Evorel Patches

Evorel patches are a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) that delivers oestrogen through the skin to help ease symptoms of menopause. When applied twice weekly, they help treat common menopausal symptoms like night sweats, hot flushes, and difficulty sleeping.

At HealthExpress, we prescribe Evorel patches following a short online consultation, where suitability is assessed based on your symptoms and medical history.

When applied to the skin, Evorel patches supply body-identical oestrogen, which women produce less of during menopause. They contain estradiol hemihydrate, a form of oestrogen that binds to receptors to increase levels in the body.

By restoring oestrogen levels closer to those seen before menopause, many symptoms can be reduced.

Using Evorel patches for menopause offers many health benefits:

• Eases menopause symptoms: including night sweats, hot flushes, insomnia, mood changes, nausea and more.
• Ideal for women without a womb: oestrogen-only formulation treats symptoms without the need for progestogen in women who have had a hysterectomy.
• Patches offer a lower risk of blood clots: Evorel patches carry a lower risk of blood clotting than oral HRTs, although the risk is not zero.
• Flexible dosage options: 25 mcg and 50 mcg patches available to suit mild to moderate menopause symptoms.

Follow these instructions when applying Evorel patches:

1. Choose a clean, dry, and hairless area of skin on the thighs or buttocks.
2. Apply 1 patch to the skin, ensuring there are no creases.
3. Change your patch on the same two days each week. One patch is worn for 3 days and the next for 4 days, covering a full week.

IMPORTANT: If you have a uterus, you need to take an appropriately matched dose of progesterone to protect your womb lining (endometrium).

If you have not used HRT before and no longer have regular periods, or if you are switching from an HRT that does not cause withdrawal bleeding, you can usually start Evorel patches straight away.

If not, follow this helpful guide when starting treatment:

Evorel patches begin supplying oestrogen to the body as soon as a patch is applied, but it can take up to 3 weeks before a significant improvement in symptoms is noticed. After 3 months of consistent use, the full effects of Evorel should be felt.

Evorel patches are available in two doses:

• 25 mcg: low-dose option for mild-to-moderate menopause symptoms
• 50 mcg: standard dose for moderate menopause symptoms

Evorel patches are most commonly prescribed to postmenopausal women without a womb. If you still have a womb, you may still be prescribed Evorel patches if a progestogen is prescribed alongside it, but you are more likely to be prescribed a combined HRT patch like Evorel Conti that already contains progesterone.

Do not use Evorel patches if you have:

• an allergy to any ingredient found in this medicine
• ever had breast cancer or a cancer sensitive to oestrogens
• unexplained vaginal bleeding
• excessive thickening of the womb lining (endometrial hyperplasia) that is not being treated
• ever had a blood clot in a vein or a blood clotting disorder
• recently had a disease caused by blood clots in the arteries, such as heart attack or stroke
• ever had a liver disease and your liver function tests have not returned to normal
• porphyria (a rare inherited blood disorder)

Using Evorel patches for menopause symptoms can cause some side effects, although not everyone will get them.

The most common Evorel patch side effects include:

• skin irritation where the patch is applied
• breast pain
• dizziness
• feeling depressed
• headache
• stomach pain
• diarrhoea
• joint pain
• breakthrough bleeding
• weight gain

For a full list of Evorel side effects, consult the patient information leaflet.

Evorel patches are widely used and considered safe for many women when prescribed appropriately by a licensed healthcare provider, such as HealthExpress. They have been approved for use in the UK since 1995 and are regularly monitored for safety.