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| Medication Name | Progynova Tablets |
| Medication Form | Oral tablet |
| Used for | Relief of menopausal symptoms; prevention of osteoporosis after menopause (2mg only) |
| Who can use | Peri- and postmenopausal women |
| Active Ingredients | Estradiol valerate 1mg / 2mg |
| Usual Dose | One tablet daily |
| Common Side Effects | Breast tenderness, headache, nausea and breakthrough bleeding |
| Prescription Required | Yes |
| Patient Information Leaflet | Progynova 1mg Patient Information Leaflet |
Estradiol valerate is the active ingredient in every Progynova tablet. It’s a form of oestrogen that the body converts to estradiol, the main oestrogen your ovaries produce before the menopause. A 2mg estradiol valerate tablet is simply the higher of the two Progynova strengths, as both work in the same way.
Estradiol also comes as patches, gels and sprays, which deliver it through the skin rather than the stomach. If you’re weighing up a patch against a tablet, your prescriber will advise based on your medical history and what suits your routine.
Progynova is used to relieve symptoms that occur during and after the menopause. As oestrogen levels fall, many women experience:
Progynova helps ease these symptoms when they are significantly affecting daily life.
The 2mg strength is also used to prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women who are at increased risk of fractures and for whom other medicines aren’t suitable. The 1mg strength is prescribed for symptom relief only.
During the menopause, oestrogen production gradually declines. This fall in hormone levels is what triggers menopausal symptoms. Progynova works as an oestrogen replacement, restoring levels enough to reduce symptoms and protect against bone loss.
Because Progynova is an oestrogen-only HRT, women who still have their womb will also need to take a progestogen alongside it for at least 12 to 14 days each month. This protects the lining of the uterus from the effects of oestrogen taken alone. Women who have had a hysterectomy can usually take Progynova without a progestogen. Your doctor will advise you.
Progynova is suitable for peri- and postmenopausal women whose symptoms are significantly affecting daily life, or who are at risk of osteoporosis after menopause. Your doctor will review your medical history before starting treatment with Progynova.
Don’t take Progynova if you:
Speak to your doctor before taking Progynova if you have or have ever had:
Take one tablet daily, swallowed whole with a glass of water or milk. It can be taken with or without food. Try to take it at the same time each day to help keep a routine.
Each pack contains 84 tablets, supplied as three memo strip blisters of 28. The days of the week are printed on the foil. Start on the correct day and follow the arrows until all 28 tablets are taken. Start the next strip the following day with no break between strips.
Starting Progynova for the first time:
Your doctor will aim to prescribe the lowest effective dose for the shortest time necessary. Speak to your doctor if you feel the dose is too strong or too weak.
Like all medicines, Progynova can cause side effects, although not everyone experiences them.
In the first few months, women often report unexpected bleeding or spotting between periods. This usually settles as treatment continues, and it’s one of the most common reasons people get in touch early on.
Breast changes are also frequently reported in that same settling-in period, including pain, tenderness, enlargement or discharge. If bleeding carries on beyond the first few months, or anything feels unusual, speak to your doctor.
Other reported side effects include:
The following conditions may increase the risk of developing in women using HRT compared to those who aren’t. Speak to your doctor straight away if you experience any of these:
If you experience any severe side effects or signs of an allergic reaction, stop taking Progynova and seek immediate medical attention.
You can report any side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme. This helps improve the safety of medicines for everyone.
Progynova 1mg tablets are beige, sugar-coated and taken once a day. They’re used to relieve symptoms that occur after the menopause, such as hot flushes, night sweats and trouble sleeping. Many women start here, as prescribers aim to use the lowest dose that controls symptoms for as short a time as necessary.
Active ingredient: Estradiol valerate 1 mg
Other ingredients: Lactose monohydrate, maize starch, povidone 25,000, talc, magnesium stearate (E572), sucrose, povidone 700,000, macrogol 6,000, calcium carbonate (E170), titanium dioxide (E171), glycerol 85% (E422), montan glycol wax, ferric oxide pigment (E172), purified water
Progynova 2mg tablets are white, sugar-coated and also taken once a day, with twice as much estradiol valerate as the 1mg tablet. Alongside symptom relief, the 2mg strength is also used to prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at increased risk of fractures where other medicines aren’t suitable.
Active ingredient: Estradiol valerate 2 mg
Other ingredients: Lactose monohydrate, maize starch, povidone 25, talc, magnesium stearate (E572), sucrose, povidone 90, macrogol 6000, calcium carbonate (E170), glycol montanate, purified water
Both strengths contain lactose and sucrose. If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
If symptoms aren’t settling on the lower strength, don’t adjust the dose yourself. Speak to your doctor if you feel the dose is too strong or not strong enough. The aim is always the lowest effective dose for the shortest time necessary, so a strength can come down as well as go up.
Progynova isn’t licensed for fertility treatment, and that isn’t what it’s prescribed for here. Some fertility specialists do use oestrogen tablets as part of an IVF cycle to help prepare the womb lining before embryo transfer, and the dosing in that setting is different from its use in HRT. If you’ve been given Progynova as part of IVF, follow the instructions from your fertility clinic and take any questions about it back to them.
Progynova is prescribed for peri- and postmenopausal women, so many women taking it will already have infrequent or absent periods. During the first few months of treatment, some women experience breakthrough bleeding or spotting. This usually settles with continued use. If bleeding persists or is unexpected, speak to your doctor.
Progynova is an HRT tablet and doesn’t prevent pregnancy. If it has been less than 12 months since your last period, or you are under 50, you may still need contraception. Speak to your doctor for advice.
Progynova contains estradiol valerate, which is a form of oestrogen, not progesterone. Women who still have their womb will need to take a separate progestogen alongside Progynova to protect the womb lining.
Progynova is not designed to delay periods and shouldn’t be used for this purpose. It’s an HRT tablet prescribed to relieve menopausal symptoms. Any changes to your menstrual cycle while taking Progynova should be discussed with your doctor.
Not exactly. Progynova contains estradiol valerate, which is a synthetic form of oestrogen. Once swallowed, it’s converted in the body to estradiol, the oestrogen your ovaries naturally produce. So while Progynova is an oestrogen-based medicine, it isn’t oestrogen itself.
Changes in body weight are listed as a possible side effect of Progynova. Not everyone will experience this, and weight changes during the menopause can also be related to hormonal changes rather than the medication itself. If you’re concerned about weight changes while taking Progynova, speak to your doctor.
Constipation isn’t a recognised side effect of Progynova. Gastrointestinal side effects reported include indigestion, bloating, wind, nausea and abdominal pain. If you’re experiencing constipation and are concerned it may be related to your medication, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
If you stop taking Progynova, menopausal symptoms may return. These can include hot flushes, night sweats, trouble sleeping, dizziness and vaginal dryness. Don’t stop taking Progynova without speaking to your doctor first, as they can advise on gradually reducing your dose if needed.
They are closely related but not identical. Progynova contains estradiol valerate, which is converted to estradiol in the body after you take it. Estradiol is also available as a medicine in its own right, in different forms such as patches, gels and sprays. Your doctor will prescribe the form most suitable for you.
If you’re less than 12 hours late, take the missed tablet as soon as possible and continue as normal. If you’re more than 12 hours late, skip the missed dose and continue with the next one at the usual time. You may experience some breakthrough bleeding.
Taking oestrogen-only HRT can increase the risk of uterine lining thickening, known as endometrial hyperplasia. If left untreated, this can develop into cancer of the womb lining. This is why women who still have their womb are prescribed a progestogen alongside Progynova for at least 12 to 14 days each month, which protects against this risk.
Page content authored by Mr Muhammad, last reviewed by Amjad Khan on 24th September 2026.
