Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Konijntje on August 04, 2025, 09:04:36 AM
-
I’ve searched on the forum and I’ve found one shared article for it (I think from the US, it’s called Nextstellis there), but nobody seems to mention it anywhere else. I did a search online and I do think Drovelis is available in the UK.
I’m going to ask for a Drovelis prescription this afternoon, as I want to try a bcp with a natural estrogen (I’m 50, so don’t want anything with EE) and choices are Drovelis, Qlaira and Zoely. I’ve read multiple experiences with Qlaira and Zoely here, but not Drovelis. I want to try Drovelis first, because of 2 reasons. I’m progesterone intolerant and I’ve read positive experiences with drospirenone (also with dienogest in qlaira, so that is second on my list). The second reason is because of the estrogen, estetrol doesn’t have a first pass effect (or only minimal effect) on the liver and they think there is a smaller clotting risk. It also acts like a SERM and should have less effect on breast tissue. I read that there will be hrt with estetrol on the market in 2026.
I’m a bit nervous about starting birth control, mostly because of the progestin part, so I’m also curious about experiences from other progesterone intolerant people with drospirenone (Slynd/Yaz) and dienogest.
-
I'm super interested in estetrol but for me it's one of those big pharma stitch ups like duavee where a really game changing product is only available in combination with another agent that makes it unsuitable for many potential users.
It makes me so angry that things like estetrol and bazedoxefine (in duavee, combined with premarin) aren't available as individual products!
However yes for someone who is ok with/able to take drospirenone this new pill sounds a great option.
I would also want to see some data on bone protection as well.
-
I did see an article on bone protection too, I think similar to estradiol, so good. I think I’ve read somewhere that when it comes out as hrt next year, it will be stand alone estetrol too, not entirely sure, so don’t want to get your hopes up, but fingers crossed.
I read in other post you can’t take drospirenone, because of the diuretic effect, was that you? I’m currently trialing tibolone (but not doing well) and water retention is still bothering me, so I’m curious what will happen when I switch to Drovelis (if I can get it prescribed), I’ll probably will need to be close to a toilet for a few days…. ;D
-
If you have issues with water retention then a pill with drospirenone may be a match made in heaven 😄
I have dysautonomia and take fludrocortisone, so for me anything with diuretic properties is contraindicated.
I hope that is correct that estetrol will be released as a standalone agent - it often takes years for a new drug to go off patent so that other manufacturers can produce it.
I will be on a combined pill anyway for the foreseeable for menstrual suppression, but would love the option of estetrol when the time comes.
If you can get hold of this pill do share your experiences because it will be of nterest to many if it becomes widely available here.
-
If I can get Drovelis prescribed, I will probably start a thread in personal experiences, because I found the threads on qlaira and Zoely very helpful, I read them all before coming a member.
This is about “Donesta”, I think it’s supposed to be just estetrol, if you search on donesta estetrol there are a few more hits: https://www.gedeonrichter.com/en/news/230215
-
I’m happy to report that I got Drovelis prescribed. The doctors preference went: 1 Zoely 2 Qlaira 3 Drovelis (mine goes the other way around), but after some back and forth (she clearly had her preference, but was sensitive to my reasoning too), she decided to go along with my wishes (drovelis is registered upto 50 and I just turned 50 last week).
I’ll start a new thread in personal experiences when I’ve started. Fingers crossed drospirenone will agree with me.
-
Thanks for sharing that, it's really interesting! I will definitely be keeping my eye out for estetrol alone!
I hope you get on well with Drovelis!
I take Zoely which meets my current need for menstrual suppression but will have to graduate to some form of big girls' hormone therapy one day and really hope estetrol is among my options.