Going through menopause isn’t easy; some women experience symptoms that impact their daily lives. Symptoms of menopause can include hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings and vaginal dryness — all of which can make going about your usual routine that much harder.
However, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is thought to be the best way to alleviate menopause symptoms and help you get back to doing what you love. Two popular menopause medications are Kliovance and Kliofem — but what’s the difference between them?
Discover all you need to know about Kliovance and Kliofem with reviews.healthcare.
What is Kliovance?
Kliovance is a continuous, combined HRT that utilises both estradiol (synthetic oestrogen) and norethisterone acetate (the synthetic version of progesterone). Kliovance contains 1mg of estradiol and 0.5mg of norethisterone acetate, making it a low-dosage HRT.
Taking Kliovance could help women replenish their decreased hormone levels and alleviate their symptoms of menopause.
Kliovance is offered to women who have not had a period for at least one year and are still dealing with symptoms of menopause. It’s worth noting that most doctors won’t offer Kliovance unless your symptoms severely impact you.
What is Kliofem?
Kliofem is a type of combined HRT that is made up of estradiol and norethisterone acetate. Again, Kliofem is recommended for women whose menopause symptoms are disrupting their daily lives and who have not had a period for at least one year.
Kliofem is a higher dosage HRT as it contains 2mg of estradiol and 1mg of norethisterone acetate.
What are the benefits of Kliovance?
During menopause, your oestrogen levels drop drastically — putting you at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis (fragile bones). However, taking Kliovance could help increase your oestrogen levels and strengthen your bones. It can also help to rebalance your hormone levels and stop hot flushes and night sweats.
Taking Kliovance daily could help alleviate vaginal dryness, insomnia and improve your overall mood by reducing feelings of depression and anxiety.
What are the benefits of Kliofem?
Kliofem may be recommended when lower-dose HRTs aren’t working and the benefits can be impressive. The higher dosage can help banish hot flushes, vaginal dryness, irritability and insomnia — as well as decrease your risk of osteoporosis.
Taking Kliofem daily can be a great way to help manage your menopause symptoms that are wreaking havoc on your life.
What are the side effects of Kliovance?
All medications can have some side effects, Kliovance included.
Common side effects of Kliovance can include:
- Breast tenderness or pain
- Bleeding
- Headaches
- Weight gain and fluid retention
- Migraines
- Depression
- Nausea
- Breast swelling
- Back pain
- Uterine fibroids
- Swelling of your arms and legs
- Bloating
- Acne
- Hair loss
There is also a slightly increased risk of:
- Breast cancer
- Abnormal growth or cancer in the lining of your womb
- Ovarian cancer
- Blood clots
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Memory loss if started over the age of 65
However, these are all extremely rare side effects and are not commonly reported. The benefits that Kliovance can bring can greatly outweigh the potential risks.
What are the side effects of Kliofem?
Kliofem also has some side effects and these can include:
- Breast pain and swelling
- Headaches
- Bleeding
- Migraines
- Nausea
- Depression
- Back pain
- Uterine fibroids
- Leg cramps
- Swelling of your arms and legs
- Weight gain and fluid retention
- Bloating
- Acne
- Hair loss
Again, Kliovance can increase your risk of developing:
- Blood clots
- Endometrial cancer
- High blood pressure
- Gallbladder disease
However, these risks are relatively low and the benefits of taking Kliofem can outweigh the risks.
If you’re ever concerned about the risks of taking Kliovance or Kliofem, speak with your doctor who will be able to advise you on all you need to know.
What is the difference between the two?
The main difference between Kliovance and Kliofem is that the former has a lower dose of hormones, whereas the latter has a slightly higher one. You must speak with your doctor and take HRT under their guidance so that you can be certain you are taking the correct for your body and symptoms.
Some women may be fine taking a lower dose, whereas other women may find that it doesn’t do anything for their symptoms so need a higher one.
The side effects can be slightly different too. This may be because Kliofem has a higher dose of hormones so it can take longer for your body to adjust.
Overall, Kliovance and Kliofem can both be effective HRT treatments for symptoms of menopause — one is just a stronger dose than the other. There are also some differences in the side effects, but all in all, they are the same.
If you’re considering taking HRT such as Kliovance or Kliofem, be sure to consult with your doctor. They will be able to confirm which dose is right for you and which type of HRT suits your needs.
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