Health Centres - Premique cycle
How does it work?
Premique cycle is a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) preparation. It consists of two types of tablets; the white tablets contain just conjugated oestrogens as the active ingredient, and the green tablets contain two active ingredients, conjugated oestrogens and medroxyprogesterone acetate. These are forms of the main female sex hormones, oestrogen and progesterone. Conjugated oestrogens are naturally occuring forms of oestrogen and medroxyprogesterone acetate is a synthetic form of progesterone.
Womens’ ovaries gradually produce less and less oestrogen in the period up to the menopause, and oestrogen blood levels decline as a result. The declining levels of oestrogen can cause distressing symptoms, such as irregular periods, hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings and vaginal dryness or itching.
Oestrogen (in this case in the form of conjugated oestrogens) can be given as a supplement to replace the falling levels in the body and help reduce these distressing symptoms of the menopause. This is known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT). HRT is usually only required for short-term relief from menopausal symptoms and its use should be reviewed at least once a year with your doctor.
A progestogen (in this case in the form of medroxyprogesterone acetate) is needed as part of HRT for women who have not had a hysterectomy. This is because in women with an intact womb, oestrogen stimulates the growth of the womb lining (endometrium), which can lead to endometrial cancer if the growth is unopposed. A progestogen is given to oppose oestrogen's effect on the womb lining and reduce the risk of cancer, though it does not eliminate this risk entirely. This is known as combined HRT.
Premique cycle is a sequential form of combined HRT. This means that oestrogen is taken on a continuous basis and progesterone is added for the last portion of each month. The white tablets taken in the first 14 days of each Premique cycle pack contain only conjugated oestrogens, while the green tablets taken in the last 14 days of each cycle contain both conjugated oestrogens and medroxyprogesterone acetate. This type of HRT is more suitable for women who are still having irregular periods, because it usually results in a monthly withdrawal bleed towards the end of taking the combination tablets.
HRT is also sometimes used to prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. The declining level of oestrogen at menopause can affect the bones, causing them to become thinner and more prone to breaking. Oestrogen supplements help prevent bone loss and fractures that may occur in women in the years after menopause.
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