HRT Patches (50, 75, & 100)

What are HRT Patches and what are they used for?

HRT Patches is an HRT treatment patch that delivers a regulated dose of oestrogen to the body. They are available in strengths of 50, 75 & 100. The patches are placed on the skin below the waist where they are worn continuously. They need to be replaced every week. The active ingredient in HRT Patches supplements the body’s naturally occurring oestrogen, reducing the negative symptoms many women experience during menopause.

Unlike some other HRT treatments, HRT Patches only contains oestrogen. As such, it is most suitable for women who have had a hysterectomy. Women who have an intact uterus may be on combination treatment.

Women who have not had a hysterectomy will also need to take a progestogen medicine alongside HRT Patches. Oestrogen can cause the womb lining to grow, which in time can cause endometrial cancer. Progestogen medicine inhibits the growth of the womb-lining, reducing - but not eliminating - this risk. If you have had a hysterectomy (womb removal) then endometrial cancer is no longer a risk and you can safely take HRT Patches.

Dealing with the menopause: HRT Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a tried and trusted treatment for women experiencing menopause. During the approach to menopause, women’s bodies produce less and less oestrogen, reducing the levels of oestrogen in the blood. This can cause symptoms that some can find distressing, including hot flushes, night sweats and mood swings. Other typical symptoms include irregular periods and vaginal itchiness and dryness.

By supplementing the body with oestrogen (in HRT Patches a form of oestrogen called active ingredient), patients are less likely to experience these symptoms. While effective, HRT shouldn’t be considered a long-term treatment. If you’re using HRT to cope with menopausal symptoms, it’s essential that your use is reviewed by a qualified medical professional yearly.

All HRT treatments carry with them risks that you should be aware of. All women using HRT have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Women using HRT are also at a slightly elevated risk of stroke and deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (blood clots that form in the veins).

Other potential side effects include menstrual bleeding or spotting, breast pain, depression and changes in mood, an increase in blood pressure and skin problems. (You can find a full list of potential side effects listed here).

Whether to take HRT or not is a personal choice and you should weigh up the risks and benefits. Our Online Doctors can discuss with you the benefits of HRT medicines available.

Are HRT Patches right for me?

HRT Patches is only available with a prescription. The easiest way to tell if HRT Patches is right for you is to get an online assessment; our online assessment normally takes a few minutes to complete. As HRT Patches are a long-term medication, they need to be currently prescribed by your GP for us to be able to prescribe them to you online.

HRT Patches directions

HRT Patches is an oestrogen-only patch that should be applied to the skin once weekly on a continuous basis, i.e. each patch is replaced with a new one after 7 days. Always use HRT Patches exactly as your doctor has told you.

Choose a place where there is least wrinkling of the skin and where it will not be rubbed off by clothing, for example on your buttocks, hips or abdomen (avoid the waist).

To remove the HRT Patches patch simply lift off one edge and pull. Fold the patch in half (adhesive against adhesive) and throw it away. If the patch starts to come off before 7 days are up, you should take it off completely and apply a new patch.

Replace it when you would normally have done. If you forget to change your patch at the right time, change it as soon as possible, then resume your original schedule. If you still have your womb, breakthrough bleeding is more likely if you forget to change your patch on time.

Side Effects

Like all medicines, HRT Patches can cause side effects; although not every body gets them.

The following side effects are reported more often in women using HRT compared to women not using it:

• Breast cancer
• Abnormal growth or cancer of the lining of the womb (endometrial hyperplasia or cancer)
• Ovarian cancer
• Blood clots in the veins of the legs or lungs (venous thromboembolism)
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Probable memory loss if HRT is started over the age of 65

The following side effects may occur very commonly (in more than 1 in 10 people):

Application site reactions:

• Itching (purities)
• Redness (erythema)
• Eczema
• Urticaria
• Swelling (Oedema)
• Changes in skin pigmentation

They were mostly mild skin reactions and usually disappeared 2 or 3 days after patch removal.

The following side effects may occur commonly (up to 1 in 10 people):

• Headache
• Breast discomfort (e.g. mastalgia/ mastopathies, breast enlargement)

The following side effects may occur uncommonly (up to 1 in 100 people):

• Hair changes, sweating increased
• Joint pain (arthralgia), leg cramps
• Dizziness, tingling in fingers or toes (paresthesia), migraine
• Anxiety, appetite increase, depression, difficulty sleeping (insomnia), nervousness
• Nausea, indigestion (dyspepsia), abdominal pain, vomiting
• Blood pressure changes
• Chest pain
• Vein disorders
• Vaginal discharge, breakthrough bleeding
• Swelling (oedema), fatigue, weight changes

The following potential side effects may occur rarely (up to 1 people in 1 000):

• Worsening of uterine fibroids (benign growths of the womb)
• The following side effects have been reported with other HRTs
• gall bladder disease
• various skin disorders:
• discolouration of the skin especially of the face or neck known as "pregnancy patches" (cholasma)
• painful reddish nodules (erythema nodosum)
• rash with target-shaped reddening or sores (erythema multiforme)

If any of the side effects becomes serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in the patient information leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.

For a full list of warnings and side effects, please read the patient information leaflet contained within the product packaging.

Warnings

Do not use FemSeven

• If you have or have ever had breast cancer, or if you are suspected of having it
• If you have cancer which is sensitive to oestrogens, such as cancer of the womb lining (endometrium), or if you are suspected of having it
• If you have any vaginal bleeding for which the cause is not known
• If you have excessive thickening of the womb lining (endometrial hyperplasia) that is not being treated
• If you have or have ever had a blood clot in a vein (thrombosis), such as in the legs (deep venous thrombosis) or in the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
• If you have a blood clotting disorder (such as protein C, protein S, or antithrombin deficiency)
• If you have or recently have had a disease caused by blood clots in the arteries (such as a heart attack, stroke or angina)
• If you have or have ever had a liver disease and your liver function tests have not returned to normal
• If you have an inherited disease (porphyria) characterised by an accumulation of toxic compounds (porphyrins) in the body
• If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to any of the ingredients of HRT Patches

If you are not sure of any of the above, consult your doctor before using HRT Patches.

If any of the above conditions appear for the first time while using HRT Patches, stop using it at once and consult your doctor immediately.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any of the following problems, before you start the treatment, as these may return or become worse during treatment with HRT Patches. If so, you should see your doctor more often for check-ups:

• Benign tumours of the womb (fibroids inside your womb)
• A growth of womb lining outside your womb (endometriosis)
• A history of abnormal growth of the womb lining (endometrial hyperplasia)
• An increased risk of developing blood clots
• An increased risk of getting a cancer which needs oestrogens for its development (such as having a mother, sister or grandmother who has had breast cancer)
• High blood pressure
• A liver disorder, such as a benign liver tumour
• Diabetes
• Gallstones
• Migraine or severe headaches
• A disease of the immune system that affects many organs of the body (systemic lupus erythematosus)
• Epilepsy
• Asthma
• A disease affecting the eardrum and hearing (otosclerosis)
• A very high level of fat in your blood (triglycerides)
• An increase in the amount of water in your body (fluid retention) due to cardiac or kidney problems

If you need to have surgery

If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon that you are using HRT Patches. You may need to stop using HRT Patches about 4 to 6 weeks before the operation to reduce the risk of a blood clot. Ask your doctor when you can start using HRT Patches again.

When to stop using HRT Patches

Stop using HRT Patches and see a doctor immediately if you notice any of the following when using HRT:

• If you develop any of the conditions mentioned above
• A yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes (jaundice). These may be signs of a liver disease
• A large rise in your blood pressure (symptoms may be headache, tiredness, dizziness)
• Migraine-like headaches which happen for the first time
• If you become pregnant
• If you notice signs of a blood clot, such as:
  • Painful swelling and redness of the legs
  • Sudden chest pain
  • Difficulty in breathing