The side effects of Utrogestan (for those of us who are progesterone intolerant) never cease to amaze me. I am trying to shake off a nasty bout of flu that put me in bed for over a week, have lost about half a stone. I delayed use of Utro (100 mg v-route x 12) for as long as I could - however - oh my goodness - all day, every single day I have suffered extreme nausea and some retching, the absolute worst black depression - the side effects have been most extreme. I will never understand how even when taken v-route, Utro has such strong systemic effects - no way is it just "localised". It is such powerful stuff, even at 100mg.
Night owl I was really interested in your post appreciate its a few weeks ago. I too am intolerant to prog and use utro v route for 7 days I see Studd so this is his regime. He's even let me skip some months when I've been ill or simply unable to face it. I agree it is powerful stuff and I get a very good bleed. The side effects are just awful though but some months bearable other months I get the horrific depression, could sob all day, it always ruins my sleep though I hate the stuff but I have 2 little boys so have to plough on. Hope you feel better now
Hi Niamh - thanks, yes I eventually recovered, it took weeks! Quite a few of us are progesterone intolerant - it's my main bugbear and once again I'm pondering coming off HRT as I so dread/loathe taking the prog - it seems to alter my brain chemistry so much these days.
And yes the side effects I've always found to be awful, but weirdly some months even worse than others - and yes I feel the same, could sob all day - also I get super-analytical about life and over-think more than I usually do. Prog has an effect on the neurotransmitters and can reduce serotonin levels. The last use was definitely worse having the flu virus.
I'm in a different place on the meno journey - now 54 and c.10 years post meno - the regime is from the Panay clinic: Estraderm 25 patch and 12 x 100mg (no way can I do 200mg) Utro, v-route, 6 clear weeks inbetween use (sometimes I stretch it to 7), yearly endo scans.
Maybe Studd would consider the long cycle to give you more of a reprieve from Utro - but as Hurdity says, it's possibly more of a post meno regime, still worth discussing though - regular endo scans are key to the long cycle - it's trial and error all the way - hope you find a way forward. x