Menopause is a biological process most women will go through, but it can lead to symptoms that are difficult to manage. With limited treatment options out there, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the most common solution offered to women.
HRT is available in lots of different forms and can vary depending on your individual needs. Women who have had their uterus and/or ovaries removed will be offered an oestrogen-only HRT, whereas women who still have theirs will be placed on combined HRT. Kliofem is one type of HRT that could help alleviate your menopause symptoms — but does it have any side effects?
Find out more about Kliofem and any potential side effects that taking it may have with reviews.healthcare.
What is Kliofem?
Kliofem is a type of HRT that contains higher doses of hormones than other types. Kliofem needs to be taken at the same time every day and you may have to take it for at least 10 days before noticing any changes in your symptoms.
It’s also only available on prescription, so you will need to speak with your doctor if you want to start taking it.
How does Kliofem work?
Kliofem is made from synthetic hormones that mimic your biological ones to replenish the depleted levels that occur during menopause. Kliofem contains 2 mg of estradiol and 1 mg of norethisterone — helping boost your oestrogen and progesterone levels.
For Kliofem to work effectively, you need to take Kliofem at the same time every day. You also need to be aware that missing a dose means you can’t always take it to make up for missing it. You can take your missed dose if it’s within 12 hours of your allotted time. If not, you’ll need to skip it entirely and take one dose the following day as normal.
The main symptoms that Kliofem can help reduce are hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings and vaginal dryness — all of which can be extremely disruptive to your life. Taking Kliofem could help alleviate your menopause symptoms and support your health daily.
What are the side effects of Kliofem?
All medications, including Kliofem, can have some side effects. However, not all women will experience them when taking it. Typically, side effects occur within the first few weeks of taking it as your body begins to adjust to the new hormones pumping through your body.
Here are some of the common side effects when taking Kliofem:
- Breast tenderness, pain and swelling
- Headaches
- Water retention
- Bloating
- Vaginal bleeding
- Vaginal inflammation
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Back pain
- Leg cramps
- Acne
- Hair loss
- Increased blood pressure
Some of these side effects can impact you more than others, as well as ranging from mild to severe. You must have regular checkups with your doctor when taking Kliofem as they will need to monitor how your body reacts as well as any side effects you may be experiencing.
Allergic reactions
There is a possibility that you could have an allergic reaction to Kliofem. If you experience difficulty breathing, swelling of your tongue, face or throat or intense itching (hives) you need to seek medical attention immediately by calling 999.
Allergic reactions are rare. But they can happen so it’s important that you know the signs of one in case it occurs.
Increased risks when taking Kliofem
When taking Kliofem, there is an increased risk of certain health conditions and problems.
These can include an increased risk of:
- Breast cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Blood clots
- Heart disease
- Stroke
Although these can seem like quite serious side effects, they are extremely rare. For example, the increased risk of blood clots goes from four and seven women in 1,000 to nine and 12 women in 1,000.
Similarly, the increased risk of breast cancer goes from 13 to 17 women in 1,000 to 21 in 1,000. The increased risk of ovarian cancer (a rare cancer anyway) only increases from two to three women in 1,000. So, as you can see, the increased risk is only very slight and doesn’t pose as much of a threat to your health as you may have initially thought.
Menopause symptoms are a pain, but they can hopefully be managed effectively with the help of Kliofem. Although there is the possibility of side effects, they shouldn’t last too long and can resolve within a few weeks. You do need to monitor any side effects you experience though and always mention them to your doctor.
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