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[soph35]

Hi ladies,

I've been on the conti regime of 3-4 pumps of Oestrogel and 100mg of Utrogestan for about three months now after being pushed into early menopause due to chemo and radiotherapy (I'm 36). I was initially put onto Evorel Conti patches but developed awful acne right along my jawline, which still hasn't completely cleared up! 

My issue is that I'm really struggling with the Utrogestan (I think). I feel extremely lethargic, achy and flat, particularly in the mornings, and I'm finding it hard to get out of bed most days. I always suffered very badly with PMT, so I'm pretty sure it's the progesterone causing this. I started using it vaginally about a week ago on the advice of a pharmacist, and although I feel a little less tired, I'm now waking up to a very watery discharge (a wet patch in my knickers) with a sort of white smear in it. Is this normal or something I should be worried about? Also, do you think I should continue using it vaginally for a bit longer to see if my other symptoms decrease, or should I try a different form of progesterone now?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you

[sheila99]

The discharge is normal... and annoying. Lethargy is a common side effect, I get it too. According to Louise Newson you can halve the dose if used vaginally (so every other day). I use long cycle sequi (6 weeks) so I have more 'good' time so that may be an option for you too. You may need more oestrogen (aches can be oestrogen deficiency), using it on a cycle will show you which is the problem. If you're not on testosterone you may benefit from that too.

[Gilla999]

The discharge is very annoying but normal - sometimes it wakes me up in the night - I always just assumed it was the product itself rather than actual discharge.

I manage 100mg (1 tablet) of Utro vaginally absolutely fine with no side effects other than the discharge, but as soon as I try increasing it to 200mg (2 tablets) even vaginally I'm a zombie the next day and can barely function. I would suggest giving 1 tablet a try first before switching to another type and seeing how you go with that? You should really do this under the care/supervision of a meno specialist though (I didn't, just because I know many women do it and meno appointments are so expensive, but that's not the right/proper thing to do  )

It seems mad to me that there aren't better Prog options for ladies given the overwhelming feedback of how we struggle with the current choices!

[soph35]

Thanks for the replies!

It's good to know the lethargy and discharge are normal, albeit very annoying.

Sheila, do you know if testosterone is available on the NHS, or would I have to go privately to access this? I don't really understand sequi cycles It's all very new to me!

Gilla, I'm actually under the care of the menopause clinic at the hospital where I had my treatment, but I only speak to them on a six-monthly basis. I'll try to contact them to see if I'm doing the right thing I agree it's mad that there aren't better options. I've been trawling through the Utrogestan posts, and it seems like loads of women struggle with it despite it being thought to cause fewer side effects.

Thank goodness for this forum!

[sheila99]

Testosterone is available on the nhs but usually needs to be prescribed by a specialist rather than a gp. Your menopause clinic should be able to help. Conti is where you take progesterone continuously and don't bleed, sequi is when you when you take it for 12-14 days per cycle and have a bleed. If it's utro it's 200mg instead of 100 but I find it better than being doped every day.

[nigela]

Hi. I too have changed to using the utrogesten vaginally as I had started bleeding badly - I was on oestrogel 2 pumps so I reduced to 1- then I tried the utrogesten vaginally and the bleeding has now stopped. I’m thinking maybe I wasn’t absorbing it orally as I do have trouble with digestion. I’m on continuous as 13 years post meno! However I too am now having a clear to white discharge every morning so I’m thinking it must be the utrogesten coming out so I’m not absorbing it still? Or is this normal. My gp says I must use it this way and told me to stop all hrt for 6 weeks which so didn’t want to do. However I can’t now get hold of the gel at the chemist! So need an alternative! I’d been great for 9 months on it before this. Could reducing them oestrogen be causing low mood or is it just the worry as gP scared me by saying bleeding can be cancer in post meno women! But no mention of a scan. She just said I’ll speak to you in 6 weeks! I’m speaking to a different gp on Wednesday but just hope she doesn’t say the same!

[soph35]

Hi nigela,

From what the ladies have said here and what I've read over the last few hours, it seems like the discharge is normal, and it doesn't mean you're not absorbing the Utrogestan. It sounds like it's the outer shell of the tablet sort of being expelled by our bodies!

I'm sure reducing the oestrogen could be causing low mood — the GP telling you to go cold turkey for 6 weeks sounds quite extreme! I understand your struggles with getting hold of the gel; I had to ring around loads of different chemists to get my hands on my last prescription. Maybe they could prescribe a different gel? Sandrena is it?

I'd also push for a scan if you're worried about the bleeding. I'm sure your symptoms are related to the HRT, but something I've learned from having cancer is that it's important to advocate for yourself 

[soph35]

Testosterone is available on the nhs but usually needs to be prescribed by a specialist rather than a gp. Your menopause clinic should be able to help. Conti is where you take progesterone continuously and don't bleed, sequi is when you when you take it for 12-14 days per cycle and have a bleed. If it's utro it's 200mg instead of 100 but I find it better than being doped every day.

Thanks, sheila. All very helpful info for a noob