Progestogen only pill

• Routine doses of the progestogen only pill (POP) used to provide contraception cannot be relied on to provide endometrial protection as part of HRT.
• These preparations are safe to use alongside HRT.
• Where a woman is amenorrhoea due to POP use, a continuous progestogen can be used for endometrial protection in HRT.

DESOGESTREL

• Early studies have reported that use of Desogestrel 150mcg is effective for endometrial protection, and this dose is used to provide endometrial protection in some combined contraceptive pills such as Gedarel and Marvelon.
• For some women, Desogestrel 150mcg (prescribed as two minipills daily) might be a useful treatment option. However, women should be informed that its use would be off-license.

NORETHISTERONE

• The BMS recommends norethisterone be prescribed as 0.5 -1mg in continuous combined regimes.
• Off license use of norethisterone in progestogen only contraceptive pills (e.g: Noriday 3x tablets of 350mcg daily will provide 1.05mg of norethisterone) and may be considered.