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Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility while taking or using sequential combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT) - Brand names: Evorel Sequi, Elleste Duet, Femoston, Novofem

Sequential combined HRT and pregnancy

Do not take sequential combined HRT if you're pregnant or might become pregnant.

It is not known to be harmful in pregnancy, but if you think you might be pregnant, stop taking it and speak to your doctor.

If you're pregnant then your levels of oestrogen and progesterone will be high and you will not need to take HRT.

Sequential combined HRT and breastfeeding

Most of the information about taking oestrogen and progestogen while breastfeeding comes from research into the combined contraceptive pill. The combined contraceptive pill uses different types of oestrogen and sometimes different types of progesterone.

There is no information about taking sequential combined HRT while breastfeeding.

If you're breastfeeding, sequential combined HRT is not usually prescribed, unless a specialist recommends it.

Sequential combined HRT and fertility

Sequential combined HRT does not affect your fertility.

There's a chance that you could become pregnant while taking HRT as it does not act as contraception.

Even if you think that you've gone through the menopause, there's a small chance that you could become pregnant. You're advised to use contraception for at least 1 year from your last period if you're over 50 years old and for 2 years if you're under 50 years old. Discuss this with your doctor or family planning practitioner.

Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:

  • trying to get pregnant
  • pregnant
  • breastfeeding

Page last reviewed: 18 January 2023
Next review due: 18 January 2026