Brand Oestrogel

Oestrogel contains the active ingredient estradiol, which is a naturally occuring form of the main female sex hormone, oestrogen. Womens’ ovaries gradually produce less and less oestrogen in the period up to the menopause, and oestrogen blood levels decline as a result. The declining levels of oestrogen can cause distressing symptoms, such as irregular periods, hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings and vaginal dryness or itching.
Oestrogen can be given as a supplement to replace the falling levels in the body and help reduce these distressing symptoms of the menopause. This is known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT). HRT is usually only required for short-term relief from menopausal symptoms and its use should be reviewed at least once a year with your doctor.
Oestrogel is an oestrogen-only form of HRT. The gel is applied to the skin and the estradiol is absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream.
As it only contains oestrogen, Oestrogel can be used on its own by women who have had a hysterectomy. Women who have not had a hysterectomy should also be prescribed a progestogen medicine to take with this medicine, for the last 12 to 14 days of each month. This is because oestrogen stimulates the growth of the womb lining (endometrium), which can lead to endometrial cancer if the growth is unopposed. A progestogen is given to oppose oestrogen's effect on the womb lining and reduce the risk of cancer, though it does not eliminate this risk entirely.

Contraindications and cautions:
The gel should be applied on healthy skin without any irritations as it is stated on the leaflet. The gel must nor be applied on the face breast or vaginal areas. Avoid eye contact. Avoid skin contact with other persons for not less then a few hours after applying the gel.

Usage
Hormone replacement therapy to relieve symptoms of the menopause
Second-line option for preventing osteoporosis in postmenopausal women who are at high risk of fractures and cannot take other medicines licensed for preventing osteoporosis.

Side effects
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

• Breast pain, tenderness or enlargement
• Headache/migraine
• Breakthrough bleeding and spotting
• Gut disturbances, such as nausea, abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence, indigestion
• Swelling of the ankles due to to fluid retention (peripheral oedema)
• Weight gain
• Skin irritation at application site
• Changes in sex drive
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Premenstrual-like symptoms
• Vaginal thrush
• Rise in blood pressure
• Dizziness
• Gall bladder disease
• Skin reactions such as rash and itch
• Disturbance in liver function
• Irregular brown patches on the skin, usually of the face (chloasma)
• Blood clots in the blood vessels.