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[Meno44]

HRT?…

As I’m having some issues with using Utrogestan it got me thinking about progesterone.

I was taking the drop-provera contraception injection for many years with no issues at all.

I know provera is sometimes prescribed as part of a HRT regime, I’m sure provera is the same as depo-provera?

Has anyone ever had the injection as part of their HRT?

[sheila99]

I think depo provera can cause bone loss which may not be a problem when you're young but might be when you're older and in the age bracket where you may develop osteoporosis. I think (I may be wrong) provera used for hrt doesn't carry the same risk.

[joziel]

Sheila is right - Depo causes bone loss and isn't recommended or acceptable for HRT progesterone.

There are very specific approved progesterones for HRT use and really it officially at the moment comes down to utrogestan or provera if you want a stand-alone progesterone (ie one not in a combined patch).

If you use a combined patch, you can also choose from norethisterone and levonorgestrel. If you go with an oral combined HRT, there is dydrogesterone too (Femoston).

And of course, the Mirena coil. If you want something equivalent to Depo, long-lasting which you don't need to think about daily, which completely stops your periods - then the Mirena might suit.

[Meno44]

Thanks for your replies.

So is the Provera the same as depo-provera? Just one is a tablet and one is injectable.

[joziel]

I have no idea 

[sheila99]

They use the same type of progestin so you should be OK on provera. Presumably the bone loss is due to whatever else is added to the injection.

[Meno44]

Ok, thanks for the info

[Sophya]

I used Depo-Provera for years without side effects, at least I thought so at the time, but I later learned that bone density loss and hormonal imbalances can creep up quietly.

It turns out Depo-Provera and oral Provera both use medroxyprogesterone acetate, but how they’re delivered and absorbed makes a difference. The injection is much stronger and longer-acting, which is why it’s not generally recommended for HRT. The concerns about bone loss, especially post-menopause, are very real.

If you’re looking into all this because of side effects or past use, this breakdown of depo-provera side effects helped me connect a few dots I hadn’t considered before. Might be useful if you’re weighing options or curious about long-term impact.

[CrispyChick]

I think the issue here, and I E which is often overlooked, is that some of the contraceptive method of progestin are designed at higher doses to prevent pregnancy and, in doing so lower natural estrogen levels. Hence the bone density issue.

So this brings different implications, but sometimes useful. They can, for example, tame high peri swings - this is something never talked about. I suspect because hrt was originally designed for post meno top up.

For example, I used to use cerazette fine. It did keep my Estrogen fairly low. About 200pmol. I just tried double dose because single was no longer controlling my peri swings. Well within one month my estrogen dropped to 24pmol and then came all the horrific low estrogen symptoms.

So there are different ways to look at these progestins.

For your indignation, slynd - progestin only birth control is licenced for hrt use.