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[LucyDiamond]

Hello everybody! I have been reading some posts here- what an excellent forum!

I am 53 and currently on Evorel Sequi patches. I have been on them for about 6 months. I have seen a lot of improvements generally- energy, dry vagina, better mood WHEN in oestrogen phase. However, increasingly I am finding the norethisterone (a synthetic form of progesterone) phase increasingly difficult. The bleed has become quite heavy (soaking super plus tampons quickly) and my mood very irritable. I am also frustratingly sleepless during this phase.

I have been doing some research online and have found articles which state that the natural micronised progesterone in Utrogestan is much safer plus more effective when it comes to sleeping (I know everyone varies, oh my goodness, don't we?). These are the articles that have made me think about asking to switch to oestrogen patches plus Utrogestan:

https://doctorneville.com/blog/2019/6/12/bio-identical-and-synthetic-progesterone-the-devil-is-in-the-details

https://www.bmj.com/content/367/bmj.l5928/rr-3

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19541646.utrogestan-petition-women-cant-get-safest-hrt/


I was hoping that some of you wise women might have some input for me. I am happy for any input actually- even from those who are still learning like me!


Wishing you all well x

[Emzib0b]

Hi LucyDiamond!

I’m glad to hear the oestrogen phase of the Evorel Sequi is helping you so much. Sorry to hear you’re struggling with the Norethisterone phase. I didn’t get on with synthetic progesterones when I took hormonal contraception when I was younger - so was very relieved to hear about Micronised Progesterone! I’m new both here and on my own journey. I’ve just been prescribed Evorel 25 plus Utrogestan. I haven’t started the Utrogestan yet so have nothing to offer from personal experience. There are lots of useful threads on here but like you said - it’s all very individual!

I discovered Dr Louise Newson’s book last year and found the information about body-identical HRT very reassuring in terms of lower risk and likelihood of side effects compared to synthetic progesterones.

https://balance-menopause.com/uploads/2021/09/Micronised-Progesterone-or-Utrogestan.pdf

https://bjgp.org/content/68/675/499

It really saddens me that there is such a postcode lottery between different NHS trusts in the country! I hope you get on ok should you decide to switch.

Best wishes x

[Flossieteacake]

Hello Lucy Diamond and welcome. Your username is the name of one of my favourite authors.  I could not tolerate noresthisterone either. Hopefully somebody will answer your other question.

[sheila99]

You won't know if it suits you until you try it. Although in theory it should be better I had no side effects from evorel but get fatigue on utro, I had to change because I became allergic to the glue in the patch. Nothing to be lost by trying but fatigue is a common side effect of utro. It made no difference to my sleep though it does help some people. My insomnia was caused by low oestrogen. If your meno symptoms are returning you may need to increase your oestrogen but as the evorel conti patch only comes in 50 that would mean a different progestin anyway.

[Perinowpost]

Utrogestan is definitely better than noresthisterone, but still not perfect x

[FAB-jellybean]

Hi LucyDiamond. I'm having similar issues with the norethisterone in the Evorel patches. How are you getting on? Did you try the Utrogestan?