Evorel Conti

Evorel Conti is a type of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) that relieves menopause symptoms. It comes in the form of a patch that you stick on your skin. The patches contain a combination of artificial versions of oestrogen and progesterone to replace the naturally declining hormones that are usually produced by the ovaries. Evorel Conti can be used by postmenopausal people who have not had a natural period for at least 18 months.

During menopause, you may experience symptoms such as:

• suddenly feeling hot (hot flushes)
• night sweats
• vaginal dryness
• painful sex
• difficulty sleeping
• mood changes

HRT patches can help to manage these symptoms, improving your quality of life. Each Evorel Conti patch contains the hormones estradiol (3.2mg) and norethisterone (11.2mg). They’re released steadily into your bloodstream through your skin, helping to balance out your hormones during menopause.

Evorel Conti can also help to prevent osteoporosis by replacing oestrogen levels to stop you from developing fragile bones, a condition that is common in menopause.

Evorel Conti patches works by steadily releasing the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone into your body, replacing your declining oestrogen levels, which is what causes most menopause symptoms. You absorb the hormones from the patch through your skin, into your bloodstream.

You will slowly get 50 micrograms (mcg) of estradiol and 170mcg of norethisterone from an Evorel Conti patch throughout the day. Each patch has enough hormones in it for 3 or 4 days, which is why you only need to replace it twice a week.

As you get older, your ovaries will produce less oestrogen, and your periods will stop. Replacing the oestrogen you have lost using Evorel Conti helps relieve and prevent menopause symptoms that can affect your quality of life. These symptoms include pain during sex, hot flushes, and mood swings. However, taking oestrogen on its own causes the lining of your womb to thicken, so progesterone is added to the patch to help shed the lining and prevent it from building up.

How long do Evorel Conti patches take to work?

Evorel Conti patches usually start to provide relief from menopause symptoms within the first few weeks of starting treatment, but it can take up to 3 months to notice their full effects.

How long do Evorel Conti patches last?

Each Evorel Conti patch lasts for 3 to 4 days before it needs changing. If you use them exactly as instructed by a doctor, your body will be supplied with a continuous dose of hormones.

Evorel Conti is effective a few weeks after you start using it, and it can take up to 3 months to feel the full effects.

To help you get the most out of your Evorel Conti patches, here are some lifestyle habits you may want to try:

• eating healthy foods daily, including 5 portions of fruit and vegetables, and less salty or fatty foods
• staying hydrated by drinking enough water, so your pee is a yellow straw colour throughout the day
• exercising regularly for around 30 minutes per day, like going for a walk, swimming, cycling, or gentle yoga

Along with Everol Conti patches, these lifestyle changes can help relieve your menopause symptoms.

Stick 1 patch onto a clean, dry, and healthy area of skin below your waist, such as your thigh or buttocks. You can shower, swim, and exercise as normal with your Evorel Conti patch.

You should not place your Evorel Conti patch:

• where it will be in direct sunlight
• anywhere near your breasts
• on your waistband, where your clothes might press or rub against it
• above or on any cuts or irritated skin
• where you have put on cream or moisturiser
• in the same place twice in a row, to prevent a rash

Evorel Conti patches should only be used exactly as your doctor has prescribed. If you think they are too strong or not strong enough, contact your doctor for advice.

How often should I change the Evorel Conti patch?

Each pack contains 8 patches, and you’ll need to change them twice a week or every 3 or 4 days. This ensures your body is getting a steady supply of hormones to relieve your symptoms.

For example, if you apply your first patch on a Monday, you’ll need to change it on Thursday and then again on the following Monday. It’s best to choose a day that you can remember and will have time to change them. To help you remember your patch change days, you can:

• make a note on your patch with a permanent marker as to what day you should next change your patch
• set reminders on your phone or add it to your calendar

What if the patch falls off?

If your current Evorel Conti patch falls off, stick on a new patch as soon as you can. Do not reapply the one that has fallen off, and stick to your usual patch change days. Any time spent without a patch may increase the chance of breakthrough bleeding or spotting.

What if I forget to change my patch?

If you forget to change your patch, change it as soon as possible and apply the next one at the normal time. However, if it’s almost time for the next patch, skip the missed patch and go back to your regular schedule. Ideally, you should be leaving 3 to 4 days between changing patches. Wearing a patch for longer than 4 days can increase the chance of breakthrough bleeding or spotting.

Do not put more than 1 patch on at a time.

There are some possible side effects when using the Evorel Conti patch. Sometimes you might get a rash on the area of skin where you place the Evorel Conti patch, and it may look red or feel itchy. This normally goes away on its own, but your doctor can recommend an alternative HRT medicine if it keeps happening.

Other common side effects of Evorel Conti include:

• difficulty sleeping
• low mood
• headache
• breast pain
• feeling sick (nausea)
• stomach pain
• feeling tired
• body weight changes

Uncommon side effects of the Evorel Conti patch include:

• muscle pain
• hand and feet swelling
• low sex drive
• vaginal infections, such as thrush

Speak to a doctor if you have any side effects, they can recommend a different HRT medication if your side effects are unmanageable or severe. You can also report your side effects to the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme.

You should see a doctor straight away if you get:

• migraines
• peeling or blistering skin
• yellowing of the skin (jaundice)
• seizures

Call 999 straight away if you:

• feel your throat or face swelling
• have difficulty breathing or swallowing

These may be signs that you’re having a serious allergic reaction.

You can use Evorel Conti if you’re a woman and you:

• have not had a period for the past 18 months, or have had your ovaries removed
• are going through menopause
• want to prevent bone loss from osteoporosis

You should not use Evorel Conti patches if you have:

• unexplained vaginal bleeding
• liver disease or liver function problems
• recently had a stroke or heart attack
• angina or heart disease
• ever had a blood clot
• breast cancer

You should not use Evorel Conti patches if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

If you are unable to use Evorel Conti patches, speak to a doctor about alternative hormone replacement therapy.

Evorel Conti patches can interact with other medicines or herbal supplements you may be taking, and this can affect how they work. So you should let your doctor know if you’re taking medication for:

• epilepsy, such as phenobarbital, phenytoin, lamotrigine, or carbamazepine
• tuberculosis, such as rifampicin or rifabutin
• human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), such as ritonavir
• hepatitis C, such as telaprevir
• high blood pressure, such as bosentan
• low mood, such as St John's wort

Taking these medications with Evorel Conti can cause both the medication and the Evorel Conti patch to be less effective.

There are alternative HRT treatments that you can use to manage your menopause symptoms. You can choose between:

• other patches
• tablets that you swallow
• vaginal tablets
• vaginal cream

If needed, you can use more than one type of treatment at the same time. If Evorel Conti patches are not suitable for you or you’re still getting periods but have menopause symptoms, Evorel Sequi may be a better alternative.

Oral tablets

Tablets that you swallow are a common type of HRT that provide a convenient and effective way of managing menopause symptoms. However, they are not suitable for everyone, particularly if you have difficulty swallowing pills or you are at an increased risk of blood clots.

At ZAVA, we offer the following oral HRT tablets:

• Elleste Duet
• Kliovance
• Kliofem
• Femoston Conti
• Premique
• Livial (tibolone)

Vaginal HRT

Vaginal tablets and creams treat vaginal menopause symptoms, such as vaginal dryness, and only contain oestrogen. It’s more suitable if you are not having wider symptoms, like hot flushes or night sweats. Vaginal HRT is also known as local HRT.

Vaginal tablets

Vaginal tablets like Vagifem are inserted directly inside your vagina, replacing reducing levels of the hormone directly at the source to provide effective relief from vaginal dryness.

An over-the-counter vaginal tablet that’s available without a prescription is Gina. This is a low-dose vaginal tablet which offers a convenient solution for symptoms, like dryness, soreness, and painful sex.

Vaginal creams

Alternatively, vaginal HRT is also available in a cream you can apply directly into your vagina to relieve vaginal irritation. They include:

• Estriol cream
• Ovestin cream

You also have the option of using a combination of a patch and tablets that you can swallow, such as:

• Estradot patches and Utrogestan sequential
• Estradot patches and Utrogestan continuous

➤ Fill out an online questionnaire with ZAVA today to find out which HRT treatment is best for you.

The difference between Evorel Conti and Evorel Sequi is that they contain different types of patches. You can use either of them for effective hormone replacement therapy, but Evorel Sequi is intended for people going through perimenopause – the time just before menopause, where you still have a period but may also have menopause symptoms.

In a pack of Evorel Conti patches, all of the patches are the same. But in a pack of Evorel Sequi patches, there are 2 different types of patches.

The 2 types of patches in an Evorel Sequi box are:

• Evorel 50
• Evorel Conti

The Evorel 50 patches only contain the hormone oestrogen, and the Evorel Conti patches contain oestrogen plus a form of progesterone.

➤ More information about Evorel Conti can be found in the patient information leaflet that comes with your treatment pack.