Tibolone

Tibolone is a tablet treatment for the symptoms of postmenopause (when you haven’t had a period for a year or more) which also helps to reduce your likelihood of developing osteoporosis. It has a similar effect in your body to combined HRT, but unlike more ‘traditional’ HRT, it doesn’t contain oestrogen or progesterone.

Instead, tibolone (the active ingredient in the treatment) is a synthetic steroid that’s broken down in your body to make these hormones. This means that it (a little confusingly) can be considered both a form of HRT ^[1] and an alternative to it, ^[2] depending on who you speak to.

How does Tibolone work?

Symptoms of menopause are caused by a reduction in your oestrogen levels, as your ovaries gradually release fewer eggs until eventually you no longer get any periods. Symptoms of menopause can vary in both duration and severity. Some women only get minor symptoms for a brief period of time, whereas other women can experience strong symptoms for years at a time – which can be both distressing and disruptive to everyday life.

By mimicking the effects of oestrogen in the body, Tibolone helps to alleviate these symptoms. Too much oestrogen in the body, though, can increase the risk of womb cancer. As a result, Tibolone works similarly to combined HRT to also increase your levels of progesterone^[3]hich helps to reduce this risk. Tibolone also has some androgenic (male hormone) effects, which has been shown to help improve sexual well-being, mood and libido in women who have struggled with these, ^[4]either as a direct result of menopause or other HRT.

Oestrogen is also an important hormone for maintaining bone density. As a result, many women become more likely to develop osteoporosis after menopause due to lower oestrogen levels. By replacing this oestrogen, Tibolone, like other HRT, reduces the risk of you developing osteoporosis.

What doses of Tibolone are there?

Tibolone is only available in one dosage: 2.5mg, of which the recommended dose is one tablet per day. If you find that this dose isn’t working to reduce your symptoms you should speak to our clinician. You might be advised to increase your daily dose if it’s safe for you to do so.

You should always take Tibolone exactly as instructed to by our clinician. Swallow it whole with water. It should be taken at the same time each day. Each strip of tablets has the days of the week marked on them to help you keep track. You’ll typically be told to take one tablet a day, which can be gradually increased if you’re still struggling with your symptoms until you find the balance that works best for you.

How long does it take Tibolone to work?

It usually takes a few weeks for you to start noticing any benefit from HRT, and longer-still to get the full effects of it. If you’re still struggling with your symptoms after a few months of taking Tibolone you might be advised to try a different form of treatment.

What should I do if I make a mistake when taking Tibolone?

It’s unlikely that taking too much Tibolone will cause you many problems. You might just feel sick, be sick, or get some vaginal bleeding. If you’ve taken too much and are concerned about your health, seek medical advice. If you forget to take your dose of Tibolone you can take it when you remember, so long as it’s not been more than 12 hours since your scheduled dose. If it has, skip that dose and continue with your normal schedule as normal. Don’t double your dose to make up for the missed one.