Hi discogirl
Do you take Utrogestan vaginally or orally?
The effect of utrogestan on sleep is not as straightforward as helping or hindering sleep - it is more nuanced than that, as well as responses being individual.
First vaginal delivery and oral delivery may well have different effects because there are a large number/greater concentration of metabolic by-products from oral intake which may cause sdie effects ( and may affect sleep) in some women.
Secondly, while it is indisputable that progesterone has a sedative effect, taking utrogestan (which results in larger amounts of the hormone/metabolic by-products getting into the system all at once than would occur naturally during the menstrual cycle - it is released from the ovaries in steady bursts whereas in HRT is is taken once or at the most twice per day) can both help and hinder sleep. Many women, including me, sleep more deeply and heavily when on the Utro phase, but it also can have a disruptive effect on sleep due to 1) effect on bladder meaning night time waking to pee - this happens to me 2) vivid dreams causing disturbed sleep. I don't know if the dreaming is due to the bladder trying to wake you up, or an effect of the hormone and its metabolites, but this certainly happens to me.
Overall I tend to wake in the mornings anyway with a heavy head and more fatigued than usual, when taking progesterone but if you have been suffering from lack of sleep, this may be preferable?
If you are taking it orally and after a few weeks or cycles it is having negative effects - then try taking it vaginally and see if this makes a difference.
I always take mine at night because I take it vaginally and it would fall out by day - due to having had several children!!!
Hope this helps
Hurdity x
