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[Mary G]

Sorry Goosie, I misread your post, you said slight migraine not silent migraine.  It looks like the Utrogestan is the culprit, progesterone is always the problem for women with migraines.

Let us know how you get on.

[Dancinggirl]

With all treatments, I believe it is about weighing up the benefits against the side effects.
It is quite common to get a headache a few days into taking any progesterone - as long as it isn't too bad or lasts too long it's worth putting up with this if it's the only side effect you get.  I always got a headache a few days before my bleed, whether it was my natural period, taking a BCP or HRT.  I personally don't think it's reasonable to expect to feel good every day but it's better to weigh up the benefits of feeling good most of the time, with maybe a few days of feeling a bit off, as opposed to getting regular flushes, night sweats and constant headaches as I do when off HRT. Migraines are debilitating and horrible so if HRT makes these worse then the benefits are not outweighing the side effects.
Goosieloosie - do persevere with this regime - it is often the best option for many women and is considered the safest.  Dg xxx

[Tangerinedreams]

Well it's day 2 of taking Utro for me and so far so good, no weird side effects so far. Probably a bit early to tell.

[Dancinggirl]

Don't look for problems - many women feel so great on Utro they want to take it all the time.  Dg x

[Cassie]

I started my 12 day course about 5 days later than I usually do as I just dont like the wired up lack of sleep feeling I get when on it, last night was night 1 and I slept like a log, so strange every mth the symptoms differ some months its insomnia and others its a good nights sleep....

[newbeginnings]

Hi just wondering if any of you wise women has any ideas for me. I've been on 1mg sandrena and 100mg utrogel continuous for nearly 4 weeks now. At first all seemed fine. Now for the last week everything has gone seriously downhill. The anxiety and ibs have flared up I'm in constant pain with it, joint pain worsened, headaches, the lot.
I am considering dropping the utrogel to 7 days to see if it helps. Would this be ok to experiment with it?

[Dancinggirl]

newbeginnings - I wouldn't tinker with things unless you have discussed it with your doctor first.  It is very early days so I would continue for a while - it may not be the hormones causing these symptoms - it sounds more like a bit of a tummy bug - lots of things going round at the moment.
If you want to do a sequential regime then you would need to do 12 days of 200mg, which is the licensed dose, and this might be worse for the IBS - if you are seeing a specialist gynae, they might sanction a different dosage but you could get other side effects and problems if you experiment without advice and monitoring. At least taking 100mg daily you are not experiencing high and lows.
When I tried the Utro continuously I got a headache in the first few weeks but this settled down - you must expect some side effects in the early 3-6 months before things settle.  DG x

[newbeginnings]

Thanks DG. I'm feeling pretty desperate at moment. Its def not a bug. Just clutching at straws really.

[newbeginnings]

Would it help if I took it vaginally?

[Mary G]

newbeginnings, are your taking the Utrogestan in this way in order to avoid having periods?  I certainly wouldn't blame you if you were but when I tried to do this I failed miserably.  Some women manage it very successfully but it depends on how well you tolerant progesterone.  I always tolerated my own progesterone very well during my reproductive years and never had PMS or any period problems but unfortunately, although bio identical, Utrogestan is not the same and the dose is much higher than your own natural progesterone. 

I struggled on for a about 5 weeks when I tried the continous combined Utrogestan/Oestrogel method but had headaches, a silent migraine and then had a period anyway about 5 weeks.  I phoned Professor Studd's office and was told to stop using it in this way and to revert back to the 100mg Utrogestan vaginally for 7 days each month.  If you take it vaginally, you can take less because most of it hits the womb and does not get lost in your digestive system and you will have fewer side effects like breast pain. 

There has been much debate on the amount of Utrogestan that you need to take but if you need to take less, you can do so but it is wise to have a uterine scan after a few months to make sure you are clearing the lining.  It is easy to arrange and many places offer it for about £100 - always arrange to have the scan just after a period.  Yes, it will cost money but it is better than taking too much progesterone for years on end and you will know what your personal threshhold is. 

You could try to get a scan on the NHS but I imagine it would be difficult.  How well versed is your GP on Utrogestan? 

[newbeginnings]

Hi Mary. I saw Dr Annie Evans a month ago. My GP had admitted he didn't know about utro etc. Yes that was the idea to avoid a bleed.
I have decided I will send an email to Dr A and see what she says. I guess I was just wondering how much you can "experiment" yourself as some people seem to. I've read that some women take the utro for 14 days or 7.
Thanks for setting it out so clearly with the info about the scans. Normally the cost would be manageable but my husband is currently at risk of redundancy and so not sure how we will be financially in months to come.

[Hurdity]

Hi newbeginnings

It could be the utrogestan causing your digestive problems if you are taking it orally. These in turn can affect its absoprtion and limit its effectiveness in keeping your lining thin.

Vaginal use is recommended abroad for women who experience side effects from oral use - but as its not licensed in this country to be used in this way we have to do it unofficially and hopefully sanctioned by an enlightened GP.

If you feel OK on it generally then continuous use might be OK for you. There was some work done suggesting that half the dose vaginally could be used compared to oral and from memory (hazy) I think there was a limited study showing vaginal progesterone used on alternate days kept the lining thin on low dose oestrogen. However as Dancinggirl and Mary G say it is not wise to deviate from the recommended dose except under the guidance of a specialised gynae and in particular to ensure regular uterine scans, to avoid thickening and endometrial hyperplasia.

If you are worried about cost then maybe try as near to the licensed dose as possible eg 10 days vaginal use of 200 mg and see how you feel/bleed on that. Alternatively if you don't want a bleed, as you say you could use it vaginally 25 days out of 28 instead of orally but if you have a partner you might not like that idea 

Hurdity x

[newbeginnings]

Thanks Hurdity. I'm feeling so low at the moment with stomach pain/ibs particularly bad for the last week I feel I want to do something.
Maybe I could try it vaginally. Do you literally just insert it presumably as high as possible, and guessing when you go to bed? I am happily married but my sex life is just hugs these days!

[Hurdity]

Yes that's it - just push it up there at bedtime - as far as you can! Know what you mean about the er hanky panky - not exactly as frequent as it was...

Hurdity x

[Goosieloosie]

Just thought I would update on how I am doing on my first course of Utrogestan.
I am now day 11 & feel absolutely fine! I can't say I've noticed any major side effects, on Monday Day 7 I was a bit worried as I had a very faint migraine & the next day on Day 8 I had a headache  and I thought to myself "This is it, here we go" but you know since then I have had nothing, no more headaches, no sore boobs or the feeling that I was going to kill someone like when I was taking the synthetic progestins  Tomorrow night will be my last dose and then I await the bleed  I'm actually pretty scared of that to be honest 
I also haven't experienced any breakthrough bleeding or spotting like I did on the synthetic  conti regimes so thing are looking hopeful 
Btw I am using it vaginally for 12 days for those of you who don't know me.