Conjugated Oestrogens

1 medicine

Conjugated oestrogens are menopausal hormone therapy that relieve hot flushes and vaginal dryness, but raise the risk of blood clots, stroke and, if the uterus is intact and no progestogen is added, endometrial cancer.

Premarin®

Conjugated oestrogens

0.625mg

Premarin® is a womens health medication containing Conjugated oestrogens, available as 0.625mg tablets.

from $2.99 / tablet View

Key facts

  • Conjugated oestrogens are a mixture of estrogen hormones used as menopausal hormone therapy to relieve hot flushes, night sweats and vaginal dryness, and to help prevent osteoporosis in some women.
  • They are taken daily, combined with a progestogen if you still have a uterus, at the lowest effective dose for the shortest time needed to control symptoms.
  • They raise the risk of venous blood clots and stroke, and with longer-term combined use, breast cancer. Taken without a progestogen by a woman with an intact uterus, they also raise the risk of endometrial cancer.
  • Report any unexpected vaginal bleeding to your prescriber promptly; it needs to be checked.
  • Seek urgent care for leg pain or swelling, sudden breathlessness, chest pain, sudden severe headache, or vision or speech changes.

What conjugated oestrogens treat

Conjugated oestrogens treat moderate to severe menopausal symptoms, including hot flushes, night sweats and vaginal atrophy, and are used to prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at high risk of fracture who cannot take other bone-protective treatments.

How conjugated oestrogens work

After menopause, the ovaries make far less estrogen. Conjugated oestrogens replace enough of this hormone to restore signalling to estrogen receptors throughout the body, which eases hot flushes and vaginal dryness and slows the bone loss that follows estrogen deficiency.

Before you take it

  • Do not take them if you have had breast cancer or another estrogen-dependent cancer, unexplained vaginal bleeding, an active blood clot, a recent stroke or heart attack, or active liver disease.
  • If your uterus is intact, you need a progestogen alongside it to protect the womb lining; do not take unopposed estrogen with an intact uterus.
  • Tell your prescriber about migraine, gallbladder disease, or risk factors for blood clots or breast cancer, and have the treatment reviewed regularly, especially with long-term use.

Side effects

Common effects include breast tenderness, bloating, nausea, headache, and irregular bleeding, especially in the first months of treatment.

Stop and seek urgent medical care for any of these:

  • Leg pain or swelling, or sudden breathlessness or chest pain.
  • Sudden severe headache, vision changes, or weakness on one side of the body.
  • A new breast lump.

Safety essentials

  • Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration needed, and have treatment reviewed regularly, since the risks of blood clots, stroke and cancer rise the longer it is used.
  • Add a progestogen whenever your uterus is intact; unopposed estrogen raises the risk of endometrial cancer.
  • Report any new vaginal bleeding, breast changes, or symptoms of blood clots or stroke to your prescriber immediately.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.