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[lilbebel]

Hello ladies,

In my previous post, I had been trying to stop postmenopausal bleeding. Everything was checked out and it’s just a HRT imbalance. Anyway, I increased my dose of Utrogestan and everything stopped bleeding for almost a month. I didn’t take my progesterone last night. I woke up this morning and I’m having a full period like bleed. I’m thinking I may fare better doing a cyclical regimen. My reasons are two; my body seems to want to bleed anyway so I may as well let it, and the higher dose of progesterone was making me very depressed. I may consider the coil, but I’m reluctant because I don’t like the idea of having something in me that I can’t remove if I get depressed from it. I have some questions.

1. For those in post menopause, do you keep your oestrogen patch on for the time that you are not taking progesterone?

2. How quickly does your withdrawal bleed begin and last after stopping taking your progesterone?

3. Do you do two weeks on 200 mg progesterone and two weeks off or do you use a different schedule?

4. I noticed my mood is much better this morning after stopping progesterone for only one night and starting a bleed. Do any of you experience something similar? Improved mood when you’re not using the progesterone?

Obviously, I will discuss with my gynaecologist too, but I’m very interested to hear feedback from other women who are progesterone sensitive and get on well with the cyclical regimen in Postmenopause. Many thanks in advance.

[sheila99]

I use a 6 week cycle, 2x100mg utro x either 10 or 12 days (depending on how dopey I am). They told me there's a slightly higher risk of endometrial cancer this way but I prefer that to being permanently doped. I bleed a day or 2 after stopping utro. Oestrogen all the time.

[chopsuey]

I take Utro vaginally days 1-14 plus Oestrogel, then just Oestrogel for the remainder of the month. Bleed normally starts on the third day after stopping Utro and can last around a week, with just a brown discharge for the last few days.

Utro knocked me out orally, so have to take vaginally. Don't think I could take it for more days, as it does irritate my bladder but it doesn't seem to affect my mood or anything else, taken that way. I only take 100mg though and will need to get a scan done.

Specialist would have preferred me to take Utro continually by now but this is the only way I can tolerate it and for many reasons, I don't want a coil either.

[lilbebel]

I use a 6 week cycle, 2x100mg utro x either 10 or 12 days (depending on how dopey I am). They told me there's a slightly higher risk of endometrial cancer this way but I prefer that to being permanently doped. I bleed a day or 2 after stopping utro. Oestrogen all the time.

Thank you for your reply. Much appreciated. Do you notice that you are more clearheaded and feel like yourself on the days that you do not take progesterone? If yes, Is the difference noticeable quickly?

[lilbebel]

I take Utro vaginally days 1-14 plus Oestrogel, then just Oestrogel for the remainder of the month. Bleed normally starts on the third day after stopping Utro and can last around a week, with just a brown discharge for the last few days.

Utro knocked me out orally, so have to take vaginally. Don't think I could take it for more days, as it does irritate my bladder but it doesn't seem to affect my mood or anything else, taken that way. I only take 100mg though and will need to get a scan done.

Specialist would have preferred me to take Utro continually by now but this is the only way I can tolerate it and for many reasons, I don't want a coil either.

Thank you for sharing your experience. This is helpful. Do you notice that your mood is better and you feel more like yourself on the days when you are not taking the progesterone?

[chopsuey]

No, it doesn't seem to affect my mood or energy levels taken vaginally, just local irritation/soreness. Whether it would if I took 200 mg, I don't know. But oral was awful - felt worse than not taking HRT, a complete zombie and got worse with every dose.

[lilbebel]

No, it doesn't seem to affect my mood or energy levels taken vaginally, just local irritation/soreness. Whether it would if I took 200 mg, I don't know. But oral was awful - felt worse than not taking HRT, a complete zombie and got worse with every dose.

Thank you. I’m sorry you felt so bad on the oral progesterone. I am exactly the same. Cannot tolerate it.
What I’m realising as I Journal my days on higher doses of progesterone. It seems to get worse each day. I was taking 100 mg vaginally and seemed to be doing okay. My doctor upped my dose to stop breakthrough bleeding and it hasn’t stopped the bleeding and tanked my mood.

[chopsuey]

It can be very difficult when you are prog intolerant. Might be worth trying a cyclical regime to give your body a break, especially if you feel the progesterone builds up in your body. Some people say they eventually get used to it. I've been on my regime for nearly three years but am always relieved when it gets to day 15 and I can just take Oestrogel on it's own again.

I've not had any breakthrough bleeding and my specialist wasn't too worried about whether I was taking enough Utro, as I was having a regular bleed in the correct pattern. Guidelines have tightened up a bit now and do recommend higher doses of prog if you are on higher doses of oestrogen (4 pumps in my case), so I do need to sort out a scan, as I'm not under anyone now.

[lilbebel]

It can be very difficult when you are prog intolerant. Might be worth trying a cyclical regime to give your body a break, especially if you feel the progesterone builds up in your body. Some people say they eventually get used to it. I've been on my regime for nearly three years but am always relieved when it gets to day 15 and I can just take Oestrogel on it's own again.

I've not had any breakthrough bleeding and my specialist wasn't too worried about whether I was taking enough Utro, as I was having a regular bleed in the correct pattern. Guidelines have tightened up a bit now and do recommend higher doses of prog if you are on higher doses of oestrogen (4 pumps in my case), so I do need to sort out a scan, as I'm not under anyone now.

I think you’re absolutely right. And I do feel like it builds up in my system. I haven’t taken any now in 36 hours and I feel like me. It’s unbelievable the difference. I don’t have this heavy lethargic malaise in my body and my mind is clear and I’m not horribly depressed. It really is crazy. It was that bad. I’m going to give this cyclical approach a go. Yes, I’ll still have difficult days every month but at least it won’t be every day of my life. I’ll get a break which will give me the strength to get through the tough days. Thank you so much for sharing. It’s been very helpful. I wish you the best.

[chopsuey]

Definitely worth trying cyclical but I think if you are that sensitive to natural progesterone and you've tried synthetics (not ideal I know but sometimes you have to weigh up all the options) then perhaps see if you can get an assurance from your doctor that they would remove a Mirena coil pronto if it was intolerable, if that is your main concern with it. I would hope that given the severity of your mental health issues from this, they would be agreeable to that.

I wish you good luck with it all.

[jayneaddo]

I too have had lots of breakthrough bleeding and considered the cyclical route but my gynaecologist refused as so long past menopause. I am very progesterone intolerant and the mirena was horrendous only lasted 3 days. I take femosten conti tablets 1/5 a much gentler progesterone

[lilbebel]

Definitely worth trying cyclical but I think if you are that sensitive to natural progesterone and you've tried synthetics (not ideal I know but sometimes you have to weigh up all the options) then perhaps see if you can get an assurance from your doctor that they would remove a Mirena coil pronto if it was intolerable, if that is your main concern with it. I would hope that given the severity of your mental health issues from this, they would be agreeable to that.

I wish you good luck with it all.

Thank you. Yes, that is my main concern. I would need to know they would remove it without delay if I had a poor mental health response.

[lilbebel]

I too have had lots of breakthrough bleeding and considered the cyclical route but my gynaecologist refused as so long past menopause. I am very progesterone intolerant and the mirena was horrendous only lasted 3 days. I take femosten conti tablets 1/5 a much gentler progesterone

Sorry you also suffer from progesterone intolerance. I’m glad they removed the Mirena quickly for you and that you found a treatment that is more gentle on your mental health.

[sheila99]

I use a 6 week cycle, 2x100mg utro x either 10 or 12 days (depending on how dopey I am). They told me there's a slightly higher risk of endometrial cancer this way but I prefer that to being permanently doped. I bleed a day or 2 after stopping utro. Oestrogen all the time.

Thank you for your reply. Much appreciated. Do you notice that you are more clearheaded and feel like yourself on the days that you do not take progesterone? If yes, Is the difference noticeable quickly?

I've never been on conti so normal for me is not on it. It takes several days to feel at my worst and clears 2-3 days after stopping. I don't notice a difference between 100 and 200mg but it was noticeably worse with my own progesterone too.

[lilbebel]

I use a 6 week cycle, 2x100mg utro x either 10 or 12 days (depending on how dopey I am). They told me there's a slightly higher risk of endometrial cancer this way but I prefer that to being permanently doped. I bleed a day or 2 after stopping utro. Oestrogen all the time.

Thank you for your reply. Much appreciated. Do you notice that you are more clearheaded and feel like yourself on the days that you do not take progesterone? If yes, Is the difference noticeable quickly?

I've never been on conti so normal for me is not on it. It takes several days to feel at my worst and clears 2-3 days after stopping. I don't notice a difference between 100 and 200mg but it was noticeably worse with my own progesterone too.

Thank you.