Classified as sequential or cyclical hormone replacement therapy (or HRT for short), Novofem consists of two types of pills, one containing just estradiol, a synthetic oestrogen bioequivalent commonly used in various HRTs and the other containing both estradiol and norethisterone acetate, synthetic progesterone. Both types are dispensed in a specific sequence using a calendar pack, a strip containing pills with arrows and labels containing names of the days of the week, so you have easier time tracking your treatment and following the sequence properly. As a combined HRT, Novofem is prescribed to women who have not had regular periods for a minimum of six months and who have not undergone hysterectomy.

What’s on this page?

Should I take HRTs?

Hormone replacement therapies are, of course, not prescribed to every woman entering the menopausal period. As this is a perfectly natural process, medication isn’t necessary for dealing with it – at least for the majority of women. However, in some cases, the symptoms of menopause can become so severe that they begin interfering with the everyday life and activities. At this point, prescription medication in the form of HRT might be recommended by your doctor.

How does Novofem help with menopause symptoms?

Most symptoms of menopause are caused by the hormonal imbalance or, more precisely, deficiency of female sex hormone oestrogen. Because of this, HRTs available on the UK market aim to provide relief from uncomfortable symptoms by supplementing the oestrogen deficiency and restoring the optimal hormonal balance. However, just the introduction of oestrogen (or in this case, its synthetic bioequivalent) can have potentially dangerous consequences, especially in women who have not had their wombs removed.

It had been proven that uncontrolled increase in oestrogen levels leads to severe thickening of the uterine lining, thus significantly increasing the risk of cancer developing in the womb. Combined HRTs solve this problem by introducing another compound, namely progesterone (or its synthetic equivalent) which is tasked with keeping the total levels of oestrogen in check and preventing them from rising so much that they begin posing a health risk.

Can I buy Novofem online in the UK?

Yes, it is possible to buy Novofem online, but only if you have already used this HRT in the past and are looking for prescription renewal. If it is your first time buying Novofem, you will still be required to visit a doctor in person and provide him with the relevant information so he can get a detailed insight in your medical profile and history. If everything is in order and you are deemed suitable for this specific HRT, the doctor will issue a prescription which you can use to get the medication from your local pharmacy.

In case of renewing the prescription, you can use the functionality provided by the websites of the majority of online clinics operating within the UK. So, in order to buy Novofem online, you should locate it on the website of the online clinic of your choice and purchase it there. Before your purchase is approved, you will probably be asked to provide the doctor employed at the online clinic with certain information regarding your medical profile and history. Most commonly, this is done through a customised and detailed medical questionnaire.

If everything is in order and the doctor agrees that you can safely use this medication, the prescription will be issued and used that very same instant to have the medication delivered to the address you provided.

How is Novofem used?

When using Novofem, it is of uttermost importance to precisely follow the instructions provided by your prescriber. In this way, you will not only increase the chances of successful outcome, but also significantly decrease the risk of experiencing unwanted side effects. It is also recommended to read through the official patient information supplied within every pack of Novofem. There you will find a detailed instruction on how to safely use this medication.

Below we will provide you with some of the most general guidelines that should help you get a better understanding of how Novofem treatment looks like. Please keep in mind that what follows cannot be used as a substitute for doctor’s instructions or the information provided in the patient information leaflet.

  • Always take as prescribed
  • Typical dose is one pill per day (at the same time each day)
  • Take the tablets whole with water if needed (without chewing or breaking them)
  • Consult the patient information leaflet for information on when to commence treatment (this will depend on a number of factors)
  • If you miss a dose, take it when you do remember as soon as it is within 12 hours of scheduled time
  • If more than 12 hours have passed, just skip it and continue with the treatment as usual
  • Novofem is a sequential HRT similarly to Prempak-C, meaning that different pills contain different amounts of active ingredients and must be taken in a specific order
  • Use the calendar pack to keep track of your progress

What are Novofem side effects?

As is the case with a majority of medications, some of the users might experience certain unwanted side effects when using Novofem. It is highly recommended to get thoroughly familiar with potential side effects prior to commencing treatment, so you will be able to easily differentiate between side effects that might require you to halt treatment and seek immediate medical attention and those which are certainly uncomfortable, but not really dangerous.

Side effects that you should be especially aware of include:

  • Allergic reaction
  • Heart problems
  • Memory loss
  • Stroke
  • Blood clots
  • Breast, endometrial or ovarian cancer

Other documented side effects include:

Common (1 in 10 users) Uncommon (1 in 100 users) Rare (1 in 1000 users)
·       Headache

·       Tender breasts

·       Hypertension

·       Vaginal thrush

·       Abdominal pain

·       Indigestion

·       Flatulence

·       Rash

·       Uterine fibroids

·       Oedema

·       Weight gain

·       Migraines

·       Libido changes

·       Thrombosis

·       Nausea

·       Gallbladder disease

·       Hair loss

·       Cramps

 

 

 

 

·       Nervousness

·       Dizziness

·       Diarrhoea

·       Bloating

·       Acne

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please keep in mind that this is not a full list of all known side effects. For a more comprehensive list, please refer to the official patient information leaflet that you can find within your pack of Novofem.