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[Cocobra]

Dear All,

I have just been to a new gynaecologist here in Italy specialised in menopause and HRT. As someone who started skipping with terrible hot flushes and very high FSH at 42, I was put on HRT (first Utrogestan and Elleste, then on Evorel Sequi) back in 2016, I needed a check up. All well with my reproductive organs, other than vaginal dryness and zero libido.

She therefore recommended Tibolone, a HRT therapy, which (quoting from the leaflet available online):
Livial is different from other HRT. Instead of actual hormones (such as oestrogen and progestogen) it contains tibolone. Your body breaks down tibolone to make hormones. Its effects and benefits are similar to combined HRT.

I see that this is what is given to post-menopausal women. I am 50 this year and wonder whether this is the right path to go into. Her argument seems right to me: if I've been peri- since 42, by now I'm probably at the stage where I can start with combined HRT. I remember Hurdity saying that this is a guess and sometimes can be a wild guess, but this gynaecologist has reviewed my clinical profile, so it's not such a wild guess.

Has anyone had experience with Tibolone? I see nothing on this forum in a search, not even its brand names. But I suspect this is because different countries have access to different HRTs (in Italy, they no longer use the Evorel patches!).

All best to everyone and take care

[Taz2]

Hi Cocobra. There are lots of mentions on the forum. I use the search box contained in the blue bar towards the top of the page. It also has HOME HELP PROFILE on it. Here's one I found https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,45468.0.html#msg732189

Hope your mum is doing ok.

Taz x 

[Cocobra]

Hi Taz,

many thanks! I can see that the Italian is Tibolone and the English spell it as Tibilone! However, now that I have seen this (and warmest thanks for the head-up), I have noticed there's not much out there on this forum. Why is that, I wonder? Is Tibilone not used much in the UK?

And thanks so much for asking after my mum: she's ok but bleeding heavily now. We're just waiting for the call to surgery xxxx

[Dotty]

Hi if you click on the main Forum page and put Tibolone into the search box it comes up with about 28 pages of comments. I tried to copy the link for you but it didn’t work.

It is called Tibolone or Livial in UK. x

[Kathleen]

Hello Cocobra

I used Tobolone/ Livial in the past and didn't have any particular problems with it. 
I understand that it is mainly prescribed to post meno women and is quite androgenic.

A search on the forum should provide lots of comments from other users

I hope this helps you and take care.

K.

[Cocobra]

Warmest thanks, everyone!
I can see that I was clearly searching into a single section of the forum - hence, the ver few responses! I thought I was a pro at using this forum, but still a lot to learn 

Interesting about Tibolone: the gynaecologist here in Italy suggested it because my libido is under my shoes and I feel I have vaginal dryness ... Hence, the androgenic component she wants me to take. Eager to hear of other women's responses if they've taken it. I'll search now ...

All best to everyone

[Dada39]

Hi cocobra, i have been prescribed Livial as well.  Did you feel well on it? No side effect ?

[Cocobra]

Hi Dada,

ah, we should exchange notes! I have not moved onto Tibolone yet since I still have 4 boxes of Evorel Sequi patches to use up (and they're not cheap!).
I was wondering, as I wait to finish these, whether I should seek a second opinion. Hurdity (I recall right, hopefully, that it was her) did mention in another thread that she returned to a peri-menopausal HRT regimen as the post-menopausal one did not suit her. I have just turned 50 and have been on HRT since age 43 and it's impossible, while on HRT, to know whether one is post-menopausal: it's a guess game. So when to start with post-menopausal HRT? The gynaecologist I saw suggested I must be there already ... But how can she be so sure?
I do wonder ...

What's your experience been so far?

All best, Corinna

[katyh75]

Hi all,

I'm about to start Tibolone and just hear to compare notes with folks.

Long and complex history with HRT and a form of PMDD which started at 44. I'm 47 now.

[Dada39]

Hi there, I too had probleme with classic hrt and i have deep endometriosis. I have the prescription but scare to start taking it lol. Hope everything go well. Let us know! Cheers

[Sleepy123]

Hi Cocobra 

I am 50 and post meno. I was prescribed it as I didn’t have any libido, but it made me feel weird so I stopped taking it.

I thought I needed testosterone, but I got a blood test and T was fine.

I increased the estrogen, and have had no problems since.

I think Tibolone is only prescribed for certain conditions, so I would suggest getting a full blood test first, as you might just need estrogen or something else?

[Mollys65]

I was on Tibolone, but quite honestly, it did nothing for me whatsoever.  It's meant to help with libido, but that didn't happen...  Good luck, hopefully it will work for you.

[katyh75]

I took half a tablet for a week and have been on a full tablet for 3 days. I don't feel great to be honest - like I have a hangover (I don't drink!). I also have a really foggy head, but I had that before I started taking it!

How are you getting along? Have you started it?

Hi there, I too had probleme with classic hrt and i have deep endometriosis. I have the prescription but scare to start taking it lol. Hope everything go well. Let us know! Cheers

[Cocobra]

Dear All,

thank you for your thoughts and comments. I have not started Tibolone yet ... I have a phone consultation tomorrow morning for a second opinion and will find out hopefully more about it: I'll be very glad to report back!