femoston

[frustratedashell]

Hi I'm 54 and have been menopausal for at least 3 years. Was on Ellest but changed to femoston in November last year. In the last 3 months my normal bleeding pattern has changed and this month I have very tender breasts. Is this because my natural hormone levels are changing and what can I do about it, if anything? I've also put on weight, mind you I'm not eating very healthily to be honest! It's starting to get me down now. Any advice?

why did you change, what are the dosages now compared to before and had your periods stopped altogether? More info needed.

I changed because I was feeling very moody etc. Read that femoston was better and at first it was. Had not had a proper period for a while, maybe 5-6 months. Can't remember previous dose think it may have been the Ellest higher dosage. I'm now on femoston 2/10

when you say the bleeding pattern has changed, what does that mean? if you are on sequential HRT then you ought to have a regular bleed around 3-5 days after taking the last pill of a packet. what's happening?
also when you say you have been menopausal what do you mean? menopause is the day of your last period and someone is into menopause when they have not had a period for 12 months. So you sound as if you are still in the peri phase. The HRT should still control this so you have a regular bleed- especially at 54- but it's just possible your periods are breaking through. Not sure though cos you say you haven't had a period for 5-6 months. aren't you having a regular bleed on your HRT?

Also, weight increase will make you feel less energetic because this is the time of life when we need to really make a big effort to eat well and healthily.

I used to bleed in the last few days of 1 packet/first few days of new packet. Now it's happening earlier, maybe a week before packet is finished (they are 2 phase tablets)
Yes I think I'm peri. I am bleeding every month but as I say slightly earlier in the month plus this month I've had awful breast tenderness especially my nipples. It's the last day of my packet of pills and no bleeding yet. Thanks for your help

It's quite unusual to bleed so early if you are using sequential HRT - this usually only happens with a natural progesterone like Utrogestan which is absorbed not so well as other types. If you are taking 10-12 days of progestin then you ought not to bleed until a few days after the last tablet. it is possible that you are not absorbing it or that the dose is too low for the amount of oestrogen you are taking.

Tender breasts are a side effect of progesterone- just like PMT.

Are you taking the tablets at the same time each day and not missing any?

I usually take the tablets in the morning, sometimes a few hours later in the morning. I did miss one pill this month.

I have always found with hormonal meds (long term pill user) that you have to take them at as near exactly the same time every day, to minimise unwanted effects from fluctuating hormones.

I have mine with my morning cup of tea at 8am every day.

A patch might be better - there are 2 - Evorel, which has norithisterone as the progestogen, like Elleste, - Femseven, which has levenorgestrel, but is notorious for falling off (you need to warm them first, either in bed or with hairdryer, then hold on for a minute to get them to stick).

If you missed a progestogen pill then that could account for the early bleeding.

Pills are not the best type of HRT anyway due to poor absorption and side effects. You might be better off swapping to patches with a separate natural progesterone like Utrogestan, or oestrogen gel.

You might have to ask your dr for these as many aren't clued up at all on HRT and just dish out pills, willy nilly.

I've decided to make an appointment to see the doctor. She's a new one I've seen her twice and she was lovely, really listened to me. I will put your suggestions to her. Thanks for the info and advice.

Hi ya, I'm lurid us if any one is suffering on femoston 1mg? I started taking it 14 days ago and within 5 days I felt amazing , I thought I had hit the jack poly , life had restored back to normal and I have been having the best sleeps ever,no anxiety etc . I start the second colour tablets today and by 7pm my body was itchy all over, I can only describe it to similar to prickly heat? Also the feeling I had before I started with HRT ,( agitated and I cannot get to sleep , tossing and turning and sweaty, so thirsty )
Is this a settling in process or does the progesterone part in the tablet not agree with me ?

I am gutted !! Will the doctor change me this early and any suggested tablets to take , I so. Loved the back to normal feeling I initially felt and don't want to give that up ? Any one relate ?

I was on Femoston 1/10 first of all then down to 1/5 - it was perfect but now am off it and it feels like shit - worse than when I started ! Have gone from exercising 5 days a week to feeling like I am 99!

Hi there , hmm well it seems to be improving now, The first 2 weeks were amazing , although I am still benefitting from it the 2nd two weeks feels different?
Is 1/5 -1mg of of and 5 mg of P ? Do you know?

Hi, I've been taking femoston for almost 3 months now, at first I felt great that the night sweats had stopped and was getting a good nights sleep. But now my mood swings are worse and wonder whether this is due to not taking the pills at the same time everyday or just a horrible side effect? Has anyone experienced anything similar?

Hiya, I am so relieved and annoyed (with my doctor) at reading your replies ladies. I am 35 and have been on Hrt for nearly 2 years as I have ovarian insufficiency. The symptoms you described and side effects are what I have been experiencing at first I thought the pills were great as my hot flushes completely stopped I could sleep again and my mood improved. Recently my breasts are tender, I am putting weight on and have anxiety off and on. I get the itchy all over feeling poster Sarahjayne43 which I put down to anxiety and stress as well as a symptom I had anxiety from dealing with the condition. Have any of you had any luck with the patches and/gel?

You may need a higher dose. It's not that HRT isn't working but more likely your hormone levels are falling ( or even rising) and it just needs tweaking. This is why it's supposed to be reviewed every 6-12 months, so that issues like yours can be managed. I see my consultant 6-monthly and any issues like this would be something to be discussed and another type/ dose tried.
Hope you find something for you!

Hi I'm 49 and I've been on Femoston 1/10 for three months and now gone onto Femostron 2/10. I've been feeling much better but I have a burning scalp and severe hair loss and I'm unsure whether it is the HRT. I've had every blood test and they are all normal so thinking it links with the timining of the HRT. Please could anyone let me know if they have experienced or heard of this side effect? Waiting to see the consultant but worry I will have no hair left by the time it is answered. Trying to decide whether to stop taking HRT altogether. Been twice to the doctors but no answers given.

Hi Hethx
I was on elleste duet 1mg but felt just awful when I took the green tablets, felt very depressed like never before. Apparently the progesterone in elleste can have this effect so I changed to femoston. I have only been taking them 5 days so not sure yet but i too could literally scratch my scalp constantly, it's embarrassing, like I have nits !! I also feel very achy, is this normal? I just want to feel human again and have some energy and not be grumpy. Am I expecting miracles or will femoston have the miracle cure? !! Or is this it hair loss ,dry skin , tiredness, itchy skin, feeling sad and achy body, oh what joy to be a woman !!

Hair loss is listed as one of the possible side effects of Norethisterone which is the progestogen in Elleste. It's not the same progestogen as in Femoston which is supposed to be closer to what we have naturally.

Burning scalp is not usual.
Hair loss is a definite sign of loss of oestrogen (and anaemia / low iron, and low thyroid function too) so my opinion is that what you have is more likely to be due to your own low hormones, not HRT.

After only 5 days you will be taking the oestrogen pills, not the ones with any progestogen in them (which can give PMT symptoms.) TBH all your symptoms sound like meno symptoms so I'd give the HRT 3-6 months to see how you go.

Thank you Pollyperky, I really hope femoston does give me some relief of these symptoms, only time will tell. Do you happen to know if femoston is viewed as a 'better' hrt tablet as opposed to elleste or is it just what suits your body? Are you aware of anything more natural or homeopathic I could try, I must admit I do feel a little worried about taking HRT. Thank you

Femoston contains the progestogen dydrogesterone.

Femoston 1/10mg and 2/10mg
PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER
femoston® 1/10 mg
femoston® 2/10 mg
Active substances: oestradiol hemihydrate and Dydrogesterone

This is closer, molecular structure, to the progesterone we produce naturally compared with Norethisterone (Elleste.)
It's supposed to give fewer side effects.

It is an individual thing though- I used norethisterone along with Oestrogel for years and found it fine.

There are no proven alternatives that will do the same as oestrogen.

Don't be afraid of HRT! Have a good read of Menopause Matters website (Home page, blogs by the dr) and you'll feel more reassured. HRT is safe and effective.

If you are constantly worrying over it, you may start to think any symptoms are due to HRT rather than your own loss of hormones. You need to give it at least 3 months to see effects.

Hi ladies
Early 40s hit peri menopause hard so was given Estelle duet after 3 m just changed to femeston 1 /2 mg no period at end of grey pill phase
I was having periods around once every 6/8wks since HRT in March 17 not had a one so doctor changed to femeston and one else experienced this ??

How far were you into menopause when you had Elleste? Presumably the bleeds were your own cycle breaking through? I'm a bit confused to be honest.

Both Elleste and Femoston are sequi types so most women have a bleed at the end of each month (this is a withdrawal bleed not a real period.)

If you didn't have that initially, you were one of the 15-20% of women who don't have a bleed- and there is nothing wrong with this.

If you had irregular bleeds ( after 6 weeks rather than 4 weeks) it suggests your own cycle was overriding the HRT and you were still in peri.

Hi I changed from elleste 1mg to Femoston 1mg as the elleste made me feel dreadfully depressed when I took the green tablets. The progesterone in femoston is apparently more like what we would naturally produce(apparently) anyway I feel slightly better on it. However I don't get a period I get the cramps and feelings that go with a period but no period. I'm totally confused by all this HRT malarkey and worried I'm taking it too early, I'm 49. I wouldn't say it's working wonders but I suppose I do feel a little better. Still get horrendous bone aches and I could sleep on a clothes line but hey ho onwards and upwards x

Hi I was given Estella duet 1mg and was in this 3 m felt fantastic on white pills but terrible on green section
so doctor put me immediately on femeston (24days ago)1/2mg and said the other pill must of stopped my natural period I was quite regular periods every 6/7week peri menopause about 1year
I was just a little concerned as now in last strip of grey section of femeston and no period which don't know if it's normal or not so was seeking advice ,,, I've done a test not pregnant

Hi I am 40 yrs old and im taking femoston conti for about 9 monthx now prescribed by my doc obv but the problem is im having my third period in a month, has someone passed through this like me pls or any help ?