The oral HRT combination preparation Femoston®, first launched in 1995, has given Solvay Pharmaceuticals’ presence in HRT outside the US another boost. Femoston® is the only HRT product that contains dydrogesterone – regarded by many as an ideal progestogen for HRT – combined with 17 beta-estradiol, which is identical to a woman’s most important natural estrogen. The combination of these hormones within one tablet is unique to Femoston®. Femoston®  combination regimens (2/10, 1/10 both sequential combinations as well as 1/5 the continuous combined combination) have been launched in many countries.

The sequential 2/10 and 1/10 dosages are prescribed to peri-menopausal women. The continuous combined Femoston Conti 1/5 regimen is prescribed to postmenopausal women. Characteristic of this low-dose formulation is the lack of menstrual bleeding, which is considered a great benefit by many women.

Menopause
Menopause is a natural phase in a woman’s life. The natural menopause will generally occur between the ages of 45 and 55.
Often the first signal of the menopause is the change in the menstrual pattern. Periods can become irregular and can be heavier or lighter than usual. The ovaries start to slow down the production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. These hormones regulate the menstruation cycle and influence (particularly estrogen) different tissues and organs in the body.
Women who have had an operation to remove their ovaries will become menopausal immediately thereafter.

Menopausal women can experience emotional symptoms like: tiredness, forgetfulness, irritability, insomnia, nervousness, tearfulness, depression, feelings of unworthiness, lack of concentration, loss of sex drive (libido). Common physical symptoms during the menopause are: hot flushes of skin on face, cold sweatshot, night sweats, palpitations (fast beating of the heart), joint and muscle aches, vaginal dryness and urinary incontinence.
In the long term, an estrogen deficiency can also lead to osteoporosis (loss of bone mass) and to a higher risk of heart disease.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
HRT are medicines which supplements the lack of the hormone oestrogen in the treatment of menopausal symptoms or for the prevention of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. HRT has proven strong benefits. It makes menopausal symptoms like hot flushes, sweats, mood changes, dryness of the vagina disappear, and protects against hip fractures and other osteoporotic fractures.  These benefits of HRT should be balanced on an individual basis, and treatment should be reappraised yearly.

Solvay Pharmaceuticals actively follows the emergence of new relevant data of the recent debates about female hormone therapy with priority and reconsider the risk to benefit ratios of our products in the light of all data available to us.

We do not consider the debate necessitates any urgent changes to the use of our HRT treatments.  We recommend any patient using one of our HRT products to continue to discuss with their doctor or menopause clinic the best future course of action. The three strengths for Femoston allow individual therapy options thus answering best to the current needs in HRT.