Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[flo69]

I keep reading contradictory views on transdermal progesterone. They range from "There's no such thing and it's never even been trialled", to, "of course it works, it's in Evorel Conti and other brands too".

I'm intolerant to any progestin I've tried orally or vaginally, so I'd like to try a transdermal route as I read it has fewer side effects.

Can anyone help me understand transdermal progestins? They exist, right?

[bombsh3ll]

Yes you can get norethisterone in the combined patch.

It is a synthetic progestin and like anything some people do really well with it, others have side effects.

Micronised progesterone "body identical" is a large molecule and difficult to get across the skin in meaningful quantities.

There are multiple products containing this and you can also have it made up by a compounding pharmacy.

However transdermal micronised progesterone creams cannot be relied on to protect the endometrium if taking estrogen, due to its poor absorption.

If you are looking to get a clinically meaningful dose of micronised progesterone into the bloodstream directly without going through the gut, I would suggest the vaginal route.

[AKatieD]

There are two ( that I know of) prescription only micronised progesterones (not progestogens) that are used vaginally, Cyclogest and Crinone.

They have not had the testing for use in menopause (tested for use in for fertility) that other progesterones/ progestogens have and so some doctors are reluctant to prescribe them, even though they are body identical. They are also a bit more expensive so the NHS not keen.

[bombsh3ll]

Utrogestan 100mg capsules can also be used vaginally (off label but accepted by relevant professional bodies).

Utrogestan 200mg capsules are labelled for vaginal use.

[Mary G]

I used bespoke compounded progesterone for a few years and it was excellent.  The 50mg lozenges gave good endometrium protection and my uterine scans always came out at about 3mm.  Side effects were zero which was very good.  The downside is it's expensive and you need a lot of tests and consultations.  They now have transdermal products which are also very effective.

Unfortunately I had to stop using it because they could no longer post it to me due to Brexit and the problems that the UK now has exporting to the EU. 

[bombsh3ll]

I am sure a cyclogest pessary (I only ever saw 200mg ones as an IVF patient, unsure if other doses exist) could be halved or quartered with a sharp knife for dose customisation as it is a waxy consistency throughout, not a capsule.

[Mary G]

I am sure a cyclogest pessary (I only ever saw 200mg ones as an IVF patient, unsure if other doses exist) could be halved or quartered with a sharp knife for dose customisation as it is a waxy consistency throughout, not a capsule.

Cyclogest is easy to cut.  I buy it in Spain (it's not expensive by the way) and it comes in 400mg doses so I cut it into 50mg doses which is enough for me because it's quite strong. I use it every now and again to boost the Darstin gel. 

[flo69]

Cyclogest is easy to cut.  I buy it in Spain (it's not expensive by the way) and it comes in 400mg doses so I cut it into 50mg doses which is enough for me because it's quite strong. I use it every now and again to boost the Darstin gel.

Is Darstin gel the name of the progesterone gel you use?

I tried utrogestan vaginally; bad irritation, disturbed sleep, low mood
Then cyclogest vaginally; very low mood which was disheartening as I'd fought so hard to get either of those and they both were a hundred times worse than menopause on its own.
I was refused Crinone at the same time, didn't bother to fight that one, as I say, I really cannot tolerate oral or vaginal progestins, even when the advertisers say they are identical to my own.

[Mary G]

Cyclogest is easy to cut.  I buy it in Spain (it's not expensive by the way) and it comes in 400mg doses so I cut it into 50mg doses which is enough for me because it's quite strong. I use it every now and again to boost the Darstin gel.

Is Darstin gel the name of the progesterone gel you use?

Yes, it's called Darstin and it's manufactured by SEID in Barcelona.  It's very good stuff and I don't have any side effects.  Each measure provides 10mg of progesterone.