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Author Topic: Stopped progesterone for few days libido increased  (Read 1354 times)

Bridget

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Stopped progesterone for few days libido increased
« on: June 22, 2025, 02:02:42 PM »

Hi due to being away and lazy about my prescription I ran out of Utrogestan and my libido significantly increased from pretty low .  Have others experienced similar I wonder ? I’m prescribed 100 mg nightly wonder could I reduce this.  Thanks I’m 70
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bombsh3ll

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Re: Stopped progesterone for few days libido increased
« Reply #1 on: June 22, 2025, 03:41:21 PM »

Progesterone does lower libido, this is a natural phenomenon as from a biological point of view there is no reproductive advantage to us being horny when there is no potential to conceive ie when we are already pregnant, or during the luteal please when the egg released in that cycle has already been spent.

You could choose a cyclical regime, although the dose taken sequentially is typically double the dose used continuously.

Alternatively you could consider adding testosterone replacement.

What you must not do if you are on a clinically meaningful dose of estrogen, is just reduce your progesterone without medical supervision, as this could lead to unwanted bleeding and potentially threaten your prescription.
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sheila99

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Re: Stopped progesterone for few days libido increased
« Reply #2 on: June 22, 2025, 05:32:58 PM »

I don't think you can reduce it safely. Newson used to say you could use it every other day if used vaginally but now she doesn't presumably because they found it was insufficient. You could try testosterone which has sorted out the libido problem for me (zero without it)
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bombsh3ll

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Re: Stopped progesterone for few days libido increased
« Reply #3 on: June 22, 2025, 07:13:10 PM »

I think Louise Newson like other specialists is still happy for her own patients to take a reduced dose on an individualised basis if clinically appropriate and with regular ultrasound scans to check their endometrium is healthy.

However I believe she has stopped talking about this openly as women were hearing it and reducing their doses without any monitoring or clinical supervision, which is a different situation and can over time lead to problems with bleeding and hyperplasia.
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Bridget

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Re: Stopped progesterone for few days libido increased
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2025, 07:50:41 AM »

Thank you all, it’s given me a thought  to perhaps consider coming off HRT . I’ve also reduced Escitalopram to 5 mg so I’m aware this could be helping with the Libido too.  My excellent Gp is on leave At present.  I’ll continue with the Utrogestan  picking up meds today.  Can I cut my 50 mg patch do you think with view to titrsting down

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bombsh3ll

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Re: Stopped progesterone for few days libido increased
« Reply #5 on: June 23, 2025, 02:24:23 PM »

Absolutely you can trim down your patch with clean sharp scissors if you want to reduce slowly.

I would suggest leaving the 50mcg patches on your prescription for the time being in case reducing or coming off doesn't work out for you.

That way you leave your options open and potentially avoid a battle to get treatment reinstated after stopping, particularly at 70.
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Shorty Pants

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Re: Stopped progesterone for few days libido increased
« Reply #6 on: June 24, 2025, 08:24:54 AM »

This is a timely post to read!  I've just (finally) had my 4th mirena removed.  My libido was going down and down, but hey 'menopause'...  ::)

It's only been 4 days, but my libido is back! I know I'm very sensitive to progesterone anyway and had terrible side effects with the mini pill years ago, but my friend and I did used to joke that progesterone is a fantastic contraceptive, as it makes you not want any sex anyway! 😆
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