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[PeriMe36]

Hi all, I’m new here so this my first post. Hi! I am 36 and have been diagnosed with peri menopause by my GP which has been quite the surprise. I was experiencing dry skin, fatigue, painful urination, pain down there, itchiness, urinary problems and more. I have been started on 200mg Utrogestan and on 1mg Sandrena gel. I have felt TERRIBLE ever since. Its only been over 2 weeks and I’ve struggled so much on it. My GP suggested trying the Utrogestan vaginally but I could only try this 2 days before I took a scheduled break and now I have my period and it’s horrible. So heavy and terrible PMS/T and before taking hrt I was having a regular period which had shortened and was light. Any advice on this? I feel terrible, fatigued every day and mega emotional ever since starting hrt. Like so mega I want to stop taking it. I was so emotionally stable and happy with my periods beforehand but now an emotional wreck. Is this normal? I’ve experienced no improvement on the menopausal symptoms at all yet too. Thank you!

[Flossieteacake]

Hello Perime36 and welcome to the forum. I understand your shock at realising you are in peri. I was 38 when I realised but suspect it started much earlier. I must say, your GP is brilliant to recognise you are in peri and be supportive over that.

Firstly I just wanted to tell you that for your vaginal soreness and painful urination, you will need localised oestrogen. Your symptoms are what is known as vaginal atrophy and once you get some localised oestrogen you will feel so much better.

It is quite common to fell bad on Ultrogestan. Many women seem to be unable to tolerate it and there are other progesterone's that may be a better option for you. It is also normal not to feel any better after just two weeks. HRT can take a good few months before you can find an improvement on symptoms.

You have come to the right place and you will find lots of support on here.

[CLKD]

I would stop if the medication is making you feel so ill.  Maybe keeping a mood/food/symptom diary will help to chart progress.

It may be that the 200mg of Utrogestan is too much initially. 

Heavy periods can be eased by appropriate medication from the GP.  Also, if you are 'dry down there', do read the 'bladder issues' and any threads on vaginal atrophy.  As oestrogen levels drop the body may become dry: inside and out;  skin, scalp, between the toes, nostrils, deep in the ears, eyes  and vaginal area. 

The idea is to use 'vagifem' or 'ovestin' every night for 2 weeks to plump up the vaginal tissues.  After that, 1 uses as 'required' i.e. every 3rd and every 5/6th night.  Some require treatment nightly for many months.  The sooner the treatment is started the quicker the vagina will feel less sore, dry and itchy.

Let us know how you get on.

[PeriMe36]

Thank you so much for your replies!

I definitely have vaginal atrophy and so have been using vagifem and replens for a couple of months for that. I definitely feel dry all over my body too. The meds are helping a lot but still trying to get dosage right on them.

I know right? I have an autoimmune disease so I’m so used to fighting for health care professionals to gain support/diagnosis and my GP offers up peri menopause diagnosis before I even joined the dots myself. I was very impressed with her and felt very lucky to have it detected so soon.  I suspect she (the gp) may be experiencing the same thing as she showed me her own supply of hrt to explain med options so I hit lucky with that. 👍

I have continued on the sadrena for now and the utrogestan is paused for the cyclical break and I managed to book a doc appointment for next week to discuss because these side effects seem a bit excessive.

My period is still ongoing and heavy so I’ll be talking about that too.

I think when guys have low testosterone they can just go and get three monthly injections and be done with it. If only it was so easily for us people with wombs! I’m sure if men had menopause it would be much more simple to manage. 🤣😜 xxx

[Flossieteacake]

Thank you so much for your replies!

I definitely have vaginal atrophy and so have been using vagifem and replens for a couple of months for that. I definitely feel dry all over my body too. The meds are helping a lot but still trying to get dosage right on them.

I know right? I have an autoimmune disease so I’m so used to fighting for health care professionals to gain support/diagnosis and my GP offers up peri menopause diagnosis before I even joined the dots myself. I was very impressed with her and felt very lucky to have it detected so soon.  I suspect she (the gp) may be experiencing the same thing as she showed me her own supply of hrt to explain med options so I hit lucky with that. 👍

I have continued on the sadrena for now and the utrogestan is paused for the cyclical break and I managed to book a doc appointment for next week to discuss because these side effects seem a bit excessive.

My period is still ongoing and heavy so I’ll be talking about that too.

I think when guys have low testosterone they can just go and get three monthly injections and be done with it. If only it was so easily for us people with wombs! I’m sure if men had menopause it would be much more simple to manage. 🤣😜 xxx

I would switch from Replens to Yes or Sylk because many have found Replens causes irratation. It is good you have vagifem. You can use this daily, not just twice a week like the leaflet says.

It is great to have a good GP.

[PeriMe36]

Thanks for the suggestion! I didn’t even know about the other options. I have felt thrush like symptoms since using it so will mention that at GP too.

I’m glad I came on here!

Xxx

[Flossieteacake]

Thanks for the suggestion! I didn’t even know about the other options. I have felt thrush like symptoms since using it so will mention that at GP too.

I’m glad I came on here!

Xxx

I notice NHS seem to suggest Replens but many who join here and use it say it causes irritation.

You are so welcome. 

[PeriMe36]

Hi all,

It’s taken a little while to work out how to get back on this post. Not the most user friendly website!! Very old-school.

A little update,

I went to GP and had my medicines all switched up. I’ve swapped to:

Estraderm MX 50 - Patch - for oestrogen replacement

ESTRING 7.5 microgram/24 hours - Ring - for vaginal atrophy

Mirena iud - progesterone - to be fitted soon.

Still need to swap up the Replens because oh my word that stuff IS horrid!!! But I forgot to mention it amongst the other hrt chat in my appointment.

Thanks again for everyone’s advice.

All I need to do now is get another GP appointment for thrush treatment and a replacement for Replens. 👍

Xxx

[Flossieteacake]

You could buy yourself Yes or Sylk while you wait for an appointment to replace the Replens. I hope the new HRT helps.

[PeriMe36]

I managed to get the to switch it to a different lubricant/moisturiser. Not sure which one they’ve sent through because they done it all via online GP service so will find out when I collect it. Hoping its one of the ones you recommended Flossieteacake. 🤞
Thanks!

[Flossieteacake]

I managed to get the to switch it to a different lubricant/moisturiser. Not sure which one they’ve sent through because they done it all via online GP service so will find out when I collect it. Hoping its one of the ones you recommended Flossieteacake. 🤞
Thanks!

That is great. I hope it is too.