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[Niamh]

MaryG where do you get your DHEA tablets from, would you recommend for peri?!?x

[Dancinggirl]

Just a word of caution re: DHEA - do some research on using this - there can be some nasty side effects.  I'm sure MaryG has informed Prof Studd she is using DHEA and he is monitoring the situation.
Many of our most powerful drugs are derived from natural or botanical sources and with easy access over the internet  one can acquire things that may do harm.  Professional advice is always the best route - do not self prescribe. DG x

[Mary G]

Niamh, I would definitely recommend daily DHEA tablets in both peri menopause and post menopause.  I buy them online now but I originally bought them in Gibraltar in a pharmacy.  I saw them on the display stand and asked the pharmacist about them and he highly recommended them for women and men saying his uncle reckoned they had changed his life so my partner takes them as well.  We both take the 25mg version but it does come in higher doses. 

My gynaecologist was baffled as to why my oestrogen blood levels are so high with only two pumps of Oestrogel and then realised I was producing my own oestrogen again because of the DHEA tablets - my DHEA blood reading was also back to pre menopause levels. 

You certainly have nothing to lose by trying them, they certainly won't do you any harm. 

Give it a try!

[Dancinggirl]

Here are the side effects of DHEA:

DHEA is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people when used for just a few months. It can cause some side effects including acne, hair loss, stomach upset, and high blood pressure. Some women can have changes in menstrual cycle, facial hair growth, and a deeper voice after taking DHEA.

DHEA is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when used in larger amounts and long-term. Do not use DHEA in doses higher than 50-100 mg a day or for a long period of time. Using higher doses or long-term use of DHEA can increase the chance of side effects.

Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: DHEA is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth during pregnancy or breast-feeding. It can cause higher than normal levels of a male hormone called androgen. This might be harmful to the baby. Don't use DHEA if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: DHEA is a hormone that can affect how estrogen works in the body. If you have any condition that might be made worse by exposure to estrogen, don't use DHEA.

Liver problems: DHEA might make liver problems worse. Don't use DHEA if you have liver problems.

Diabetes: DHEA can affect how insulin works in the body. If you have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar carefully if you are taking DHEA.

Depression and mood disorders: There is some concern that patients with a history of depression and bipolar disorder might have some mental side effects if they use DHEA. DHEA can cause mania (excitability and impulsiveness), irritability, and sexual inappropriateness in people with mood disorders. If you have a mood disorder, be sure to discuss DHEA with your healthcare provider before you start taking it. Also, pay attention to any changes in how you feel.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): Taking DHEA might make this condition worse. Don't use DHEA if you have PCOS.

Cholesterol problems: DHEA might lower “good cholesterol” (high lipoprotein cholesterol, HDL). If your HDL level is already too low, discuss DHEA with your healthcare provider before you start taking it.

Another site to look at:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/dhea/safety/hrb-20059173

PLEASE, PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE RISKS OF DHEA BEFORE YOU TAKE IT - SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE.

[Mary G]

I take 25mg DHEA everyday and haven't had any of those side effects - my cholesterol and blood pressure are normal and lower than they were a few years ago.  My gynae. didn't tell me DHEA was highly dangerous and/or to stop taking it so I'm going to carry on with it. 

To others reading this, it's up to you to decide on this one, I can only give my own personal experiences but apart from the dreaded periods, I can say I definitely feel better now than I have for many years, since I was about 30 in fact, so I must be doing something right.

[Niamh]

Thank you all for your comments. I have no intention of self prescribing anything, it's just useful to hear all of these things and gives me some things to discuss with Studd when I next see him.

[Mary G]

I first read about DHEA in this article which is why I was interested when I saw it in the pharmacy.  You will see that fertility specialist Zita West takes DHEA with HRT.  Dr. Currie is also in this article.

It also suggests women should start HRT as soon as their oestrogen levels drop and not wait too long.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2800760/should-women-hrt-menopause-experts-say-s-best-way-ease-symptoms-avoid-long-term-health-problems.html

[Niamh]

Brill thx I'll have a read x

[ruthae]

Interesting, I'd never heard of DHEA...  What a steep learning curve the menopause is...

[Dancinggirl]

My gynae (also a specialist in treating meno) did warn that the longer cycle will often result in erratic and problematic bleeding and if one does not do a good stint of progesterone - recent research has shown that 12-14 days is usually necessary but 10 days can often be fine - without sufficient progesterone then the chances of the womb lining not shedding properly is increased and this can result in problems - this is what happened to me when I tried a longer cycle, despite using a lowish dose of oestrogen and doing 14 days of 100mg.   I had to increase to 200mg for 14 days to get a full shed and even then I got some spotting on and off during the oestrogen only phase!!!!.
Utro is not as powerful as the synthetic progesterones and though the spotting and odd bleeding is not a real issue, it is a nuisance.  I had full scan and biopsies done because of the erratic bleeding and all was fine but essentially I think the lining can get into a habit of just breaking away because of the lack of progesterone treatment.   
Studds 7 days per month regime should probably only be used with a 28 day cycle and of course regular scans done to ensure nothing sinister is developing.  We are all different though and many women don't absorb oestrogen well so need a higher dose, which can also be an issue, and in peri our own hormones will be fluctuating.  I do think it all depends on how well we absorb the progesterone and how effective it is in any one individual.
This is why I always try to be cautious about the advice I give - what works for me may well not work for another women. I have used HRT for nearly 25 years now and have tried just about everything going, I know that our bodies change and what works changes so I try to support other based on my own experience. I still think that each women should be under the supervision of a professional.  Utrogestan may seem like the wonder hormone but it is not ideal in every case and how it is used will depend on many factors. Dg x

[Dancinggirl]

Stellajane - you are clearly a classic case in point - you are being sensible in how you do the long cycle regime and I know Hurdity does the same. I think it's the tinkering with different doses and cycle lengths where one has to be careful. I think Studd has, and is, letting certain patients do long cycles with only 7 days of Utro but I'm sure he will be monitoring closely??!!  DG x

[Niamh]

I can't comment as I'm 41 and see Studd he prescribes 7 days monthly for me and I get a good bleed no problems in between. He's not discussed scans with me yet but I have total faith he's not prescribing anything which risks my health.  I can ask him when I see him about a view on this if it would be helpful?x

[Niamh]

Lol it sounds like heaven to me!   Oh and it's not cheeky, I want to ask his view as I'd love to do a longer cycle so I want to hear his thoughts! Don't see him until July tho.....

[Dancinggirl]

Just wanted to report a bit of my progress on the Gel/Utro regime.  After taking a 2 month break from systemic HRT (still used Vagifem) I restarted using just one pump of Oestrogel for the first 18 days and then started the sequential Utro regime, using Utro vaginally.  I had tried using it vaginally when I was using Utro on the conti basis but found it effected my bowels and I felt uncomfortable.  I actually liked taking Utro orally - it made me feel really chilled and generally good - however I got erratic spotting which was a nuisance.  So last night was my 3rd night using Utro vaginally and it is simply not going to work for me.  The absorption systemically hits about 4 in the morning ( got up to pee and felt dizzy and sick and headachy and then couldn't get back to sleep) and my urethra is burning horribly. I feel so great on this low dose of gel - I just need to get the progesterone right - I am thinking I should try Provera which is possibly the only thing I haven't tried over the last 25 years of my battle with meno symptoms.  DG x

[Dancinggirl]

Thanks Stellajane - you always offer a good balanced view which is very helpful. I had really hoped I could use Utro vaginally as in many ways it can be ideal. I am sitting here with my whole vaginal area burning because of last nights dose - very uncomfortable.  I don't know whether it's the progesterone or the casing that causes this burning - possibly a bit of both - I also had quite a lot of cramps yesterday evening and this was only at the end of the second day!!!
The problem about trying Provera is, I will probably have to see my private gynae first as my GP is following his instructions exactly re prescriptions because of my age. I know in my 40s I was using gel with Dydrogesterone for 10 days each month that worked really well - Dydrogesterone is only available in Femoston these days - don't know why they stopped doing this progesterone on it's own???

When I started back on HRT at the end of 2014, I did a long cycle with Utro 14 days every 6 weeks and I think this is what triggered the erratic spotting/bleeding which never seemed to settle regardless of how I used Utro.  What I may well try is doing the licensed regime of 16 days gel and 12 days of Utro each month to see if that works for me - there must be a good reason this is what is recommended. If this doesn't work then I'll be back to my gynae for advice.

My experience really illustrates how different we are - I know other ladies have not done well on Utrogestan and have ended up using Provera - anyway, I'm going to take 200mg Utro orally for the next 9 nights and see what happens.  I may also try using a bit more gel if I get night sweats.  DG x