The Independent Pharmacy

Evorel Conti Bleeding And Other Side Effects

Andy Boysan
Andy BoysanBPharmGPhC 2047716Director & Superintendent Pharmacist

If you’ve discussed using menopause (HRT) treatments to alleviate the physical symptoms and psychological effects of the menopause with your doctor, you may have heard of Evorel Conti patches. This is a combined form of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) used to treat symptoms of the menopause in post-menopausal women. But is Evorel Conti bleeding something you need to worry about?

In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at Evorel Conti patches and cover everything you need to know about potential side effects when using this effective menopause treatment. From bleeding to weight gain to alternatives and dosages, we’ll be covering the topics you want to know more about, and providing helpful answers to any questions you have.

Evorel Conti Patches
Evorel Conti Patches
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Evorel Conti bleeding

Evorel Conti is a continuous combined form of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

This means that Evorel Conti patches contain both estradiol and norethisterone (a synthetic form of progesterone). These two active ingredients emulate the two female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone and are released into the body every day.

Continuous combined HRTs like Evorel Conti are recommended for people who are post-menopausal — those who have already reached the menopause and haven’t had a natural period for a year, but who still suffer from menopausal symptoms.

This means that taking Evorel Conti does not involve a regular period or monthly cycle.

However, bleeding is still listed as a side effect of Evorel Conti patches. Some users will experience bleeding or spotting (known as breakthrough bleeding) during the first few months of treatment.

Bleeding when using Evorel Conti patches is not normally anything to worry about. This side effect should subside as your body gets used to these new hormone levels and things settle.

If you have bleeding that continues after this time, bleeding unexpectedly starts after you have been taking Evorel Conti for more than six months, you experience heavy bleeding, or you have bleeding after stopping treatment, consult your doctor.

Evorel Conti weight gain

Evorel Conti weight gain is listed as one of the common side effects of this HRT medicine in the Evorel Conti Patches Patient Information Leaflet.

However, a listing of ‘common’ still means that this side effect only affects between 1 in 10 and 1 in 100 people who use the HRT patches.

It is also worth noting that there is no clinical evidence to support the claim that HRT makes users put on weight. Women may gain weight during the menopause, but this often happens regardless of whether an HRT is used or not. Weight gain is a natural part of the menopause and getting older — changing muscle mass, metabolism and hormone levels can all lead to weight gain.

We will go into further detail about any other Evorel Conti patches side effects you may experience in the section below.

Evorel Conti patches side effects

Like all medicines, Evorel Conti patches can cause side effects.

This doesn’t mean that everyone will experience side effects when they take Evorel Conti.

Most users find that Evorel Conti patches help enormously with menopausal symptoms and do not experience any negative side effects at all. For those that do, the benefits usually vastly outweigh any adverse effects. You can find out more about what real users think of these HRT patches by visiting our Evorel Conti reviews page.

Regardless, it’s always a good idea to be aware of any possible side effects you may encounter when taking any medicine.

The most common Evorel Conti patches side effects (affecting less than 1 in 10 people) include:

  • Itchy, irritated or inflamed skin where the patch is applied (hypersensitivity)
  • Dizziness
  • Breast tenderness and pain
  • Mood swings (feeling depressed, anxious or nervous)
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Feeling tired
  • Nausea (feeling sick)
  • Headache
  • Stomach pain or aching
  • Diarrhoea
  • Muscle pain
  • Joint pain
  • Weight gain
  • Breakthrough bleeding
  • Painful periods
  • Discharge from the vagina
  • Bloating and water retention
  • Heart palpitations

The first side effect mentioned — itchy, irritated or inflamed skin where the patch is applied — is the most common, affecting more than 1 in 10 users.

These more common Evorel Conti patches side effects are usually nothing to worry about and do not need medical attention unless severe.

However, if you are concerned about any of these side effects at all — or any that we haven’t mentioned in the list above — speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

If you experience any more serious Evorel Conti patches side effects that are painful, severe or long-lasting, speak to your GP immediately. If you feel like your symptoms are dangerous or life-threatening, call the emergency services and seek medical attention.

How long does Evorel Conti take to work?

Once applied, Evorel Conti patches steadily release hormones throughout the day, which are absorbed into your bloodstream through the skin.

Active levels of oestrogen in the body are reached about four hours after the Evorel Conti patch is applied and last for three to four days (after which the patch must be changed).

As for how long Evorel Conti takes to work on relieving menopausal symptoms, you should notice a significant improvement in your symptoms within a few weeks of using these HRT patches.

However, it can sometimes take a couple of months of consistent use to feel the full effects of Evorel Conti. During this time, you are more likely to experience Evorel Conti patches side effects. However, these are nothing to worry about — they are generally mild and should subside as your body gets used to the new hormone levels.

If you feel that Evorel Conti is not improving your menopausal symptoms within three months of use, you should speak to your doctor. They may suggest trying an alternative HRT to see if this works better for you.

Evorel Conti shortage

There has been a shortage of different HRT medicines in the UK — including an Evorel Conti shortage.

This is due to supply problems with some of the components in other countries, which has led to delays in manufacturing. Stock shortages of Evorel Conti and other HRTs became a nationwide issue towards the end of 2019 and continued into 2020.

These shortages have meant that stock prices from wholesalers for HRT treatments like Evorel Conti patches have increased by an average of £7 per month.

As a result, many online pharmacies like The Independent Pharmacy have had to increase prices in line with wholesale costs of the medicine — despite holding off for as long as possible.

We have been able to provide HRT treatments on the NHS if patients have a valid NHS prescription. This would be subject to normal NHS prescription charges.

Evorel Conti alternatives

If you’re looking for Evorel Conti alternatives, or you’re having difficulty deciding between different HRTs, it can help to know a bit more about the types of HRT treatments available.

There are three different types of HRT:

  • Continuous combined HRT (like Evorel Conti patches): this is a form of HRT recommended for post-menopausal women — those who haven’t had a period for over a year. Continuous combined HRT means taking both oestrogen and progestogen every day without a break. The most similar HRT patches to Evorel Conti are Femseven Conti patches.
  • Sequential (or cyclical) HRT: this form of HRT is made up of two different types of patches or tablets: one which releases oestrogen only, and one which releases both oestrogen and progestogen. These are alternated in a monthly treatment cycle — oestrogen-only patches for the first two weeks, before switching to the combined patches for the second half. This replicates the menstrual cycle, and is recommended for those suffering from menopausal symptoms but still experiencing some type of periods.
  • Oestrogen-only HRT: this form of HRT is only recommended for people who have had a hysterectomy. This is because taking oestrogen on its own increases the risk of developing endometrial cancer (cancer of the womb or uterus). However, if the user has had a hysterectomy, this is no longer a concern.

The HRT treatments available from The Independent Pharmacy are:

Speak to one of our qualified pharmacists for guidance or visit our menopause HRT treatments page for further information if you’re not sure which type of HRT to discuss with your doctor.

Evorel Conti patches dosage

Evorel Conti patches contain both estradiol and norethisterone (a synthetic form of progesterone).

Evorel Conti is a continuous combined treatment, which means that an Evorel Conti patches dosage contains both estradiol and norethisterone (a synthetic form of progesterone).

These two active ingredients, which emulate the two female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone, are released into the body every day.

The active ingredients doses contained in Evorel Conti patches are:

  • 3.2mg estradiol hemihydrate
  • 1.2mg norethisterone acetate

The patch will release 50mcg estradiol and 170mcg norethisterone per day.

Evorel Conti patches also contain the following inactive ingredients to make up the complete product:

  • Duro-Tak 387-2287
  • Guar gum
  • Hostaphan MN19

If you are allergic to any of the ingredients in the patch, you should not use this product. Speak to your pharmacist for alternative treatment options.

Evorel Conti patches benefits

Evorel Conti is a very effective HRT which successfully treats symptoms of the menopause.

This includes severe physical symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia, vaginal dryness and osteoporosis — as well as upsetting psychological symptoms like mood swings, irritability and depression.

Although there is a small chance that you will experience side effects, Evorel Conti patches benefits vastly outweigh any possibility of negative effects. For many women, Evorel Conti helps hugely with distressing and disruptive menopausal symptoms, helping them to get back to life as normal.

You will only be prescribed Evorel Conti if your doctor or pharmacist believes that it is the best HRT option to treat your menopause symptoms.

You don’t have to take our word for it, either — visit our Evorel Conti customer reviews page to find out what real users think of these HRT patches and their experiences.

Summary

Evorel Conti is an HRT (hormone replacement therapy) that comes in the form of patches. It is used to treat post-menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, night sweats, low libido and mood swings.

Evorel Conti patches are a continuous combined form of hormone replacement therapy that are best suited to people who are post-menopausal and haven’t had a period for over a year, but who still suffer from menopausal symptoms.

This type of HRT patch releases estradiol and norethisterone (which emulate oestrogen and progesterone) through the skin into the body every day. These constant doses of hormones mean that using Evorel Conti does not produce a monthly bleed.

However, bleeding is still a possible side effect. Some users may experience breakthrough bleeding (bleeding or spotting) during the first few months of using this HRT as your body adjusts. Bleeding is not usually anything to worry about when using Evorel Conti patches.

Other Evorel Conti side effects like weight gain are also unusual, and this HRT is generally considered very effective at quickly treating the severe and distressing symptoms of the menopause. Users often notice a significant improvement usually noticed within just a few weeks of using the patches.

If you are already prescribed Evorel Conti by your doctor and you need repeat supplies, you can buy Evorel Conti patches from The Independent Pharmacy. Simply fill in our free online consultation form by answering a few medical questions. Once you do, our team can issue your treatment for next working day delivery.

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