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[Dancinggirl]

Hi all
I need some feedback from those that use Utrogestan vaginally.
I have been using Oestrogel (one pump) with 100mg Utrogestan orally in a continuous regime for the last 3 months.  I felt really good on this combo but still experienced a few days of spotting on and off.  My gynae had advised that I should increase the Utro dosage to 200mg daily if spotting persisted.  I was worried about taking 200mg daily in case I felt sedated so thought I should try using 100mg vaginally first to see if this worked.
So - for the last 4 nights I have used the 100mg vaginally and the spotting has stopped.  My problem is that I am experiencing cramps and strange sensations, particularly in my bowel area and this is most unpleasant. It does seem to be effecting my bowels and when taking Utro orally my digestive system has been generally much better.
I also seem to have lost that feeling of well-being that I had when taking it orally.
Does anyone else get issues with vaginal use, what did/do you experience, were there side effects to start with that then subsided? 
DG x

[Hurdity]

Hi Dancinggirl

I think you probably know about my side effects with vaginal utrogestan? It always makes me get up more in the night to pee - and go more in the day - more bladder irritation - and also have vivid dreams ( but I think that's because of my bladder trying to wake me up). I always feel whacked out in the mornings ( well - more than usual) and get increasingly foggy headed and tired, lacking in motivation - although I just carry on with my work and exercise classes just the same - just get exhausted! Sometimes I get a migraine - and I have to be really careful with alchohol while taking it as more likely to trigger one. Last cycle ( I'm now doing it two monthly) I started to get pains in uterus the next day which was weird as it had never happened before, and I was worried that I had gone too long in the cycle and get an early bleed - that may be more likely to happen with vag use as it gets straight to the uterus immediately. The pains subsided and I got a bleed following withdrawal of utro as usual (mostly).  In our natural cycle the progesterone would gradually increase and then tail off but with HRT it's a high dose taken for 12-14 days and then stopped immediately - bound to have more side effects.  I've never noticed anything about bowels - but I don't take much notice of this as mine vary anyway!

I've never ever had a feeling of well-being while taking it! Once my bleed has happened and I am back to normal I feel alert, positive and energised (like I do now!) - well as much as can be expected for 62 yr old post-menopausal woman on med dose HRT!!!

Sorry that's probably not told you anything you don't know already but hopefully one of the other vag Utro gang will be along soon

Hurdity x

[peri]

Hi Dancinggirl I take utrogestan vaginally and prefer it this way as orally it gives me more side effects. Like Hurdity I get a sensitive bladder + vivid dreams, I also get hot flushes in bed (this is the only time I get flushes never during the day). Other than that though I actually feel better when on the utrogestan, I feel calmer, clear headed and able to function.  I feel very high strung when on oestrogen only, almost like it's too high (although I may stand corrected on this). In fact I'm wanting to start using utrogestan continuously as I feel my best self when on it, my problem is I can't get past 12 days without getting my period and that's when I get pmt, so it's the utrogestan withdrawal (I believe) which causes me the problem.  Someone on here (I forget who) suggested continuing with the utrogestan regardless (of period) and I'm going to try it this month and see how I get on.  Hope this helps x

[Mary G]

I always take Utrogestan vaginally because of progesterone intolerance but I don't have any other problems when taking it in this way.  Some months it can cause constipation and other months it doesn't so it is a bit variable. 

When I took it orally, I had slight indigestion, breast pain and migraines.  Since switching to the vaginal route, the only problem I had at first were the migraines BUT, since splitting my Oestrogel dose to one pump every 12 hours, that seems to have stopped - it has only been two months but so far so good.  I always find I sleep very deeply while taking it and I often get a slight crampy feeling but I think that is just how it works. 

I always make sure I put the capsule right up to the cervix by using an applicator I got with some Caneston so you might find that would help.  Could it be that you are placing the capsule too far down? 

Apparently you can get away with taking slightly less when used vaginally because most of it reaches the womb as opposed to getting lost in your digestive system. 

[Dancinggirl]

Thanks ladies - all very interesting.  It just goes to show how different we are.
I am using just 100mg vaginally (I push it right up beyond the neck of my uterus so quite high up) and it does seem to have stopped the spotting but I really don't like to lower abdominal ache and this strange sensation in my bowels. Maybe I simply have a bit of a stomach bug??!!
My dilemma is -  I am using quite a low dose of Oestrogen - just one pump per day of Oestrogel - so 100mg Utro orally should have been enough to stop all spotting.  I had a scan before I started using Utro continuously and the lining was good!!  The normal dosage is 2 pumps of Oestrogel per day with 100mg daily - so why am I still getting spotting?  Clearly I am not absorbing the Utro that well when taken orally.  It has been suggested that actually taking it with food instead of on an empty stomach could be better??
I'm going to try taking 200mg orally for 3-4 days to see how I feel on that.  I think it is going to be trial and error.

Peri - if you do try taking Utro continuously you will get some bleeding and spotting initially as you would with any conti HRT.  Spotting etc is supposed to stop after a few weeks.
DG xxx

[peri]

Hi Dancinggirl

Thanks for that.  It's so simple when it's set down in black and white but it is a mistake I've been making