Who can and cannot take it - Oestrogen tablets, patches, gel and spray

If you're approaching the menopause and have symptoms (perimenopause) or have already gone through the menopause (post-menopause) you can usually take oestrogen.

If you still have your womb, you must take your oestrogen with progestogen as well. This protects your womb while you're taking oestrogen.

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

Who may not be able to take it

Oestrogen tablets, patches, gel and spray are not suitable for everyone.

To make sure they're safe for you, tell a doctor if you:

• have ever had an allergic reaction to oestrogen or any of the ingredients in the tablet, patch, gel or spray, 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 ever had any other type of cancer
• 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 ever had a stroke
• have liver problems
• are pregnant or breastfeeding
• have a rare genetic condition affecting the skin or nervous system (porphyria)
• have diabetes
• have high blood pressure
• have severe headaches or migraines
• have fibroids in your womb or endometriosis
• have epilepsy
• have asthma
• have gallstones
• have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a disease of the immune system that affects many organs of the body
• have otosclerosis, a disease affecting the eardrum and hearing
• have a very high level of triglycerides (type of fat) in your blood
• have angioedema, a painful swelling under the skin
• have fluid retention (build-up of fluid in the body) caused by kidney or heart problems

Oestrogen and pregnancy

If you get pregnant, stop taking HRT and talk to your GP immediately.

Oestrogen tablets, patches gel and spray are not known to be harmful in pregnancy.

But levels of oestrogen and progesterone are naturally high during pregnancy, so you will not need HRT.

Oestrogen and breastfeeding

Do not take oestrogen as HRT if you are breastfeeding.

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

Oestrogen and fertility

Taking HRT with oestrogen is unlikely to affect your fertility, because it does not work as a contraceptive.

Even if you think that you've gone through the menopause, there's a small chance that you could become pregnant (unless you've had a hysterectomy).

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

Talk to your GP for more information.