Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) replaces declining ovarian oestrogen — and adds progestogen for women with an intact uterus to protect the endometrium — to manage menopausal symptoms (hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal atrophy, mood, sleep) and to reduce the long-term bone-density loss that follows menopause. Modern guidelines support HRT use within 10 years of menopause for symptomatic women without contraindications. The MedsBase HRT catalogue carries oral, topical, and progestogen-only options supplied by WHO-GMP gecertificeerde fabrikanten.
Oral conjugated equine oestrogens. Premarin (the original conjugated oestrogen extracted from pregnant mare’s urine — the most-studied HRT preparation) is stocked as Premarin oral tablets and Premarin Cream for vaginal atrophy. Premarin acts on multiple oestrogen-receptor subtypes; oral preparation needs combination with progestogen in women with intact uterus.
Oestradiol valerate. Pure oestradiol (bioidentical to natural oestrogen) at 1 mg or 2 mg daily oral, also available as transdermal gel and patch. Oral oestradiol valerate as Progynova. Transdermal options (Oestrogel) bypass first-pass hepatic metabolism — preferred for women with hypertriglyceridaemia, gallbladder disease, or migraine with aura where oral oestrogen is contraindicated.
Tibolone — single-tablet alternative. Tibolone 2.5 mg is a synthetic steroid with weak oestrogenic, progestogenic, and androgenic activity in a single daily tablet — useful for postmenopausal women who want symptom control without separate progestogen, and may improve libido through its androgenic effect. Stocked as Livial en Tibofem.
Progesterone and progestogens — for endometrial protection or HRT add-on. Micronised natural progesterone is the preferred progestogen in modern HRT (cleaner side-effect profile and more favourable cardiovascular signal than older synthetic progestogens). Stocked as Susten Capsule en Endogest. Synthetic progestogens for cyclical or continuous combined HRT include dydrogesterone (Gestoford, Gestheal) and medroxyprogesterone (Meprate).
Selective oestrogen-receptor modulator (SERM). Raloxifene 60 mg (oestrogenic on bone, anti-oestrogenic on breast and endometrium) is the alternative for postmenopausal osteoporosis prevention in women who cannot or do not want full HRT — and reduces invasive breast cancer incidence in MORE/STAR trials. Stocked as Raloxiheal. Carries VTE warning similar to oestrogen.
Adjuncts. Cabergoline (dopamine agonist, occasionally used for prolactin-mediated menopause symptoms) as Cabgolin. Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus — Ayurvedic adjunct for menopausal symptoms) as Shatavari.
Hoe te kiezen. Hot flushes / night sweats / vaginal atrophy with uterus → cyclical or continuous combined oestrogen + progestogen. Hysterectomy → oestrogen monotherapy. Vaginal atrophy alone → topical / vaginal oestrogen (Premarin Cream, Oestrogel). Wants single-tablet add-androgen effect → tibolone. Cannot use oestrogen but needs bone protection → raloxifene. Migraine with aura, hypertriglyceridaemia, gallbladder disease → transdermal oestrogen rather than oral.
Belangrijk. HRT contraindications: history of breast or endometrial cancer, undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, active VTE, severe liver disease, recent stroke or MI, pregnancy. Risk discussion with your GP or menopause specialist is essential — current evidence supports HRT use as net-benefit for symptomatic women starting within 10 years of menopause, with risk-benefit reassessment annually. Breast cancer risk is small in absolute terms (around 1 extra case per 1,000 women per year on combined HRT for < 5 years).
All MedsBase HRT products ship from WHO-GMP gecertificeerde fabrikanten met discrete verpakking en vallen onder onze Reshipment Assurance Policy.