Progynova TS

Most women go through the menopause somewhere between the ages of 45–55, although this can vary. The process itself can take anywhere from six months to 13 years and comes with a range of rather unpleasant symptoms, from hot flushes to difficulty sleeping, joint problems and mood swings. While for some women these symptoms may be mild and easy to live with, for others they can have a really negative effect on their quality of life. For those who do struggle, there is a wide range of treatments available to help ease the symptoms of menopause.

Progynova-TS is a hormone patch used to treat the symptoms of menopause such as hot flushes. When women go through the menopause, their bodies experience a drop in the amount of oestrogen being produced which can lead to a whole range of symptoms:

• Hot flushes;
• Mood swings;
• Night sweats;
• Difficulty sleeping;
• Low libido;
• Frequent urinary tract infections;
• Headaches;
• Anxiety.

While many women can cope with the menopause by making a few lifestyle changes, for others the symptoms are stronger and cause real problems in their day-to-day lives. It is always helpful to make the lifestyle changes, even if you are also taking a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as they can still help. Some things to try are:

• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle;
• Limiting alcohol intake;
• Losing excess weight;
• Exercising for 30 minutes a day at least five times a week;
• Eating a well-balanced diet with plenty of nutrients;
• Dressing in comfortable layered clothing, so you can remove a layer if need be;
• Avoiding caffeine and spicy food;
• Taking cool showers;
• Opening windows when possible.

Progynova-TS contains the active ingredient oestradiol, which helps to balance the hormones within your body and alleviate some of the unpleasant symptoms of menopause. Progynova-TS comes under the group of medicines called hormone replacement treatments. It is an oestrogen-only HRT.

Progynova-TS is used by women in the 45-55 age bracket who are experiencing adverse symptoms during menopause that are having a serious impact on their quality of life.

Progynova-TS can also be used to ward off osteoporosis in women who cannot use other forms of medication for this, provided they no longer have a womb.

Progynova-TS comes in the form of a transdermal patch that you wear like a plaster on specific areas of your skin – in this case your lower abdomen or buttocks.

To apply the patch:

1. Start by deciding where on your body you want to apply the patch (an area of your lower abdomen or buttocks) – avoid areas with broken, irritated or oily skin;
2. Ensure that the skin there is clean and dry – the patch cannot be applied to the same areas of skin twice in a row;
3. Open the Progynova-TS patch and remove the protective liner;
4. Apply the Progynova-TS patch to your skin and press it firmly into place with the palm of your hand for around 10 seconds;
5. Check that the Progynova-TS patch is well applied, particularly at the edges;
6. The Progynova-TS patch should be changed once a week;
7. When disposing of the Progynova-TS patch, fold the sticky sides together to prevent any remaining active ingredient from escaping and place into your usual household waste bin.

If well applied, the Progynova-TS patch should remain in place for a week without any issues. You can have a bath or shower as normal and take part in all your usual activities, although very hot water or a sauna may disturb it. If the Progynova-TS patch does come off early, simply dispose of it safely and apply a new Progynova-TS patch in its place that you will then change seven days later.

The standard dose for Progynova-TS is called Progynova-TS 100 which has 7.6m g of oestradiol per patch and releases 100 micrograms per 24 hours. Progynova-TS is also available in a smaller dose, Progynova-TS 50, which releases 50 micrograms of oestradiol in 24 hours. You can use Progynova-TS on a cyclical basis or continuously – you can discuss this with your doctor to decide out what is best for you:

• For cyclical use, apply one Progynova-TS patch a week for three weeks then take a seven-day break;
• For continuous use, apply one Progynova-TS patch a week, and when the seven days have past, start a new Progynova-TS patch.

You will have a bleed once a month while using Progynova-TS which is called withdrawal bleeding.

As a rule, your doctor should prescribe the lowest possible dose of HRT to effectively treat your symptoms and you should take this for the shortest possible time. This often involves some trial and error to work out exactly what works for you. Each Progynova-TS patch is worn for seven days.

As with all medication, Progynova-TS comes with the risk of some side effects, although of course not everyone using Progynova-Ts will suffer from them. The following diseases have been reported more often in women using HRT compared to women not using HRT:

• Ovarian cancer;
• Breast cancer;
• Cancer of the lining of the womb or abnormal growth in the womb;
• Heart disease;
• Blood clots;
• Loss of memory;
• Stroke.

The most frequent side effects are:

• Breast tenderness;
• Breakthrough bleeding at unexpected times;
• Breast pain.

These side effects usually appear within the first few months of using the treatment and settle down over time.

Common side effects which may affect up to 1 in 10 people are:

• Headaches;
• Itching or rash around / under the patch;
• Nausea / wind;
• Depression, lack of energy, dizziness, sweating, hot flushes;
• Period irregularities;
• Changes in vaginal discharge;
• Generalised pain.

Uncommon side effects which may affect up to 1 in 100 people include:

• Insomnia, apathy, mood swings, feelings of euphoria;
• Changes in sex drive;
• Increase in blood cholesterol;
• Migraine;
• Palpitation;
• Breathlessness, runny or blocked nose;
• Superficial inflammation of the veins;
• Unusual bleeding or bruising under the skin;
• Joint pain, muscle cramps;
• Acne, hair loss, dry skin, nail problems;
• Excessive hair growth;
• Visual disturbance, dry eye;
• Pins and needles;
• Cystitis, discoloured urine, blood in the urine, frequent urge to urinate;
• Benign growths in the lining of the womb, thickening of the lining of the womb;
• Tiredness, high temperature, generally feeling unwell;
• Swollen, tender breasts.

The following side effects have also been reported by healthcare professionals:

• Abdominal pain, bloating, yellowing of the skin or eyes;
• Fibroids;
• Contact dermatitis;
• Reduced oxygen flow to the brain or a section of the brain.

If you have or have ever had any of the following, then you should not use Progynova-TS:

• Blood-clotting disorder;
• Disease caused by blood clots in the arteries such as a recent heart attack, stroke or angina;
• Breast cancer;
• Any cancer sensitive to oestrogens (for example, cancer of the lining of the womb);
• Unexplained vaginal bleeding;
• Liver disease;
• Pregnancy or breast feeding.
• Excessive thickening of the lining of the womb;
• Blood clot in a vein;
• Porphyria (a rare blood problem);
• If you are allergic to oestrogens or any of the other ingredients listed on the packet.

If you experience any of the conditions listed above for the first time while using Progynova-TS, you should stop the treatment and seek immediate medical assistance.

If you have ever had any of the health issues listed below, you should discuss this carefully with your doctor before starting treatment with Progynova-TS as you may require more frequent check-ups:

• Growth of the womb lining outside your womb, or a history of excessive growth of the lining of the womb;
• Fibroids inside your womb;
• High blood pressure;
• Gall stones;
• Diabetes;
• Migraines or severe headaches;
• Asthma;
• Epilepsy;
• Increased risk of developing blood clots;
• Increased risk of developing oestrogen-sensitive cancer;
• Disease of the immune system that affects many organs in the body (systemic lupus);
• Disease affecting the eardrum and hearing;
• Very high level of fat in your blood;
• Hereditary angioedema;
• Fluid retention due to cardiac or kidney problems.

Some medicines can interact badly with one another and cause problems, or increase or reduce the effectiveness of your treatment. You should always tell your doctor about any other medication you are taking, including vitamins and supplements.

Some examples of medications that Progynova TS interacts with are:

• Drugs that prevent harmful blood clots;
• Medicines for tuberculosis;
• Medicines for epilepsy;
• Medicines for HIV and hepatitis C;
• Medicines for Parkinson’s disease;
• Sedatives;
• Herbal remedies containing St John’s Wort;
• Medicines to treat fungal infections;
• Medicines to treat bacterial infections;
• Medicines to treat certain heart diseases and high blood pressure. Grapefruit juice can also affect how Progynova-TS works.

You can buy Progynova-TS from any pharmacy, order online for discreet delivery, or go to your local pharmacy or a large supermarket pharmacy.

No, you cannot get Progynova-TS without a prescription, you will need to have a consultation with a doctor to determine whether it is the right treatment for you. You can book an appointment with your regular doctor or an online consultation if you prefer. In the case of HRT, it is very important that your doctor has a good overview of your family medical history, your own personal medical history and a recent blood pressure reading

Bayer Plc (2017). [online] Medicines.org.uk. Available at: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.6263.pdf [accessed 12 Dec 2019].

Brazier, Y. (2017). Hormone replacement therapy: Uses, types, and alternatives. [online] Medical News Today. Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/181726.php#types [accessed 12 Dec 2019].

NHS UK (2018). Menopause – Treatment. [online] nhs.uk. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/treatment/ [accessed 12 Dec 2019].