Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: GypsyRoseLee on June 09, 2015, 04:52:25 PM
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My prescription for Utrogestan says to take 200mg for 12 days per months on days 15-26.
But time and again I see on here that women take 200mg for only 7 days, or 10 days. I have even seen that some women only take 100mg for 7 days per month. I know Prof. Studd mentions this low dose several times on his site too.
Why the difference in dosages. Does I have to take it for the full 12 days because I'm only relatively young (44) and was still having light, but regular, periods before HRT. Though the one withdrawl bleed I've had so far on HRT was very light too.
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I'm no expert on this, but it is something I looked into a little bit when I first started taking it. It seems that what you and I were prescribed is the 'typical' perimenopausal starting dosage. A few people, ie those who are very intolerant, are later prescribed the same dose for fewer days - something which some doctors/specialists are fine with and others won't support. Strangely, I had the opposite problem. Felt great on Utrogestan, but had a horrible dip (miserable, tired, brittle nails and worse hair loss) a few days after I came off it. I wanted to take 100mg for 26 days, as I know some people do, but doctor wouldn't let me whilst still having natural periods regularly. It always surprised me that I liked it so much as I hated the POP. I guess the fact that it's bio-identical - and I took it vaginally - must have made a difference.
Will be interesting to hear others' experiences.
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That's interesting. I only took Utro orally so far.
If you decide to take it vaginally then what do you do about having sex (ahem). Don't answer if you don't want to ;) I'm assuming that the presence of sperm would interfere with it being properly absorbed?
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GypsyRoseLee - you have been given the regime that is licensed under the NHS. Those of us who are taking a different dosage are under private gynaes and may have to pay to have a womb scan on a regular basis to check the lining isn't building up too much. As you are still young you may be still producing some of your own hormones so taking enough progesterone to ensure your womb lining sheds properly is very important.
I would stick with the licensed regime. I don't use Utrogestan vaginally (I don't have any problems using it orally) - I like the fact it gives me a better nights sleep but hopefully someone will be along to advice re sex.
DG x
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That's interesting. I only took Utro orally so far.
If you decide to take it vaginally then what do you do about having sex (ahem). Don't answer if you don't want to ;) I'm assuming that the presence of sperm would interfere with it being properly absorbed?
Genuinely don't mind answering (I remember another thread about 'how to get them up properly' which was so useful!). Luckily, as it was only for half the month, I managed to time things right, so to speak. It does mean you have to be a bit more creative than 'just before bedtime' ::). Of course, you do have the option of taking it orally on occasions when that's not possible!
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Hi Dancinggirl, I intend to stick to the prescribed dose. I was just curious as to why all the different dosages?
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Thanks for being honest Briony ;)
I would actually much prefer to have sex in the morning or afternoon, usually too tired by bedtime. If you have it earlier in the day presumably there's no sperm left by bedtime, to interfere with the Utro?
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Briony if you have been on sequential hrt a year then you can go on to a continuous regime. Well, so I read somewhere and also my doc was happy to prescribe it for me. I now take it every day and it's great
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Thanks for being honest Briony ;)
I would actually much prefer to have sex in the morning or afternoon, usually too tired by bedtime. If you have it earlier in the day presumably there's no sperm left by bedtime, to interfere with the Utro?
That was my thinking too! Check out the article I have just posted. Not usually one to recommend the Daily Mail, but I did find it useful! x
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Briony if you have been on sequential hrt a year then you can go on to a continuous regime. Well, so I read somewhere and also my doc was happy to prescribe it for me. I now take it every day and it's great
Ooooh - that's interesting. I'll invesiagte. Thanks, Nine :)
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:D
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I read this (scroll down) [[http://patient.info/doctor/hrt-follow-up-assessments]]
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Super - really appreciated :)
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Hi Briony
Like Nina, my gp was happy to prescribe utrogestan continually for me, so I have no break at all. I feel much better when taking utro than not basically! I tried going back to a sequi regime but within a week I was a blubbering, anxiety- filled nightmare. Started utro again and within a week I was back on an even keel! I'm 44 too (early meno at 42) and did sequi regime for 18 months before taking utro continuously. I do get breakthrough bleeding still and have has 2 internal scans to see if there's a a prob but apart from a fibroid or two...all is well. X
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Cheers Kittyjay. Really useful to know :)
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Interesting difference in advice from the ref Nina gave on the patient.co.uk website, and this one (ie MM) which says only that if you start HRT while still having periods then wait until age 54 before going onto continuous combined HRT. :-\
I wonder what Dr Currie's view of this is and why the major difference?
Hurdity x
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Interesting difference in advice from the ref Nina gave on the patient.co.uk website, and this one (ie MM) which says only that if you start HRT while still having periods then wait until age 54 before going onto continuous combined HRT. :-\
I wonder what Dr Currie's view of this is and why the major difference?
Hurdity x
Same thought did cross my mind as my GP said wait until I was 54 or until I'd gone for a year without a natural period.
Out of interest, am I right in thinking some people (ie those still having regular periods) take 100 mg Utro for days 1 -26 rather than 1-28 in order to still have a bleed? I am sure I read that on here (from forum members) but can't find any reference to it any more.
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It's not that Briony (ie to uinduce a bleed) - it's just that the licensed dose of continuous combined utrogestan in post-menopause is to take it on days 1-25 - and I'm not sure why this is. http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/postmeno.php . It is presumed that if by any chance the lining has built up a little - then this would allow it to be shed - but in practice most women take it every day and are advised to do so by their docs (those who know about HRT anyway). In most cases there would not be a bleed because 25 days progesterone in post-menopause shpould be sufficient to thin the lining but this will also depend on the oestrogen dose - it may not be enough with higher oestrogen doses. In practice the Days 1-25 utrogestan is intended as a no-bleed HRT.
Hurdity x
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Thanks Hurdity, that makes sense now. I had often wondered! X