There are many types of different HRT. This leaflet addresses the use of continuous combined HRT (e.g. Activelle®, Femoston® 1/5) which contains estrogen and progestogen combined in a tablet, in one pack. Learn how to use the medication, its common side effects, special precautions to watch out for, and more.
There are many types of different HRT. This leaflet addresses the use of continuous combined HRT (e.g. Activelle®, Femoston® 1/5) which contains estrogen and progestogen combined in a tablet, in one pack. These two female hormones, estrogen and progestogen given together to relieve bothersome symptoms of menopause.
If you still have a womb and have not had a period for a year (post-menopause) you can usually take continuous combined HRT.
Symptoms of menopause include hot face, neck and chest (“hot flushes”), night sweats, vaginal dryness and low mood. The decrease in estrogen may also lead to a condition called osteoporosis, where the bones become thinner, weaker and easier to break. Using estrogen alone may cause abnormal thickening of the uterus (womb) lining – hence those with an intact uterus require an additional female hormone, progestogen, to prevent this.
This medication is NOT meant to be a birth control method and will not prevent you from getting pregnant.
Inform your healthcare professional if:
You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication.
Inform your doctor if these side effects become severe and bothersome.
The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:
Taking HRT increases a woman’s risk of developing blood clots and breast cancer. However, these are rare and the doctor would have evaluated and weighed its benefits over risks before making the recommendation. Please discuss with your doctor if you have any concerns.
It is also advisable to regularly check your breasts while you are on HRT. If you notice any unusual changes, please see your doctor immediately.
Other rare but serious side effects that you may or may not experience include:
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.
Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.
Pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin.
There are different types of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) available with different ways of using them. Some routines can be cyclical (sequential) or used daily (continuous). The type of HRT that you will be prescribed depends on different factors after careful consideration with your physician.
If you want to find out more about the other types of HRT other than the one you are currently prescribed, please check with your health care provider.
Please take note that the above is not a complete list of all possible side effects. If you have any concerns about your medication or if you have other side effects that you think are caused by this medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.
If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.
This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.
Last updated on September 2024.
This article was last reviewed on Tuesday, September 03, 2024