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[OrcadianRunner]

I've been taking Utrogestan 100mg alongside Evorel 50 patches for 3 months now. I'm feeling pretty great and I'm a huge fan of HRT. But, was just wondering if anyone else on this combination struggles to wake up in the morning? I'm absolutely knackered and really have to dig deep to come to and get out of bed. It's the only notable negative side-effect that I've experienced. I'm a very fit 48 year old - I run and workout, I'm a healthy weight, I don't drink and I'm not engaged in stressful work. I'm usually in bed by 10pm. So - I can only attribute this new inabaility to get up to my HRT. Can't emphasise enough how drowsy, sleepy and foggy I am when the alarm goes off!! Once I'm up, I'm fine and don't feel too tired throughout the day. Any thoughts, wisdom and suggestions would be hugely helpful. Thanks so much.

[Hurdity]

Hi OrcadianRunner

 

Yes that is a major side effect of utrogestan, and worse if taken orally. Are you taking it daily and orally? It;s not surprising you feel like this. There is no way I would take it daily or orally. I've been taking it (Utrogestan) for almost 8 years but I am a nil-by-mouth gal so have only ever had it vaginally which minimises sdie effects although I am still shattered in the mronings - even more so than usual ( I am mid 60's). Also I would never take it all the time personally so I take it cyclically (long cycle).

You are very young still so you could continue with a cycle if you don't mind having a bleed - which would be normal for your age anyway (although I can see the attraction of not bleeding!). If you take it cyclically for 12 days per month you will have some time when you feel awake and alert... as you are stll so young you could also increase your oestrogen if you feel OK - I would want to make sure my levels were healthy if I was post-menopausal at your age.

Good that you feel OK during the day though!

Hurdity x

[OrcadianRunner]

Thank you! This is so helpful. I see that I didn't give you enough detail in my original post. I'm in perimenopause - so not full-blown menopause.

I'd love to know more about taking it cyclically. I do take it every day, once a day at bedtime. What would you recommend? I don't mind a bleed, although I run ultra-marathons so it might be handy to be able to plan around those. It's not always easy to cope with a tampon on top of a windy mountain!

Thank you again.

[Hurdity]

If you are in peri-menopause then you should be taking it cyclically anyway. I presume your own hormones are giving you periods each month because you have been taking the utrogestan every day? This regime is designed for post-menopause nit peri. What were your natural periods doing before you started omn this regime? It is surprising that the doc ( was this a regular GP?) prescribed the continuois combined regime to a woman in your position.

Ah - hmm - tampons up mountains?! I am surprised you are not getting bleeds at the moment though - if peri-menopausal....

Another alternative if you don't want to bleed is the Mirena coil and then you could add oestrogen until you feel well - have a look up  posts about this but I doubt it has the same sedative effect as utrogestan although can have different sdie effects in some women.

Hurdity x

[OrcadianRunner]

This is so interesting!

My regular GP was a bit clueless, but Dr Louise Newson had a conversation with him and they agreed my prescription between them. So helpful and kind.

Before I started on HRT my periods were very irregular. But, I did have them - albeit not every month and at varying degrees of ‘flow’.

Then, when I started the HRT I had the mother of all periods (very heavy and long), followed by a light one and now nothing seemingly regular. But as I said, I only started it on 9 November so perhaps it’s still early days?

Thanks again!

[Hurdity]

This is still odd - that Dr Newson prescribed a conti regime when you are clearly peri-menopausal. Perhaps your periods were very infrequent and very light - so you were not producing much oestrogen which may minimise the likelihood of bleeding due to your own hormones overriding the HRT? However I would still say you could get sporadic bleeding or spotting with this regime depending how near menopause you are. This would be even more inconvenient up a mountain if it happens randomly - so defo carry tampons!

Maybe it was the hormonal fluctuations that were bothering you - continuous progesterone and oestrogen will give you a more stable dose? Some women are trialled with continuous combined HRT before they reach menopause with the presumption that a return to cyclical HRT would be advised with frequent unpredictable bleeding.

Did you go to see Lousie Newson initially, privately in order to get a more individualised prescription?

Anyway I do hope it all settles for you!

Hurdity x

[SueLW]

Definitely try vaginal dosing.  I don't feel tired from it that way. 

I am going to swap to a Mirena coil though as I get very frequent and unpredictable bleeding on the Utrogestan continuously.  It was great for about a month and then I bled for weeks!  And still bleed most of the time.

Louise knows what she's doing so she must have had her good reasons for suggesting continuous to you.  I'm seeing her, she's lovely.  Wish I had your energy.  I consider it good if I can walk around town a bit these days!

[Pinkjan4288]

This is so interesting. I'm dead tired but sleeping amazingly well. I take Utrogetstan cyclically, 200mg orally just before bed.
I didn't bleed during my first 14 day break but now I'm spotting constantly for the past week and due to have another break from tomorrow.

I didnt really know what to expect taking HRT. My periods previously were very close (19-21 days)so the dr said this would give me a cycle.