I'm 64 and been on HRT for 10yrs, I use the evorel 50 patch and utrogestan 100 for 12 days roughly every 5 weeks cyclical vaginal regime and to be honest I'm getting fed up with it, I've lost quite a bit of weight and my bleeding has changed, darker brown and not such a crampy or painful bleed anymore but I have began bleeding on day 11 this month, I was wondering if I could cut a piece off the evorel 50 patch and carry on with the utrogestan regime reducing the patch over quite some month's. See how I am regarding menopause symptoms and hoping the bleed will not start until I have finished the full 12 days of utrogestan due to the lower oestrogen level. My GP isn't much help and I rarely go except for the yearly review which is with the nurse and she's clueless. My aim is to eventually stop HRT altogether.Any advice is welcome thank you
Hi Goosieloosie! We haven't "spoken" for a long time....
So why are you wanting to stop HRT - is it because you're fed up with the bleeds? I don't blame you!
You mention that you've lost quite a bit of weight and I wonder why you mention this? Is this deliberate weight loss? It shouldn't really affect you that much long term re HRT?
Have you consulted your doc or menopause specialist because if you are worried why you are bleeding earlier (as opposed to being fed up) - then it is legitimate to go to your GP to say your bleeding has changed and hopefully they may request a scan? Any such scan must be timed so it is performed immediately after the bleed to be indicative of anything.
Re rectal use of Utrogestan as sheila says there is no medical evidence as to its efficacy in protecting the endometrium, apart from anecdotal, even though specialists like Louise Newson suggest this in their online advice. It's fine for those that attend her private clinic or any setting where regular monitoring takes place - otherwise it's a shot in the dark as to dose.
Of course it stands to reason that a product which can be absorbed vaginally (after softening of the capsule membrane to release the contents), should be absorbed rectally - but the dosing is guesswork. Aside from the dosing issue there is the physical act of insertion. Products such as Cyclogest have been specifically designed to be insterted vaginally or rectally. If you've never seen them they are quite large, hard waxy capsules, with a slightly pointed end to facilitate insertion - and therefore are pretty easy to sue. Utogestan 100 mg are tiny round balls - and I couldn't imagine trying to insert these - though if women have achieved this successfully and maintained a thin endometrium then great.
All I would say here is that it doesn't appeal to me in the slightest!!!
Have you thought of trying to get hold of Nalvee so you can use Dydrogesterone? Eventually I am hoping to use this and minimise bladder side effects - which always occur when I take Utrogestan.
If you have a scan and all is well, then if your bleeds continue to be slight and only lasting few days, have you considered lengthening your cycle even by a few days (after discussing with your doc) and seeing if your bleeds are still the same? At least the interval between utrogestan cycles would be slightly longer...
Hurdity x
