Happy Sunday all, and welcome to this week's waffle, which brings news of an exciting come back, squarely aimed at menopausal and peri-menopausal women.... No, not next year's Take That reunion tour (although that is obviously ridiculously exciting- Southampton dates ladies! See you there!)
I am actually talking about the relaunch of…. drum roll… ‘dydrogesterone’, a type of progesterone.
For the benefit of those not already up to speed, in the medical double act that is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT to the fans) oestrogen would be considered very much the 'lead singer'; the Beyonce, if you will, getting most of the credit for managing those troublesome symptoms. Progesterone, meanwhile, is your Kelly Rowland .. more ‘adding in the harmonies’- she’s there to counterbalance the oestrogen, but is no less important for that, as she is protecting the lining of the womb from becoming overly thickened and irregular, and in so doing protecting you from cancer.
"What's so special about dydrogesterone?" I hear you cry... Well to continue in the pop star revival theme, dydrogesterone was regularly in the charts until about 17 years ago, when HRT use fell (due to various safety concern theories, now debunked). So much that she was cut loose by her label. :-( But now that the HRT usage trend has very much reversed, and in light of the obvious benefits of having multiple different options for treatment, dydrogesterone is planning her come back tour. She has been relaunched by Gedeon Richter UK under the name Nalvee and brings a welcome alternative progesterone option for those on cyclical HRT who, for various possible reasons, are not getting on so well with the most-used alternative, utrogestan. And whilst she is only currently available at the 10mg dose, it is hoped that she will also become an option for those on continuous HRT, in a lower dose format.
Meanwhile, we are equally excited about the launch of a new star - Estradot Conti. Again, for the un-initiated, Estradot is a much-loved oestrogen only continuous HRT patch, particuarly sought after for its relatively small size and superior stickiness. Estradot Conti will be the version of this patch with the progesterone component incorporated. It will come in 2 doses and the launch date is November.
The business of finding the right HRT regime is very rarely a 'one and done' affair. It is normal to run through various iterations, as your needs and risk factors change over time. Whether considering HRT for the first time, or already initiated, more choice can only be a good thing. Dr Tanya Ridout our menopause lead, Dr Rina or Dr Catherine are on hand to give you expert support and guidance, and to get you back to feeling your best.
Wishing you well
Gemma, Tom, and all at Winchester GP