pharmacist before mixing medications.