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[Kai_63]

I was on:

Utrogestan 12 days
2.5 pumps oestegel
Vagifem 2 times a week
Desogestrel (generic version of Cerazette)

I’m 46 and have an underactive thyroid too (take Levothyroxine).

Following consultation with a specialist and some good advice here, I decided to come off the pill this week (will use condoms when needed) to see what happened with symptoms and also up to 3 pumps which I had already done 2 weeks ago. Also switched from arms to thighs which I understand have more absorption?

Started to feel very anxious, nauseas and a bit headachey.

Could it be pill withdrawal and should I stick to 3 pumps oestrogel or go back to 2.5 pumps for now to see what happens first?

I feel so terrible as I also am not sleeping well and am not sure how I’m going to cope until things get better!

[sheila99]

You can get these symptoms from too much oestrogen so I would revert to the previous dose. It's best to change one thing at a time so you know what is causing symptom change.

[Kai_63]

OK thank you. Will try reducing.

[Hurdity]

Hi  Kai

Depending when you stopped the POP, some of those symptoms may well be classic progesterone withdrawal as your body undergoes changes. Progesterone withdrawal is part of classic pms so headaches etc are quite normal. Hopefully this will ease soon. As per sheila I would just change one thing at a time though if you have been on 3 pumps for a while then this has already changed?

If you are not yet post=menopausal then as your body resumes ovulation, if it does, you may well get bleeding at the "wrong" time ie out of sync with the Utrogestan cycle and this may take a few months to settle down.

Keep us posted as to what happens and do keep a diary of how you feel at the different stages of the HRT cycle and as time goes on.

Hurdity x

[Kai_63]

Thank you!

Only a week off pill and two weeks on 3 pumps so going to drop back to 2.5 pumps and see what happens.

Have been feeling very teary and low too so will track all symptoms.

[Kai_63]

Just reporting back on this. Almost two weeks off the mini pill and I feel like myself for the first time in many months (e.g. when I was first put on it).

I assumed my symptoms (low motivation, low mood, lots of crying, some anxiety etc) were down to peri or not being on the right levels of utrogestan and oestrogel but now I think the mini pill has been to blame!

I’m on sequential utrogestan which starts again next week. It will be interesting to see then if the progesterone itself is not agreeing with me or I was just on too high a level of progesterone between Utro and mini pill?

[joziel]

Utrogestan is body identical progesterone, the same hormone your body makes.

Desogestrel is a synthetic manmade progestin which has little in common with utrogestan besides the action on the uterine lining.

It makes total sense that your side effects were due to the desogestrel because these are known side effects of synthetic progestins which women aren't sufficiently informed of when they are put on them. It is much less likely that you will get these side effects from utrogestan although not impossible (some women do get mood changes before periods, often due to natural progesterone being higher then).

[Kai_63]

Thank you, this is so helpful.

Also noticed hyperthyroid symptoms this week (I am hypo normally and take meds).

Wondering if the pill has also affected that. Will speak to the doctor.