FemSeven Conti

What is FemSeven Conti?

FemSeven Conti is an HRT transdermal patch for postmenopausal women who haven’t had a period for more than a year.

Every patch contains two active ingredients, an oestrogen called estradiol and a progesterone called levonorgestrel to help provide hormonal balance. These ingredients are synthetic hormones, and help to relieve symptoms of menopause like night sweats, mood changes, hot flushes and vaginal dryness.

How does FemSeven Conti work?

When women experience menopause, their oestrogen levels drop significantly. The loss of oestrogen causes most of the common symptoms associated with menopause. FemSeven contains a synthetic version of oestrogen, which supplements these falling levels and reduces menopausal symptoms. But with this increase in oestrogen, progesterone is needed to oppose it so that high levels don’t cause problems with the womb. That’s why this treatment, which contains both oestrogen and progesterone, is called combined HRT.

If it’s been 12 months or more since your last period, a continuous HRT is recommended. You won’t get a period-like monthly bleed.

The transdermal patch contains the dosage of active ingredients. When you apply it to your skin, it’s absorbed through the skin into your bloodstream. The oestrogen and progesterone are slowly released throughout the day.

What are the benefits of using FemSeven Conti?

Using an HRT patch may be more suitable for you if you struggle with swallowing tablets. The benefits of using an HRT patch outweigh the risks when compared to oral tablets. It can help avoid certain side effects like indigestion and the risk of blood clots is slightly lower.^[1][2]

Is FemSeven Conti the same as FemSeven Sequi?

FemSeven Conti and FemSeven Sequi (now discontinued) are similar in that they work the same way using the same active ingredients. However, the hormone schedule they use and who they’re for are slightly different.

FemSeven Sequi uses a sequential method to tackle menopause symptoms and it’s used by women who are menopausal but still get irregular periods (‘perimenopausal’). It consists of two patches used separately in two phases.

Phase one: use the oestrogen-only patch for the first two weeks, replacing it weekly.
Phase two: use the combined oestrogen and progestogen patch for the last two weeks, replacing it weekly.

At the end of phase two, you will usually get a bleed.

FemSeven Conti contains the same level of hormones in patches throughout the month, which is why it’s a ‘continuous’ treatment. This is usually recommended for women who’ve had a whole year since their last period.

How to use FemSeven Conti

FemSeven Conti patches are applied and replaced with a new one every seven days. This is called a continuous treatment. It’s best to apply the patch below the waist, for example around your hips or bottom.

You should not apply this patch near or on your breasts. Try not to apply it in the same place every week.

1. Remove the patch from the pouch
2. Peel off the protective layer and place it on your skin
3. Press down with your palm for 30 seconds to ensure it sticks – focus on the edges
4. The more pressure and warmth of your hands will ensure it stays stuck on

It’s best to wait an hour before engaging with any water but you should be able to shower and bathe without interrupting the patch’s adhesiveness.

Are there different strengths of doses for FemSeven Conti?

FemSeven Conti is only available in doses of 50mcg estradiol and 7mcg levonorgestrel.

Does FemSeven Conti come as tablets?

No, it doesn’t but there is a range of combined HRT tablets that you can discuss with your prescriber.

Elleste Duet is a combined sequential HRT tablet. It contains estradiol and norethisterone and is for women who are still having periods. Trisequens also contain the same ingredients and are sequential but it’s for women who’ve had at least 6 months since their last period.

Kilofem is like Elleste Duet but continuous and for postmenopausal women.

Indivia is a continuous tablet for women who have a womb and haven’t had a period for more than three years. It contains estradiol and medroxyprogesterone.

If you’re sensitive to hormones, Kliovance is similar to Kliofem and Novofem is similar to Elleste Duet. Premique Low Dose is a continuous HRT and contains conjugated oestrogens and medroxyprogesterone.

Femoston is available as a continuous or sequential tablet depending on if you’re either premenopausal or postmenopausal. It contains estradiol, an oestrogen, and dydrogesterone, a progesterone.