Who can and cannot take it - Utrogestan

You can usually take Utrogestan if you're taking oestrogen and still have a womb.

It's not suitable if you've had a hysterectomy to remove your womb.

Who may not be able to take Utrogestan

Utrogestan is not suitable for everyone.

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

• have ever had breast cancer
• are having tests for breast cancer or are considered high risk due to family history
• have, or are having tests for, a type of cancer that is sensitive to oestrogens, such as cancer of the womb lining (endometrium)
• have fibroids in your womb, endometriosis, or excessive thickening of the womb lining (endometrial hyperplasia)
• have any unexplained vaginal bleeding
• have ever had a blood clot in a vein (thrombosis), such as in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) or the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
• have a condition that affects how your blood clots, such as protein C, protein S or antithrombin deficiency
• have or recently had a condition caused by blood clots in the arteries, such as a heart attack, stroke or angina
• have ever had liver disease and your liver function tests are not back to normal
• have a rare inherited condition called porphyria
• have bleeding on the brain (cerebral haemorrhage)
• have gallstones
• have an autoimmune condition called systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
• have kidney or heart problems
• have high blood pressure, diabetes, epilepsy or asthma
• have severe headaches or migraines
• have otosclerosis, a disease affecting the eardrum and hearing
• have a very high level of triglycerides (type of fat) in your blood

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

Utrogestan and pregnancy

Utrogestan is not known to be harmful in pregnancy. But if you get pregnant or think you might be pregnant, stop taking it and talk to your GP.

If you're pregnant, then your levels of oestrogen and progesterone will be high and you will not need to take HRT.

Utrogestan and breastfeeding

Utrogestan is not usually prescribed if you're breastfeeding, unless a specialist recommends it. Talk to your GP for advice.

Utrogestan and fertility

Taking Utrogestan as HRT is unlikely to affect your fertility.

Although Utrogestan contains progesterone, it does not act as contraception.

Even if you think that you've gone through the menopause, there's a small chance that you could still get pregnant.

You're advised to use contraception for:

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

Discuss this with your GP.

Ulipristal acetate, a type of emergency contraception, affects how Utrogestan works. If you need emergency contraception and you are taking Utrogestan, ask your pharmacist or GP for advice.