About Oestrogel
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Please first read the package leaflet that comes with your medicine

Oestrogel is a clear colourless gel which contains the female hormone oestrogen as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to help relieve your menopausal symptoms.

By reducing menopausal symptoms patients receiving this treatment may have an improved quality of life. It may be used by women who have a uterus, or by women who do not have a uterus (i.e. have had a hysterectomy). For women with a uterus, your doctor will also prescribe a progestogen alongside the oestrogen treatment. Talk to your doctor for more information. 
The active ingredient in Oestrogel is estradiol, which is identical in structure to that produced by your body is and often referred to as body-identical oestrogen. 

The estradiol in Oestrogel is derived from plants. 

Oestrogel is applied to the skin (known as transdermal application), and the active ingredient is absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream. 
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What is Oestrogel used for? 

Relief of your menopause symptoms 

During the menopause, the amount of the oestrogen produced by a woman’s body drops. Oestrogel replaces the oestrogen your body has lost and may alleviate these symptoms.

Check-ups 

It is recommended that you have an appointment with your doctor to review your treatment after 3 months of using HRT, to check how well it is working and how your body is responding. After which, an annual appointment may be sufficient, unless you experience any problems with your treatment in which case you should consult your doctor straight away. 

Possible Side Effects

Side effect reporting

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Common side effects of HRT, which may affect up to 1 in 10 patients, include:

  • Painful periods
  • Menstrual periods which are heavier or last longer than usual
  • Abnormal or irregular bleeding
  • White or yellow vaginal discharge
Please refer to the package leaflet for the full list of side effects, when not to use Oestrogel and the full list of warnings and precautions before using this product. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure about the below points.

Do not use Oestrogel: 

  • 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 unexplained vaginal bleeding
  • 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 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 a rare blood problem called “porphyria” which is passed down in families (inherited)
  • If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to estradiol or any other ingredients of this medicine.

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

Stop using Oestrogel and see a doctor immediately

If you notice any of the following when taking HRT:

  • any of the conditions mentioned in the ‘Do not use Oestrogel’ section above
  • 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
For further information regarding HRT and cancer or HRT and cardiovascular risk please click here for the package leaflet for Oestrogel or here for public information from NICE (NG23) 

Reporting Side Effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.