Consumer medicine information

Estro-Pess

Estradiol


Consumer Medicine Information

What is in this leaflet

What Estro-Pess is used for 1
Before you use Estro-Pess 1
How to use Estro-Pess 3
While you are using Estro-Pess 3
Side effects 3
Storage 4
Product Description 4
Directions for Use 5

This leaflet answers some common questions about Estro-Pess. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you using Estro-Pess against the benefits they expect it will have for you.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any concerns about using this medicine.

Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.

Estro-Pess is available only by prescription at pharmacies.

What Estro-Pess is used for

Estro-Pess is a local hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Estro-Pess is a modified release pessary containing the female sex hormone, estradiol. The estradiol in Estro-Pess is identical to the estradiol produced in the ovaries of women, and is classified as a natural estrogen.

Estro-Pess is prescribed to treat a condition called atrophic vaginitis. The symptoms include dryness and irritation in the vagina, and pain during sexual intercourse. Atrophic vaginitis is caused by a loss of the female sex hormone, estrogen, which occurs around the menopause.

Estro-Pess when placed in the vagina allows estradiol to be released. This may relieve discomfort in the vagina.

Your doctor may have prescribed Estro-Pess for another reason.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Estro-Pess has been prescribed for you.

Before you use Estro-Pess

When you must not use it

Do not use Estro-Pess if:

  • you have, or you are suspected of having, or you have had, breast cancer
  • you have, or you are suspected of having, or you have had, cancer which is sensitive to estrogens, such as cancer of the lining of the womb (endometrium)
  • you have any unexplained vaginal bleeding
  • you have excessive thickening of the lining of the womb (endometrial hyperplasia) that is not being treated
  • you have or have ever had a blood clot in a vein (thrombosis), such as in the legs (deep venous thrombosis) or the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
  • you have a blood clotting disorder (such as protein C, protein S or antithrombin deficiency)
  • you have or have previously had a disease caused by blood clots in the arteries, such as a heart attack, stroke or angina
  • you have or have ever had a liver disease and your liver function tests have not returned to normal
  • you have a rare blood problem called ‘porphyria’, which is passed down in families (inherited)
  • you are pregnant or suspect you may be pregnant
  • you are breast-feeding
  • you are allergic to estradiol or any of the other ingredients in EstroPess (listed under ‘Ingredients’)
  • it is after the expiry date (‘Expiry’) printed on the pack
  • the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.

Estro-Pess should not be used in children or by males.

Stop using your medicine at once and consult your doctor immediately if any of the above conditions appear for the first time while using Estro-Pess.

Before you start to use it

Medical history and regular check-ups

The use of HRT carries risks which need to be considered when deciding whether to start taking it, or whether to carry on taking it.

Before you start (or restart) HRT, your doctor will ask about your own and your family’s medical history. Your doctor may decide to perform a physical examination. This may include an examination of your breasts and/or internal examination, if necessary. Once you’ve started on Estro-Pess, you should see your doctor for regular check- ups (3-6 months after starting Estro-Pess, and at least once a year thereafter).

Go for regular breast screening as recommended by your doctor.

There is only limited experience of treating women older than 65 years’ with Estro-Pess.

Vaginal infections should be treated before Estro-Pess are used.

Estro-Pess, as opposed to systemic estrogen, is for local treatment in the vagina, and the absorption into the blood is low.

Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had any of the following problems before you start the treatment. If so, see your doctor more often for check-ups:

  • Asthma
  • Epilepsy
  • Diabetes
  • Gallstones
  • High blood pressure
  • Migraines or severe headaches
  • A liver disorder, such as a benign liver tumour
  • Growth of womb lining outside your womb (endometriosis) or a history of excessive growth of the womb lining (endometrial hyperplasia)
  • A disease affecting the eardrum and hearing (otosclerosis)
  • A disease of the immune system that affects many organs of the body (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE)
  • Increased risk of getting an estrogen-sensitive cancer (such as having a mother, sister or grandmother who has had breast cancer)
  • Increased risk of developing blood clots (see ‘Blood clots in a vein (thrombosis)’)
  • Fibroids inside your womb
  • A very high level of fat in your blood (triglycerides)
  • Fluid retention due to cardiac or kidney problems.

Any unexplained vaginal bleeding, and persistent or recurrent vaginal bleeding should be examined.

Stop using Estro-Pess and see a doctor immediately

Stop using Estro-Pess and see a doctor immediately if you notice any of the following when using HRT:

  • Migraine-like headaches which happen for the first time
  • Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes (jaundice). These may be signs of a liver disease.
  • A large rise in your blood pressure (symptoms may be headache, tiredness, dizziness)
  • Any of the conditions mentioned in the ‘When you must not use it’ section
  • If you become pregnant
  • If you notice signs of a blood clot, such as:
    – painful swelling and redness of the legs
    – sudden chest pain
    – difficulty in breathing.
    For more information, see ‘Blood clots in a vein (thrombosis)’.

The following risks apply to HRT medicines which circulate in the blood. It is not known how these risks apply to locally administered treatments such as Estro-Pess.

HRT and cancer

Excessive thickening of the lining of the womb (endometrial hyperplasia) and cancer of the lining of the womb (endometrial cancer)

Taking estrogen-only HRT tablets for a long time can increase the risk of developing cancer of the womb lining (the endometrium). It is uncertain whether long term (more than one year) or repeated use of local vaginally administered estrogen products possess a similar risk.

If you get breakthrough bleeding or spotting, it’s usually nothing to worry about, but you should make an appointment to see your doctor. It could be a sign that your endometrium has become thicker.

Compare

In women who still have a womb and who are not taking HRT, on average, 5 in 1,000 will be diagnosed with endometrial cancer between the ages of 50 and 65.

For women aged 50 to 65 who still have a womb and who take estrogen-only HRT, between 10 and 60 women in 1,000 will be diagnosed with endometrial cancer (i.e. between 5 and 55 extra cases), depending on the dose and for how long it is taken.

Breast cancer

Evidence suggests that taking combined estrogen-progestagen and possibly also estrogen-only HRT increases the risk of breast cancer. The extra risk depends on how long you take HRT. The additional risk becomes clear within a few years. However, it returns to normal within a few years (at most 5) after stopping treatment.

For women who have had their womb removed and who are using estrogen-only HRT for 5 years, little or no increase in breast cancer risk is shown.

Compare

Women aged 50 to 79 who are not taking HRT, on average, 9 to 17 in 1,000 will be diagnosed with breast cancer over a 5-year period. For women aged 50 to 79 who are taking estrogen-progestagen HRT over 5 years, there will be 13 to 23 cases in 1,000 users (i.e. an extra 4 to 6 cases).

Regularly check your breasts. See your doctor if you notice any changes such as:

  • dimpling of the skin
  • changes in the nipple
  • any lumps you can see or feel.

Additionally, you are advised to join mammography screening programs when offered to you. For mammogram screening, it is important that you inform the nurse/healthcare professional who is actually taking the x-ray that you use HRT, as this medication may increase the density of your breasts which may affect the outcome of the mammogram. Where the density of the breast is increased, mammography may not detect all lumps.

Ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is rare – much rarer than breast cancer. The use of estrogen-only or combined estrogen-progestagen HRT has been associated with a slightly increased risk of ovarian cancer.

Compare

The risk of ovarian cancer varies with age. For example, in women aged 50 to 54 who are not taking HRT, about 2 women in 2,000 will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer over a 5-year period. For women who have been taking HRT for 5 years, there will be about 3 cases per 2,000 users (i.e. about 1 extra case).

Effect of HRT on heart and circulation

Blood clots in a vein (thrombosis)

The risk of blood clots in the veins is about 1.3- to 3-times higher in HRT users than in non-users, especially during the first year of taking it.

Blood clots can be serious, and if one travels to the lungs, it can cause chest pain, breathlessness, fainting or even death.

You are more likely to get a blood clot in your veins as you get older and if any of the following applies to you. Inform your doctor if any of these situations applies to you:

  • you are unable to walk for a long time because of major surgery, injury or illness
  • you are seriously overweight (BMI >30 kg/m²)
  • you have any blood clotting problem that needs long-term treatment with a medicine used to prevent blood clots
  • if any of your close relatives has ever had a blood clot in the leg, lung or another organ
  • you have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
  • you have cancer.

For signs of a blood clot, see ‘Stop using Vagifem® Low and see a doctor immediately’.

Compare

Looking at women in their 50s who are not taking HRT, on average, over a 5-year period, 4 to 7 in 1,000 would be expected to get a blood clot in a vein.

For women in their 50s who have been taking estrogen-progestagen HRT for over 5 years, there will be 9 to 12 cases in 1,000 users (i.e. 5 extra cases).

For women in their 50s who have had their womb removed and have been taking estrogen-only HRT for over 5 years, there will be 5 to 8 cases in 1,000 users (i.e. 1 extra case).

Heart disease (heart attack)

There is no evidence that HRT will prevent a heart attack.

Women over the age of 60 years who use estrogen-progestagen HRT are slightly more likely to develop heart disease than those not taking any HRT.

For women who have had their womb removed and are taking estrogen-only therapy there is no increased risk of developing a heart disease.

Stroke

The risk of getting stroke is about 1.5-times higher in HRT users than in nonusers. The number of extra cases of stroke due to use of HRT will increase with age.

Compare

Looking at women in their 50s who are not taking HRT, on average, 8 in 1,000 would be expected to have a stroke over a 5-year period. For women in their 50s who are taking HRT, there will be 11 cases in 1,000 users, over 5 years (i.e. 3 extra cases).

Other conditions

HRT will not prevent memory loss. There is some evidence of a higher risk of memory loss in women who start using HRT after the age of 65. Speak to your doctor for advice.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Estro-Pess contains a very small amount of hormone which should not interact with other medicines you are using.

How to use Estro-Pess

Estro-Pess is suitable for women who have had their womb removed (have had a hysterectomy), as well as for those who have not.

How to use it

Always use Estro-Pess exactly as your doctor has instructed you to. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure.

You can start treatment with EstroPess on any convenient day. The Estro-Pess pessary should be inserted into your vagina using the applicator (see the diagrams included in the ‘Directions for Use’ section of this leaflet).

Use one Estro-Pess pessary each day for the first two weeks, then one pessary twice a week (allowing three to four days between doses e.g. Monday and Friday).

Your doctor will tell you for how long you should use Estro-Pess.

Estro-Pess treatment should not affect your normal hygiene routine or lifestyle.

If you forget to use it

If you forget to use Estro-Pess at the usual time, insert your pessary as soon as you remember. Do not use a double dose to make up for the dose that you have missed.

If you use too much (overdose)

If you have used more Estro-Pess than you have been prescribed, or have accidentally swallowed Estro-Pess, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

While you are using Estro-Pess

You can expect your symptoms to improve within a few weeks of starting Estro-Pess.

Estro-Pess can be stopped at any time. You should discuss this with your doctor.

Estro-Pess is not a contraceptive and will not prevent pregnancy.

If you have any concerns about using Estro-Pess, ask your doctor or pharmacist. If your doctor tells you to stop using Estro-Pess, return any unused medicine to your pharmacist.

Used applicators may be returned to the open blister packs and then discarded carefully.

Things you must not do

This medicine is for you only. Do not give it to someone else even if they seem to have the same symptoms as you.

Do not use Estro-Pess to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.

Do not change the way you use EstroPess, or change the dosage, without checking with your doctor.

Do not swallow Estro-Pess. These modified release pessaries are for vaginal use only.

Side effects

All medicines can have side effects.
Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you experience any side effects while you are using Estro-Pess (whether or not they are mentioned below).

You may need medical treatment if you experience some of the side effects.

You may experience the following side effects:

  • genital infection with a fungus (thrush)
  • headache
  • stomach pain
  • feeling sick (nausea)
  • vaginal bleeding, discharge or discomfort
  • rash
  • weight increase
  • rise in blood pressure
  • hot flush.

In very rare cases, unwanted effects that have been reported include:

  • breast cancer, or cancer of the lining of the womb
  • excessive growth of the lining of the womb
  • allergic reaction
  • fluid retention
  • depression
  • trouble sleeping
  • worsening of migraine, where you have had migraines in the past
  • blood clots (deep vein thrombosis, DVT)
  • diarrhoea
  • hives, rash
  • itching of the genital area
  • vaginal irritation or pain, painful spasm of the vagina or vaginal ulceration
  • Estro-Pess does not treat your symptoms effectively
  • weight increase
  • increase in blood estrogen (blood test result).

Tell your doctor if:

  • you are not feeling well or find any side effect too uncomfortable or unacceptable
  • any side effect becomes worse.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of the following conditions occur (because you may be told to stop using Estro-Pess):

  • severe pain or swelling in your legs or sudden chest pain and difficulty breathing
  • yellow colouring of the skin and eyes (jaundice) or other liver problems
  • migraine-like headache, and you have not previously had migraines
  • rise in blood pressure
  • you know or suspect you are pregnant.

Cancer of the breast, ovaries or the lining of the womb, blood clots and stroke have been reported with some types of systemic hormone replacement therapy (“systemic” means to affect the body as a whole).

The following additional side effects have been reported to be associated with other types of estrogen treatment:

  • heart attack or heart disease
  • gall bladder disease
  • various skin diseases and itching
  • increase in size of uterine fibroids
  • epilepsy
  • libido disorder
  • asthma
  • probable dementia.

Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.

Storage

Keep all medicines out of reach of children.

Estro-Pess should be kept in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C. Do not put Estro-Pess in the refrigerator. Keep Estro-Pess in the outer carton in order to protect from light.

Product Description

What Estro-Pess looks like

Estro-Pess modified release pessaries are packed in a blister pack. Each pessary is white, round, film coated tablet embossed with “E” one side and plain on the other side.

Estro-Pess is supplied in:

  • 18 packs =18 pessaries + 6 applicators

Ingredients

Each modified release pessary contains estradiol hemihydrate equivalent to 10µg estradiol as the active ingredient.

The tablets also contain hypromellose, lactose, maize starch, magnesium stearate, and macrogol 6000.

Sponsor

Aspen Pharmacare Australia Pty Ltd
34-36 Chandos Street
St. Leonards
NSW
Australia

This leaflet was prepared in August 2022.

Australian Registration Number:
AUST R 339050

Directions for Use

  1. Wash hands well. Take out the applicator. Open the end as shown in the picture.
  2. Pull the plunger out of the applicator until it comes to a stop. Remove one vaginal tablet from the enclosed blister pack and insert into the applicator as follows: Place the vaginal tablet firmly in the holder of the applicator end (wide end).

  1. Insert the applicator carefully into the vagina. Stop when you can feel some resistance (8-10 cm).

  1. To release the pessary, gently press the push button until you feel a click. The pessary will stick to the wall of the vagina straight away. It will not fall out if you stand up or walk.
  2. Take out the applicator and follow the washing instructions below.

After each use clean the applicator as follows:

  1. Withdraw the plunger from the applicator
  2. Clean both parts (tube and plunger) with mild soap and rinse with warm tap water for 5 seconds. Rinse tubes inner and outer surface.
  3. If necessary, remove larger amounts of remaining water from both parts (tube and plunger) by shaking-off the water.
  4. Air dry both parts (tube and plunger) on a clean surface (e.g. clean paper fleece).
  5. Introduce the plunger again in the applicator-tube for the next use of the applicator.
  6. The vaginal tablet applicator can be used for up to 24 times for one single patient. Remove the applicator when the pack is empty and dispose of as household waste. Do not use applicators that show obvious signs of damage.

Published by MIMS June 2023