Health Centres - Clinorette
How does it work?
Clinorette is a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) preparation. Each pack contains two types of tablets. The white tablets contain estradiol (previously spelt oestradiol in the UK) and the pink tablets contain estradiol and norethisterone. These are forms of the main female sex hormones, oestrogen and progesterone. Estradiol is a naturally occuring form of oestrogen and norethisterone 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 estradiol) 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 norethisterone) 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.
Clinorette is a sequential form of combined HRT. This means that oestrogen is taken on a continuous basis and progesterone is added for a portion of each month. The white tablets taken in the first 16 days of each Clinorette cycle contain only estradiol. The pink tablets taken in the next 12 days of each cycle contain both estradiol and norethisterone. 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 pink tablets.
What is it used for?
- Hormone replacement therapy to relieve symptoms of the menopause.
Warning!
- Women taking any form of HRT should have regular medical and gynaecological check-ups. Your need for continued HRT should be reviewed with your doctor at least once a year.
- It is important to be aware that all women using HRT have an increased risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer compared with women who don't use HRT. This risk needs to be weighed against the personal benefits to you of taking HRT. There is more detailed information about the risks and benefits associated with HRT in the factsheet about the menopause linked above. You should discuss these with your doctor before starting HRT.
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