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[Hurdity]

Hi Hurdity,
I'm trying the Crinone because I prefer to stick with micronized "natural" progesterone. Though my hair specialist says that systemic progesterone of any kind can be a major hair loss trigger for some women. I've been told vaginal progesterone is supposed to have fewer systemic effects than oral, but I guess I'll find out if that's true for me. (Obviously some people absorb progestins systemically from a Mirena, and that's not "supposed to happen", either.)

Here's a link that talks about vaginal progesterone absorption, with references: http://www.aafp.org/afp/2000/1015/p1839.html

Sounds like I'm lucky so far with Estrogel absorption, but I'm on only one pump per day so far. I went from a week on a 0.05mg patch to replacing the patch with one pump of Estrogel. I got a hot flash today, ugh. So perhaps I will need to go up to two pumps.

Thanks hoping4best!

As I mentioned I read that systemic absorption from vaginal progesterone (the utrogestan capsules) was greater than with oral use ie achieves higher serum levels for the same dose. However taken orally the progesterone is metabolised by the liver and it is the metabolic byproducts (the details of which escape me at the moment) - which can give rise to some unpleasant side effects.

Re non systemic absorption from Mirena - this is a misconception - which I posted about recently. I looked up the systemic levels. Mirena was first developed for contraception and so the systemic absorption compared to oral levonorgestrel in mini pills/CCP is minimal. However when used for HRT - the absorption has to be taken into account so I am not surprised some women react to it!

Do keep us posted about the Crinone!

Hurdity x

[Kkay]

Thank you Stellajane !

[hoping4best]

Update: I was hot flashing 5 days into Estrogel so I went from one to two pumps daily and they went away. I may ultimately need more for better systemic help with my urogenital symptoms and because I'm 42, but am holding here for the moment.

I've taken Crinone 3 or 4 times (I'm on 2x/week, continuous). Way more comfortable than vaginal Utrogestan/Prometrim (really bothered my vaginal and urethral tissues), and I feel fewer side effects than oral progesterone. BUT, I am having another crampy bleed (with adenomyosis, cramps are awful). I can't take the Crinone when I'm bleeding per my reproductive endocrinologist. This is my 2nd bleed since the HRT reboot, the first was when I initially restarted a few weeks ago from my month off HRT. And now here's another. Hope it's short.

I wonder how long it takes for Estrogel to reach a steady systemic level, and how long it takes for Crinone to do the same.

My hair is still shedding a ton, but my doctor said to ignore it during major hormone transition times as it's gonna happen then, that's normal for me. I think the minoxidil helps me get regrowth, but doesn't seem to slow down my shedding much.

That's my update!

[Hurdity]

Hi hoping4best

How long have you been on continuous HRT? It may well be that your lining has built up a little on whatever you used before and is now shedding - maybe the Crinone is working better? It does take a while to stabilise on any continuous combined HRT and it seems changing the regime also can cause spotting/bleeding.

The Estrogel reaches steady state (in the system) within days and I am sure the Crinone will do so too - progesterone has a very short half life so has to be continuously replenished in order to be effective - even more so than the synthetic progestogens. I can look up the figures if you want?

Hurdity x

[hoping4best]

I was on continuous but had bleeding (oral utrogestan and estradiol patch). Then a month of no HRT (a break for bloodwork). Now am restarting. 2 pumps of Estrogel per day, and Crinone on Mondays and Thursdays. Except I'm not supposed to take it when I'm bleeding (though my bleeding was light today and more like spotting, so I took it). The beginning and end of bleeding always makes my urethra and vaginal tissue irritated, so that feels bad right now.

Hormone adjustments are not fun.

Thanks Hurdity!