Who can and cannot take it - Continuous combined HRT

If you still have a womb and have not had a period for a year (post-menopause) you can usually take continuous combined HRT.

If you've had a hysterectomy to remove your womb, you can usually take oestrogen without progestogen.

Who may not be able to take continuous combined HRT

Continuous combined HRT is not suitable for everyone.

To make sure it's safe for you, tell your GP before taking it if you:

• have ever had an allergic reaction to oestrogen, or to any other medicine
• have ever had breast cancer
• are having tests for breast cancer, or are considered high risk due to family history
• have, or are being tested for, a type of cancer that is sensitive to oestrogens, such as cancer of the womb lining (endometrium)
• have thickening of the lining of the womb (endometrial hyperplasia)
• have vaginal bleeding with no known cause
• have ever had a blood clot in a vein (thrombosis), such as in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) or the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
• have thrombophilia, a condition that increases the risk of blood clots
• have ever had angina or a heart attack
• have liver, heart or kidney problems
• are pregnant or breastfeeding
• have a rare inherited condition called porphyria
• have diabetes
• have high blood pressure
• have severe headaches or migraines
• have fibroids or endometriosis
• have an underactive thyroid
• have lupus
• have epilepsy
• have asthma
• are living with obesity
• have dementia
• have gallstones
• have or ever had meninginoma (a tumour of the layer between the brain and skull)
• have otosclerosis, a disease affecting the eardrum and hearing
• have very high cholesterol

If you get any of these conditions after you start taking continuous combined HRT, stop taking it and talk to your GP.

Continuous combined HRT and pregnancy

Do not take continuous combined HRT if you're pregnant or might become pregnant.

If you get pregnant while taking combined continuous HRT then stop taking it and talk to your GP immediately.

Combined continuous HRT is not known to be harmful in pregnancy. But levels of oestrogen and progesterone are naturally high during pregnancy, so you will not need HRT.

Continuous combined HRT and breastfeeding

Do not take combined continuous HRT if you are breastfeeding.

Talk to your GP about alternatives. There is not enough information for us to know if combined continuous HRT is safe while breastfeeding.

Continuous combined HRT and fertility

Taking continuous combined HRT is unlikely to affect your fertility.

Although continuous combined HRT contains both oestrogen and progesterone, it is not the same as the combined oral contraceptive pill. This means it does not act as a contraceptive.

Even if you think you have gone through the menopause, there may be a small chance that you could become pregnant.

It's recommended to use contraception for:

• at least 1 year from your last period - if you're over age 50
• 2 years - if you're under age 50

Discuss this with your GP.