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[Mandyjw]

Hi everyone just joined after reading so many posts for over 2 days!

I'm 54 in August I went to my GP last week armed with info on the HRT I wanted.

My last  period was 26th March this year, since then I've nose dived with the night sweats insomnia etc so I'm guessing that was probably my last one.

Luckily my boss see's Prof Studd and  told me what he prescribes my GP was fine with giving me both Estrogel and utrogestan but she struggled to find it on her list, she had never heard of it! I asked for testosterone but she sent me for a blood test which showed my T at 0.2 and FSH 6.5 I have to go back to the Drs next week to discuss these results. I don't know if the T level is normal or low.
Can anyone advise me on doses I've applied the gel last night on inner thighs 1 pump im not sure what I do with the utrogestan as my last period was only in March it says on the box days 1-25 of cycle and they are 100mg, when do I start them?
After reading on here I will do them
Vaginally.
Also I'm going on holiday July 14th for 2 weeks so advice on timing the bleed to avoid those dates pls?

Many thanks
Mandy x

[Dancinggirl]

Hi and welcome to MM

Here is the link on this site that tells you how to take the Utrogestan:
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/to_progestogens.php

The day you start the Oestrogel is DAY ONE.  You use the Oestrogel every day and use the Utrogestan on days 15-26 inclusive and you should then get a bleed soon after finishing the Utrogestan. Its not good to chop and change the regime too much but you may be able to slightly increase the days of Oestrogel alone to fit in around your holiday. You are still peri menopause so you own hormones may well do the occasional surge and this can result in fluctuations so be aware of this.  It will take 3-6 months for things to settle.
You will need to use 2 Utrogestan capsules per night.
Good luck. DG x


I wouldn't worry about Testosterone at this stage - it is not essential for every women/

[Mandyjw]

Many thanks DG

My box says 1 daily on days 15-26 should I do 2?

Thx M

[Dancinggirl]

You may be able to do one per day but if you look at the recommended dosage on this site, it is 200mg per day. Using it vaginally I think you can use one capsule per day but you should probably to have a scan annually to check the womb lining is remaining thin enough - the NHS are unlikely to do regular scans so you might need to pay privately for scans. Using Utrogestan orally you would need 2 capsules per day.
DG x

[Mary G]

Mandyjw, like your boss, I am a patient of Professor Studd and was prescribed 100mg Utrogestan for 7 days each month used vaginally.  Do you know how much your boss takes?

It is an ongoing debate as to how much Utrogestan is needed to get adequate thinning and clearance and it depends on how well you tolerate progesterone - everyone is different.  Most women get adequate clearance on a low dose but some will need more and you won't know for sure until you have a scan.  The high dose recommended is a 'catch all' and aimed and women who never have uterine scans.  I take a very low dose because I am progesterone intolerant and literally can't take any more than that but I do have regular uterine scans with my gynaecologist.  If you use it vaginally then 100mg for 12 days would be enough and about the equivalent of taking 200mg orally because you lose up to 50% of it in your digestive system.

My advice is try it and see how well you get on with it.

[Mandyjw]

Thanks ladies 🙏🏻

Mary G my boss has a merina coil now so just does the gel and T.

I'm dreading it, I'm not gonna lie!
My periods were horrendous the last 8 or so years having to take Tranaxamic Acid to clot the flow
Being totally in the dark about HRT I didn't even realise you had to go back to periods- I could cry! 😪
I'll try the lower dose and see how I get on and maybe ask for a referral to a Gynaecologist/Menopause clinic via the GP and see if I can get scans that way? If not I'll have to pay, how do you go about getting scanned privately?

Thanks M x

[Dancinggirl]

Mandyjw - you could consider a Mirena if you don't want periods.  Do try the HRT combo you have been given and see how things go  - it may well be fine. Don't expect problems, the anxiety will make things worse.  Also remember it can take up to 3 months for the body to settle and full benefits to be felt.
Just take the regime as I described and you shouldn't need a scan.  Keep us posted and I hope you enjoy feeling better once the HRT starts to help.   DG x

[Mandyjw]

Hey DG!
Thanks again for a reply.
I did have the Mirena coil for a few months about 10 years ago after months of very light periods I was getting bigger and bigger almost pregnant like and I'm a slim person it was just my tummy, so I had it taken out, then oh my god 😲 I was in A&E on a drip the blood was pouring out of me. From there I was offered a hysterectomy but I was in my 40's and felt I was too young to have that done- so I suffered the horrendous periods with medication😪
So, a new chapter in my life begins I'm sure it'll be fine once I get my head round how it'll work and hopefully no weight gain 😧
I'm just hoping I can work this around going away on July 14th it doesn't leave me much time as the first bleed will be early July I'm going long haul so don't want the dreaded period during those 9 hours.

Many thanks again
M x

[Mary G]

If you are going away there is no harm is playing around with the dates and cutting it a bit short if you need to, I've done it loads of times.  Remember you have to allow for the number of days you are taking it, anything up to a 6 day gap and then a 5 day bleed.  That is probably worst case scenario, well it is for me anyway.

Re scans, Mothercare do uterine scans and there will be other places that do them in your area, might be worth a Google?

Good luck!

[Mandyjw]

❤️ thank you
Just googled Mothercare and found a clinic 10 mins from home x

[Mandyjw]

Hi again sorry 😐 me over thinking utrogestan again!

So my first day on Estrogel was June 6th and I'm going to take 100mg of utrogestan vaginally for 12 days this month so is this right..
Start utrogestan on June 20th till 1 July then start it again 20th July and so on.... continuous gel everyday
Can I leave longer then every 20th of the month or should I stick to that? I may have to leave longer for next month as I don't travel back from holiday until July 28th.
I'm feeling very good on 1 pump a day of Estrogel sleeping with no nights sweats now
Sorry I'm sounding very thick 🙈 but I just need an idiots guide I don't want to get it wrong
Thx again M x

[Dancinggirl]

Great to hear things are improving already. What you have stated in your last post sounds fine, an extra few days of Oestrogel only will be OK.   DG x

[Cassie]

Hi I take 100mg of UTrogestan for 12 days a month, and have an annual scan, working well so far, you can extend past the 4 week mark now and then, if needs be, I have done so in the past, although one is supposed to start the Utrogestan on the same day every month, I often forget and when I look again I am a week past when I should have started.

[Mandyjw]

Thank you again 🙏🏻
I'll post again with an update later,
in the meantime I'll keep reading x

[Hurdity]

If you are only taking 1 pump a day of the gel you might be able to get away with a longer cycle of progesterone, although if your last period was only March and you had quite a few recently before that, then your own cycle may well kick in to mess your cycle around a bit anyway? Do make sure you make any changes under medical supervision - or at least have a regular scan and tell your doc.

The Days 1-25 of cycle is for post-menopausal women and allows for a small withdrawal bleed if necessary on the 3 days off. It might also work in late peri if you prefer to take it (the prog/Utro) more of the time (most of us don't!).

Hurdity x