MEDICINES TO HELP PREPARE YOUR BODY
Hormone‑balancing treatments used before fertility care begins, helping regulate your cycle and get your body ready for treatment.
Medications for preparing your body for treatment
When you’re preparing for fertility treatment, you may be prescribed a number of different medicines to get your body ready. These are an important part of the preparation stage — helping to regulate your cycle, balance your hormones, and prepare the womb lining for treatment.
On this page, we’ve outlined some of the medications you might be prescribed at this stage of your journey. Each section explains what the medicine is for, how to take or use it, possible side effects, and when to contact us if something doesn’t feel right.
Your exact prescription will be personalised for you, and you’ll find your treatment schedule and instructions in the Care Fertility companion app, Salve. If anything is unclear or you’re worried about how you’re feeling, our team is only a call or message away.
Norethisterone
Active ingredient: Norethisterone (5mg)
Available form: Tablets (contains lactose)
Norethisterone is a type of progestogen – a hormone similar to the natural female hormone progesterone. Norethisterone keeps progesterone levels artificially high to delay your period. It’s often used to help time your cycle and plan treatment, including triggering a bleed when needed.
Keep in a cool, dry place below 25°C, away from heat and direct sunlight. Always store in the original packaging.
Take the tablets by mouth, exactly as shown in your Salve schedule. Do not take Norethisterone if you might be pregnant.
Some people experience headaches, breast tenderness, fluid retention, mood changes, dizziness, skin reactions (like acne or itching), or changes in weight or sex drive. Very rarely, it can cause a severe allergic reaction.
See the leaflet in your medication pack for the full list of possible side effects.
Important information:
Stop taking Norethisterone and seek medical help immediately if you notice:
- Sudden chest pain, coughing blood, or shortness of breath
- Severe headaches, vision changes, or trouble speaking
- Swelling or pain in your leg, or skin that becomes red, purple, or warm
Risk of blood clots (VTE):
All women have a small risk of blood clots in the legs or lungs, but this risk is slightly higher when taking hormone medicines. See your doctor straight away if you develop any of the symptoms above.
Provera
Active ingredient: Medroxyprogesterone acetate (2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg)
Available form: Tablets
Provera is a type of progestogen – a hormone similar to natural progesterone. Provera helps regulate your menstrual cycle as part of your fertility treatment plan.
Keep in a cool, dry place below 25°C, away from heat and direct sunlight. Always store in the original packaging.
Take the tablets by mouth, exactly as shown in your Salve schedule.
Headaches, feeling sick, breast tenderness, changes in mood, tiredness, or mild skin reactions. Very rarely, it can cause a severe allergic reaction.
See the leaflet in your medication pack for the full list of possible side effects.
Important information:
Stop taking Provera and seek medical help immediately if you notice:
- Sudden chest pain, coughing blood, or shortness of breath
- Severe headaches, vision changes, or trouble speaking
- Swelling or pain in your leg, or skin that becomes red, purple, or warm
Risk of blood clots (VTE):
All women have a small risk of blood clots in the legs or lungs, but this risk is slightly higher when taking hormone medicines.
Elleste Duet
Active ingredient: Oestradiol hemihydrate + Norethisterone acetate
Available form: Tablets (1mg and 2mg, contains lactose)
Elleste Duet is a type of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) containing oestrogen and progestogen.
Elleste Duet prepares the womb lining for embryo transfer in post-menopausal patients or those needing hormonal support.
Keep in a cool, dry place below 25°C, away from heat and direct sunlight. Always store in the original packaging.
Take the tablets by mouth with water, exactly as shown in your in your treatment companion app, Salve.
Headaches, breast tenderness, irregular bleeding, or mood changes. Very rarely, it can cause a severe allergic reaction.
See the leaflet in your medication pack for the full list of possible side effects.
Do not take if you:
- Have or have ever had breast or womb cancer
- Have unexplained vaginal bleeding
- Have or have ever had blood clots, heart attack, stroke, or severe liver disease
- Are allergic to any ingredients
Important information:
Stop taking Elleste Duet and seek medical help immediately if you notice symptoms of blood clots or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Risk of blood clots (VTE):
Hormone therapies like Elleste Duet slightly increase the risk of blood clots. Seek urgent help if you notice pain/swelling in your legs, sudden chest pain, or difficulty breathing.
Femoston
Active ingredient: Oestradiol hemihydrate + Dydrogesterone
Available form: Tablets (1mg and 2mg, contains lactose)
Femoston is a type of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) containing oestrogen and progestogen. Femoston prepares the womb lining for embryo transfer in post-menopausal patients or those needing hormonal support.
Keep in a cool, dry place below 25°C, away from heat and direct sunlight. Always store in the original packaging.
Take the tablets by mouth with water, exactly as shown in your treatment companion app, Salve.
Headaches, breast tenderness, irregular bleeding, or mood changes. Very rarely, it can cause a severe allergic reaction.
See the leaflet in your medication pack for the full list of possible side effects.
Do not take if you:
- Have or have ever had breast or womb cancer
- Have unexplained vaginal bleeding
- Have or have ever had blood clots, heart attack, stroke, or severe liver disease
- Are allergic to any ingredients
Important information:
Stop taking Femoston and seek medical help immediately if you notice symptoms of blood clots or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Risk of blood clots (VTE):
Hormone therapies like Femoston slightly increase the risk of blood clots. Seek urgent help if you notice pain/swelling in your legs, sudden chest pain, or difficulty breathing.
Microgynon
Active ingredient: Levonorgestrel + Ethinylestradiol
Available form: Tablets
Microgynon is a combined oral contraceptive pill containing oestrogen and progestogen. Microgynon helps regulate your cycle and plan the timing of fertility treatment.
Keep in a cool, dry place below 25°C, away from heat and direct sunlight. Always store in the original packaging.
Take the tablets by mouth, exactly as shown in your treatment companion app, Salve.
Feeling sick, stomach ache, headaches, mood changes, breast tenderness, or mild weight changes.
See the leaflet in your medication pack for the full list of possible side effects.
Important information:
Stop taking Microgynon and seek medical help immediately if you notice symptoms of blood clots or severe headaches.
Risk of blood clots (VTE):
Combined contraceptives slightly increase the risk of blood clots. Seek urgent help if you notice pain/swelling in your legs, sudden chest pain, or difficulty breathing.
Oestradiol (tablets)
Active ingredient: Oestradiol (2mg, contains lactose)
Available form: Oral or vaginal tablets
Oestradiol is a form of oestrogen – a female hormone. Oestradiol prepares the womb lining for embryo transfer in artificial hormone replacement cycles.
Keep in a cool, dry place below 25°C, away from heat and direct sunlight. Always store in the original packaging.
Take the tablets by mouth or vaginally (if advised), exactly as shown in your treatment companion app, Salve. Continue as instructed after embryo transfer and into early pregnancy if advised.
Nausea, bloating, mood changes, breast tenderness, mild skin reactions, or irregular bleeding.
See the leaflet in your medication pack for the full list of possible side effects.
Do not take if you:
- Have or have ever had breast or womb cancer
- Have unexplained vaginal bleeding
- Have or have ever had blood clots, heart attack, stroke, or severe liver disease
- Are allergic to any ingredients
Risk of blood clots (VTE):
Oestradiol slightly increases the risk of blood clots. Seek urgent help if you notice pain/swelling in your legs, sudden chest pain, or difficulty breathing.
Oestradiol (patches)
Active ingredient: Oestradiol
Available form: Transdermal patches (various strengths)
Oestradiol patches deliver oestrogen through your skin into your bloodstream. Oestradiol patches prepare the womb lining for embryo transfer in artificial hormone replacement cycles.
Keep in a cool, dry place below 25°C, away from heat and direct sunlight. Always store in the original packaging.
Apply the patch to a clean, dry, hairless area below the waist (such as the buttock or hip). Rotate application sites, leaving at least a week before using the same spot again. Replace patches exactly as shown in your treatment companion app, Salve.
Skin irritation at the patch site, nausea, bloating, mood changes, breast tenderness, or irregular bleeding.
See the leaflet in your medication pack for the full list of possible side effects.
Do not use if you:
- Have or have ever had breast or womb cancer
- Have unexplained vaginal bleeding
- Have or have ever had blood clots, heart attack, stroke, or severe liver disease
- Are allergic to any ingredients
Risk of blood clots (VTE):
Oestradiol slightly increases the risk of blood clots. Seek urgent help if you notice pain/swelling in your legs, sudden chest pain, or difficulty breathing.
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