Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Seven8Nine]

Hello

I'm new here and about to start HRT next period, i'm 47, I will be on Ustogen 100mg and Oestrogen 0.625, I don't know much about HRT and taking 2 pills seems complicated what with one pill taken for limited days.

Has anyone been on similar and did you have any side effects? What have the positives been? I didn't do well on the mini pill as I felt like I had permanent PMS.

Current issues i'm having includes insomnia, mega skin breakouts, anxiety, hot flushes...

Any thoughts experiences would be much appreciated. Thanks.

[Dancinggirl]

Hi and welcome to MM
You have been given a good regime to try.  All HRTs may give some side effects but it's best not to think about these when starting out as it can result in you ‘overthinking' everything and becoming anxious. Generally the oestrogen will make you feel better all round and sometimes the progesterone can have a slight sedative effect and possible some PMT but, as every women is different, the type of side effects and how severe they are will vary greatly. 
Basically, don't expect problems but perhaps keep a diary so you remember when to take the pills and note anything that you feel might be a side effect.  Just enjoy feeling better - and remember that you are young, so your need some quality of life and you need to protect your heart and bones for the long term - this HRT could give you all these benefits but no HRT will be perfect.  If you find it doesn't suit you then there will be other HRT regimes to try.
Let us know how you get on - we are here to support you.   DG x

[Seven8Nine]

Thanks DG for message, very useful and yes you're right about overthinking... x

[TNM45689]

Hi Seven8Nine

Sounds like we are a similar age and are on a similar regime - can I ask if you are taking progesterone every night or on a cycle?

Tx

[Dancinggirl]

TNM45689 - Seven did say she is taking the Utrogestan for limited days each month so she is doing a sequential regime. She is peri menopause so must use a sequential HRT regime. Continuous HRT is for post menopause, either at least one year after the last natural period of over the age of 54.  IT's always best to start with a sequential regime, whether peri or post meno, to see if the progesterone suits you or not. DG x

[TNM45689]

I am so confused as I am post menopausal (I year of no periods) but the clinic did not explain the options just put me on the continuous cycle of one tablet a night....

Tx

[Dancinggirl]

Sadly the doctors rarely take the time to explain things properly so it can be so confusing. This is why this site is so useful. Do read up all
The factual information to get really glued up and keep asking us questions. DG x

[Hurdity]

I am so confused as I am post menopausal (I year of no periods) but the clinic did not explain the options just put me on the continuous cycle of one tablet a night....

Tx

This is because that is the standard prescription for post-menopausal women and it is assumed that most women would not want to return to a bleed. Unfortunately this means that many women might give up on HRT mistakenly thinking it's not for them, when it;s actually the continuous progestogen that could be causing the adverse side effects.

Hurdity x

[SueLW]

I am so confused as I am post menopausal (I year of no periods) but the clinic did not explain the options just put me on the continuous cycle of one tablet a night....

Tx

This is because that is the standard prescription for post-menopausal women and it is assumed that most women would not want to return to a bleed. Unfortunately this means that many women might give up on HRT mistakenly thinking it's not for them, when it;s actually the continuous progestogen that could be causing the adverse side effects.

Hurdity x

Hurdity, do women with a Mirena coil suffer the same effects of continuous progesterone or is it too low a dose for that to happen?

[robotwars]

I'm on utrogestan 100g every night and 2 pumps of gel, I haven't gone a year without a period and my consultant has put me on continuous regime, which I'm unsure about, so far I'm 6 days in and the worst side effect I have at the moment is I feel so heavy headed in the morning, like you have had a heavy night the night before, a bit of a sedative effect, I'm hoping this is going to improve a bit.  good luck I hope it goes well and as the others have said try not to think about the side effects, which is what I'm trying to do

[Dancinggirl]

SueLW
I'm not sure whether Hurdity will respond or not but I can respond with my personal experience of the Mirena. I found the Mirena with Oestrogel was the best non bleed hrt option I ever used. If you look at the info under TREATMENTS on this site you will read that the Mirena is recommended for women who struggle with progesterone for a variety of reasons because it delivers progesterone more locally and there is less systemic absorption.
 I did feel an initial hit of progesterone for a while after the Mirena was fitted (a little sedated) but it quickly settled. The spotting stopped after about 6 weeks and I then had 4 years of very few problems.
After it was removed I then tried Utrogestan as I thought it was a better alternative but I had awful cramps, erratic bleeding, a rash on my face and I felt sedated.
I did worry whether the Mirena would suit me and I think there are some ladies who are very sensitive to progesterone that don't get on with the Mirena but I believe there is roughly a 90% success rate with the Mirena with many women opting to renew it after the 4 years if its life.
Hope that helps. DG x

[Seven8Nine]

TNM45689 - Seven did say she is taking the Utrogestan for limited days each month so she is doing a sequential regime. She is peri menopause so must use a sequential HRT regime. Continuous HRT is for post menopause, either at least one year after the last natural period of over the age of 54.  IT's always best to start with a sequential regime, whether peri or post meno, to see if the progesterone suits you or not. DG x

Hi DG

Just got back on here to see these messages, thanks so much and to all for writing.

Unfortunately I haven't started HRT yet as I am still waiting for AF! 😬
Totally agree about GP's not really explaining things.

On looking at the box PROPERLY of Premarin 0.625mg coated tablets (conjugated estrogens) it says to take the tablets daily without a break, I thought I was to take a break? does this sound right? I'm still having periods, although very late this month.

I've read I should take it the last 14 days of my cycle but how would I know when that is? Do I just count 14 days from starting progesterone then start the Estrogen for 14 days? I've been prescribed 3 months so have 3 full months worth of Estrogen.

Also do you know if it better to take the tablets in the evening as in easing progesterone side effects?

Any thoughts would be very welcome.

Thanks so much x

[Dancinggirl]

Severn8nine - I am baffled as to why you have been given Premarin???!!! This is the old fashioned type of oestrogen so is rarely used now!  I would ring you doctor and question this.  I would ask if you can use oestrogen patches as this would be easier for you.

Utrogestan should be taken before bed on an empty stomach or used vaginally (like a pessary) from days 15-28 of the cycle.   You may find the capsules are 100mg so you should be using 2 of these on days 15-28.  IF you still have periods, I would wait until you start a period and start the oestrogen a day or two into the bleed and count this as 'day one'. Oestrogen should be used every day and you simply add in the progesterone alongside the oestrogen on days 15-28 and then go back to oestrogen only and a bleed should arrive a day or two after you finish the progesterone phase.  This gives you a 28 day cycle.  If you look under TREATMENTS at the top of this page and go into ‘Progesterones', you will see the info on the regime you are using.
Hope that all helps.   DG x

[Seven8Nine]

Severn8nine - I am baffled as to why you have been given Premarin???!!! This is the old fashioned type of oestrogen so is rarely used now!  I would ring you doctor and question this.  I would ask if you can use oestrogen patches as this would be easier for you.

Utrogestan should be taken before bed on an empty stomach or used vaginally (like a pessary) from days 15-28 of the cycle.   You may find the capsules are 100mg so you should be using 2 of these on days 15-28.  IF you still have periods, I would wait until you start a period and start the oestrogen a day or two into the bleed and count this as 'day one'. Oestrogen should be used every day and you simply add in the progesterone alongside the oestrogen on days 15-28 and then go back to oestrogen only and a bleed should arrive a day or two after you finish the progesterone phase.  This gives you a 28 day cycle.  If you look under TREATMENTS at the top of this page and go into ‘Progesterones', you will see the info on the regime you are using.
Hope that all helps.   DG x

Hi DG

Thanks so much for the speedy reply and advise, very helpful thanks, you are amazing to take your precious time out to do this thank you. I am completely clueless about HRT and desperate for some relief.

Argh! I have no idea about the Premarin, it's what my GP prescribed, are there any implications taking this? She offered me patches or tablets I picked the latter as I worried that patches would come off as I do HIIT classes and in general get hot a lot! What's the other brand option for tablets?

Thing is I am suddenly feeling a bit pre menstrual/bloated so could come on very soon and what with tomorrow being Friday I highly doubt I can get this changed immediately. It might take a month before I get a scheduled appointment with my GP so would it be ok I start on this for a month then change to other tablets/patches? Do I take this in the evening too?

In terms of the progesterone good to know to take before bed thanks, my tablets are Ustrogesran 100mg, why would I take 2? I was hoping to start on the lowest dose as from experience of the mini pill I am not great with progesterone, is that ok?

Thank you so much, you have no idea how relieved and grateful I am to find this forum and get some help. Tbh my GP wasn't that clued up on what to put me on and I don't want to see the other male GP's at my surgery.

Best wishes
💐🍾

[Dancinggirl]

Seven8nine
Don't worry about the oestrogen at this stage - you can switch to a different one at a later stage. Perhaps ask for Estradot 50 patches when you ask for a repeat prescription as these are small and stick well. You can take the oestrogen at any time of day but do take it at the same time of day each day. If you have a smart phone you can probably set an alarm or download an App to remind you when to take your pills. As you you are peri meno it will be important to take 2 Utrogestan per day as you will need the good dose to ensure you shed the womb lining properly. You could use the Utrogestan vaginally as this may reduce side effects - simply push the capsules up inside as high as you can before bed.
DG x