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[Hurdity]

Hi ladies who is using Utrogestan cyclically and getting a bleed and is in late 60s possibly early 70s I did post on another thread hoping that Hurdity would respond, but she may have missed it. Wondering if its ok to be getting a bleed that late in life or if one is supposed to go conti, I cannot think of being able to take Progesterone daily, would rather have a small bleed long as its not detrimental.

Hi there - have posted on your other thread - have been away from forum since last week as have been v busy. I can't see that it would be detrimental. There is a slightly higher risk of endometrial cancer when taking cyclical hRT but it is easy to monitor the bleed and uterus lining. Unfortunately this is not routine on NHS - only when you get unscheduled bleeding - which should be reported so you can be referred for scan.

Hurdity x

[Hurdity]

Hi everyone

I am 56 years old and 3.5 years post menopause.

I started using Estradiol and Utrogestan 100mg (taken every night).

I did expect some bleeding but I am now into my 6th month of HRT and I am having my 5th bleed, this one lasting almost 2 weeks already. Is this normal?

I have been out of the country for 3 months but have an appointment with my GP next week. I have considered stopping HRT but without the chance to get online or see a doc I have just been plodding on with it.

 At the moment I'm not sure if the pros outweigh the cons. 

Any advice much appreciated. 

Hi there  BJC_HRT - any bleeding on conti HRT which persists beyond 6 months definitely should be investigated or earlier if you are concerned, so good that you have an appt to check this out now you are almost at 6 months. The most likely explanation is that the progesterone dose is not sufficient for the amount of oestrogen you are taking. You didn't mention the dose? If you are taking utrogestan orally then much may be lost in the system (digestion and metabolism by liver) so an increased dose maybe necessary. However most of us would not tolerate this on a continuous basis. Used vaginally it is more effective at the same dose.

Hurdity x

[Tracey E]

Hi Tracey! This is great news. I have been searching for posts like this. Im new to hrt..12 days on gel today and alternate days 100mg Utro.vaginally . Although im.48 and still peti meno my menopause specialist recommended this regime...alternate days. 6 days in last week i had a bleed for 3 days...headache..but the it stopped and no bleed since.  Ive been okay-ish....been waking with slight headache most daus....and feeling awfully tired...like i just want to go back to bed!!  Please can we chat? Did you experience owt similar when you first began hrt? How long did it take until tou felt as.you do now?.i like the thought of 2 days utro but im.on 2 pumps of gel so maybe thats why she said alternaye days (i also checked with her if alternate days is ok given im still peri and she said yes! And to carry on and to not worry!) Im.just waiting for that...miracle i guess hahaha where i feel energised and alive and have some libido back and feel clear headed etc!! I just want to go back to bed haha. Yesterday my headache was awful....i took some iboprufen in the car on way to gym...then sat outside in car.and waited for them.to take effect..but fell.asleep.for a.few mins.whilst waiting (but then went in and done my weights!!) Pls do share if you felt like me at first or?

Jules xx

Hi Jules I'm postmenopausal but using Utrogestan vaginally twice a week. My body just doesn't like any form of Progesterone so twice weekly is a happy medium for me.

I wasn't getting the headaches on Utrogestan but all the other side effects. I'm still getting the rumbly tummy but all the other negative effects seem to have gone.

This is my first week on this regime but already feel so much more energised. Hopefully you'll find a way forward Jules..xx

[Tracey E]

Tracey E, are you post meno? Your regime interests me too. I use utrogestan every day and my anxiety isn't abating. It is worse in fact. I am on 3.5 pumps of gel. I went up to 4 and felt worse.
I'm stuck. Don't know what to do. Using utrogestan twice a week on a high dose of oestrogen seems very dangerous but maybe not so much on a lower dose of oestrogen.

Hi Birdy, yes postmenopausal, have you tried reducing the gel yet? Sometimes it's a balancing act with hormones upping one affects the other hormones. And when I upped my gel it brought back my palpitations and breast tenderness.

I have no idea whether Utrogestan twice weekly will work in the long term, only time will tell. But for now my old mojo is back!

[Tracey E]

Hi again Jules, I too felt sluggish and tired all the time whilst taking Utrogestan daily. I did try it every other day but kept bleeding intermittently and tbh I didn't feel much better. I also had terrible nightmares whilst taking it.

[Tracey E]

I have reduced the gel half a pump. I was on 2.5 but increased it cos the felt awful. Now i'm On 3. Just cannot find anywhere that feels better. The anxiety is the worst!

I dropped from 3 pumps down to 1, I did feel a bit jittery for the first couple of days. At the same time I dropped the Utrogestan down to twice weekly. After three days I was fine again, maybe your hormones need time to adjust and balance out. I think the drop in the Estrogel coinciding with the drop in Utrogestan must of balanced itself out.

Yesterday I upped my Estrogel dose to 1 1/4 just ensure the Osteoprosis side of things were covered.

I guess were all different Birdy and we all need differing amounts of hormones. That's why a blanket 'take 1 per day continuous' doesn't always work. X

[juliemargaret]

Thanks so much tracey for replying. Im.tempted to try this!! Reduce estro to 1 and a half and take utro.twice but obviously cant and wont just do this so early into hrt or without at least asking doc (or can i?!?!)

Jules xx

[Tracey E]

Thanks so much tracey for replying. Im.tempted to try this!! Reduce estro to 1 and a half and take utro.twice but obviously cant and wont just do this so early into hrt or without at least asking doc (or can i?!?!)

Jules xx

If you are Peri Jules I would wing it by your GP first. Although I haven't told mine but I will request a scan in a couple of months time to make sure there is no womb thickening. Good luck! X

[juliemargaret]

Thanks Tracey...ill give it a few more days...see if the headache (now a nigraine i think)  goes....and if my fatigue diminishes...if not....ill have to seek advise as cant be doing with this....daily migraines and foggyness! Keep u posted! X

[vintagefiend]

Hi ladies,
Would you say it's normal to feel a bit out of sorts when starting oestrogel? (I haven't started my utrogestan yet)
I've only applied 1 pump but already have dry mouth, feel shabby and sluggish- as though it's too much!
Is this just the initial "hit"?!
My oestradiol level was undetectable recently so maybe even 1 pump's a bit of a surge.
Thanks for any help.

[Joaniepat]

Do one pump for a couple of weeks and then try increasing to two, or maybe even one and a half for a while. This I think is the usual way, until you find out how much it takes to control symptoms.

JP x

[vintagefiend]

Thank you so much Birdy and Joaniepat!
That is very reassuring- will persevere 

[nicky_boo]

Hi,

I have been on estrogel for 2.5 weeks now. Still trying to guage the right dosage, timing and application location. I wanted to share an observation and ask for advice please.

When I apply it to my inner thighs, I get bloating. On my upper arms, not as much. Does that mean I absorb less when I bloat less?

Sleep is still a mess.

When I apply it on my upper arms, I wake up with water retention - I can tell as I cannot take my rings off. In his book Natural Hormone Balance, Uzzi Reiss says this is an indication of excess estrogen, but is it really? My boobs don't think so. Very confused. I am only on 1 pump.

Where do you absorb it the best?

Thank you xx

[Elmsey]

I am sure that you will get a range of answers, but I find arms are better in terms of side effects and symptoms so guess that means absorbtion is better? 

I am also on 1 pump. Started on two but had terrible bloating.

Elmsey

[nicky_boo]

Thank you for your response. Glad that it is working for you. I guess it will take me a few weeks to find my sweet spot with Estrogel (I hope I have one ;-)