Tridestra

What is Tridestra?

Tridestra is a cyclical hormone replacement therapy that combines two hormones, oestrogen and progestogen. This means you take the tablets as part of a sequence that lasts for three months. It helps women who are experiencing menopausal symptoms that get in the way of daily life. Tridestra comes in a 91 tablet calendar packet that makes it easy to use.

The hormone combination effectively works at reducing hot flushes and other symptoms, such as night sweats, fatigue and mood changes. Tridestra can also reduce bone loss which can lead to osteoporosis.

How does Tridestra work?

During the menopause, women’s hormone levels begin to significantly drop. As oestrogen levels in the blood fall, the menstrual cycle – including ovulation – stops. Sometimes when the menopause starts, you’ll get symptoms – like hot flushes, fatigue and changes in mood – that can interfere with daily life. Tridestra works by replacing falling oestrogen levels in the blood. It also contains a type of progesterone, which helps to reduce the risk of endometrial cancer by balancing hormone levels.

Who is Tridestra for?

When the menopause begins, a number of uncomfortable symptoms can come along with it. Tridestra is for women who are looking for relief from menopause symptoms that are getting in the way of daily life.

It's different to other combined HRT treatments because it comes in an extended cycle. Many other treatments contain sequences that cycle through within a month, while Tridestra has a three-monthly cycle – for two weeks in every third month, the tablets contain progesterone as well as oestrogen. This makes it better for women who are recommended combined HRT, but have experienced ‘progestogenic side effects’ (like bloating, tender breasts, headaches) when taking a monthly cycle combined HRT.

If you’re switching from a different cyclic HRT regimen, you’ll have to stop that for a full week before you start taking Tridestra. If you’re still having periods, you should start Tridestra on the fifth day of bleeding.

Is Tridestra the best HRT treatment for me?

By giving you both hormones in one place, Tridestra is an effective option for beginning combined HRT treatment. But if remembering to take a daily tablet for three months doesn’t sound like the right fit for you, Treated offers several other options for hormone replacement treatment. Estradot comes in a patch, and we also offer HRT gels, such as Sandrena.

If you’re under 50 and it’s been less than a year since your last period, you might still be fertile. You can still take Tridestra, but you should use barrier contraception – like a condom – when you have sex.

How to take Tridestra

With Tridestra, you get three different coloured tablets - white (containing just estradiol), light blue (containing both estradiol and medroxyprogesterone), and yellow (containing neither), that are swallowed with water.

The tablets are packaged in three blister strips numbered 1-3, and are taken in a sequence. This design makes sure you’re taking the treatment properly and at the right times.

During the last week of the cycle, when you’re taking the yellow placebo tablet, it’s common to have a bleed that’s like a period. If you have any concerns or questions about this, just ask one of our clinicians who are on hand to help.

What if I forget to take one of my Tridestra pills?

Take your tablet every day at the same time. If you do forget one, try and take it within 12 hours of your normal time –any later than that, you can just skip the one you’ve missed.

If you’re missing your doses regularly and start to experience problems (such as spotting), it could be that Tridestra isn’t the right HRT choice for you. Ask one of our clinicians about a more suitable option.