Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: peri on April 23, 2014, 03:32:35 PM
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Hi girls, yippee my GP has given me utrogestan today. I went back to see her after being on evorel sequi for 3 months and told her I'm great on the oestrogen part but didn't like the progesterone part (noresthisterone) as it gave me low mood and constant nausea. I also asked for some vagifem which she gave me so feeling pretty happy as I was assertive and asked for what I wanted and she didn't quibble - yaay.
My question is this: I see from the girls on here there seems to be less side effects if I take it vaginally rather than orally (I didn't tell the GP this was my intention!) do I just insert it before I go to bed and will it just melt/be absorbed during the night time?
Thank you for your help and advice x
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Hi peri
Glad you have a helpful GP who will let you have what you ask for!
Re side effects - why not try it orally first to see how you get on - as you may find you can tolerate this progesterone better than the synthetic norethisterone?
Yes you just insert it before going to bed (or in bed!), and it is absorbed overnight. It is a little leaky so I wear a panty-liner too.
What oestrogen are you on - have you been given Evorel 50 or something similar? Also will you be taking it for 12 days per month? You can get away with less if you use it vaginally as more is absorbed eg 10 days (depnding on how your bleeds are of course).
Good luck with it!
Hurdity :)
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Yes you just pop it in, it kind of dissolves overnight and when you have a wee next morning, some of the shell comes out but most of it is absorbed. I find that vaginally is the only way that works for me.
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Can I confirm with the ladies that use it vaginally, exactly how far up do you push the utrogestan!! Sorry for being so blunt but I think I may be getting it wrong somewhere :-\
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Not too deep in, just through the entrance so to speak... ;D
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Thanks for all your kind replies. Yes Hurdity I'm on evorel 50 which is suiting me. I'm tempted to try the vaginal route especially if I only have to do 10 days. Periods have been getting lighter since I started on evorel which I prefer. They were really heavy and prolonged on prempak c (i have a copper coil) although they could just be getting lighter because I'm getting further into menopause. Xx
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Haha Cassie!
Meeka - Actually I push mine up as far as I can get it, and (TMI warning...) with my longest finger (!). (Thinking I need to get it as close to the cervix as I can so that more of it gets into the uterine cavity before it leaks out!
Hurdity x
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Not too deep in, just through the entrance so to speak... ;D
Well if that way works i'm going to give it a try Cassie....Ive been using the 100mg for seven days and although I am feeling a bit tired most afternoons, seem to be coping OK. Going to keep using it for the 12 days this time.
I was applying the same technique as Hurdity ;D but I find the remains of the capsule have to be douched out!
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So what makes you think you're doing something wrong Meeka? :-\
I have never ever douched and never will! I wouldn't have thought that was a good idea re the Utrogestan - it is designed to just dissolve and eventually any remnants will pee out as Cassie ( and I) have found, or come out as discharge. I would say it all needs to be in there soaking in naturally, as the dosage is designed for it to do - otherwise you may be getting less - and especially as you were using a lower than recommended dose?
Hurdity x
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So what makes you think you're doing something wrong Meeka? :-\
I have never ever douched and never will! I wouldn't have thought that was a good idea re the Utrogestan - it is designed to just dissolve and eventually any remnants will pee out as Cassie ( and I) have found, or come out as discharge. I would say it all needs to be in there soaking in naturally, as the dosage is designed for it to do - otherwise you may be getting less - and especially as you were using a lower than recommended dose?
Hurdity x
Well I presumed the white bits that are left are the shell?? , as the shell is white ? I have never cut one open so not sure what is inside the capsule. I think I will try and see...
I was just a bit concerned with what is happening if all this capsule stays in the vagina for a while.....can it cause any problems?, Have the long term effects of using it vaginally been studied. I don't seem to see any of mine unless I douche. I think maybe this is why I don't get a bleed....maybe I have been washing it all out :o I will stop it and see how things go.
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As they say... do not scratch if it aint itching... let things be, dont douche! The white bits left behind that generally come out in your first wee of the morning do appear to be bits of the outer shell, but they are harmless, I have been using this for years and have never had any adverse reactions, in fact, I get less thrush and other funnies now, than I ever did. I checked it out last night, I only push it in as far as the first joint in my middle finger.. not high up, it doesnt fall out as I am in bed and by morning it is mostly absorbed, now and then I feel a bit seeping out just before I get up but it generally all stays where it should do.. you will be fine but douching is not a good idea :)
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Thanks Cassie.....I'm feeling anxious at the moment so i'm guessing this is just something else that I'm worrying too much about ::)
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Meeka - you won't have been washing it all out but you could have been reducing the amount of progesterone around! Definitely stop! Don't worry!
Mine would definitely fall out if I didn't push it up as far as it will go - and I expect this will depend on how many pregnancies you've had or not - I've had four so a bit looser down there ;D. I still think more will get to the cervix the closer it is - but if you are OK with how you do it Cassie then must be OK!
Hurdity x
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Too tight thats my problem, only had caesars :D
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Just wanted to update that I got my bleed this month. YAY!!
I did the 12 days of 100mg vaginally and it has worked better for me.....
I think using it vaginally is the way to go for me, less side effects...
I still have vertigo , had this for a while and coincidentally it started after taking 200mg orally for 10 days, not sure if that was the cause.
Re; the question how far into the vagina to push the utrogestan.....I think just about 4cm is ok for me. I was putting it near the cervix originally but even my nurse has had trouble locating my cervix for smear testing in the past, LOL.....apparently mine is quite far up!! I was wondering what was happening because I never saw any of the tablet drop out!!
Anyways, I am happy that It was worked out this time for me.....thanks ladies for all your advice...
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That's good to hear.
I've always just pushed it in, with my middle finger, as far as it will go. I've never measured it, but my middle finger measures about 7cm (about 3 inches), so I guess that's how far mine goes in.
I've never actually seen any intact pieces of the casing/tablet come out, but there is usually a small amount of white "speckles" in my first wee of the day.
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Re utrogestan
Hi girl, just posted on another thread about this so sorry for the repeat but just wanted to say I have just completed first month of utrogestan vaginally and had good results. It's my fourth hrt regime and definitely the best in terms of least side effects. In fact the only side effects I am having are small vertigo dos and night sweats so compared with how I've been in the past that's a real result x
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200mg Utrogestan made me feel bizarre too. I'm on 100 now. They gave me the tablets as it theoretically helps with sleep, which is a major thing for me. (The vaginal one obviously doesn't).
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It does with me though - I sleep much deeper when on the Utrogestan part of the cycle and find it hard to wake up - some of it gets through even when used vaginally - but a lot less of course!
Hurdity x