Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Mandyjw on June 12, 2018, 01:03:36 PM
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Hi everyone just joined after reading so many posts for over 2 days!
I'm 54 in August I went to my GP last week armed with info on the HRT I wanted.
My last period was 26th March this year, since then I've nose dived with the night sweats insomnia etc so I'm guessing that was probably my last one.
Luckily my boss see's Prof Studd and told me what he prescribes my GP was fine with giving me both Estrogel and utrogestan but she struggled to find it on her list, she had never heard of it! I asked for testosterone but she sent me for a blood test which showed my T at 0.2 and FSH 6.5 I have to go back to the Drs next week to discuss these results. I don't know if the T level is normal or low.
Can anyone advise me on doses I've applied the gel last night on inner thighs 1 pump im not sure what I do with the utrogestan as my last period was only in March it says on the box days 1-25 of cycle and they are 100mg, when do I start them?
After reading on here I will do them
Vaginally.
Also I'm going on holiday July 14th for 2 weeks so advice on timing the bleed to avoid those dates pls?
Many thanks
Mandy x
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Hi and welcome to MM
Here is the link on this site that tells you how to take the Utrogestan:
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/to_progestogens.php
The day you start the Oestrogel is DAY ONE. You use the Oestrogel every day and use the Utrogestan on days 15-26 inclusive and you should then get a bleed soon after finishing the Utrogestan. Its not good to chop and change the regime too much but you may be able to slightly increase the days of Oestrogel alone to fit in around your holiday. You are still peri menopause so you own hormones may well do the occasional surge and this can result in fluctuations so be aware of this. It will take 3-6 months for things to settle.
You will need to use 2 Utrogestan capsules per night.
Good luck. DG x
I wouldn't worry about Testosterone at this stage - it is not essential for every women/
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Many thanks DG
My box says 1 daily on days 15-26 should I do 2?
Thx M
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You may be able to do one per day but if you look at the recommended dosage on this site, it is 200mg per day. Using it vaginally I think you can use one capsule per day but you should probably to have a scan annually to check the womb lining is remaining thin enough - the NHS are unlikely to do regular scans so you might need to pay privately for scans. Using Utrogestan orally you would need 2 capsules per day.
DG x
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Mandyjw, like your boss, I am a patient of Professor Studd and was prescribed 100mg Utrogestan for 7 days each month used vaginally. Do you know how much your boss takes?
It is an ongoing debate as to how much Utrogestan is needed to get adequate thinning and clearance and it depends on how well you tolerate progesterone - everyone is different. Most women get adequate clearance on a low dose but some will need more and you won't know for sure until you have a scan. The high dose recommended is a 'catch all' and aimed and women who never have uterine scans. I take a very low dose because I am progesterone intolerant and literally can't take any more than that but I do have regular uterine scans with my gynaecologist. If you use it vaginally then 100mg for 12 days would be enough and about the equivalent of taking 200mg orally because you lose up to 50% of it in your digestive system.
My advice is try it and see how well you get on with it.
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Thanks ladies 🙏🏻
Mary G my boss has a merina coil now so just does the gel and T.
I'm dreading it, I'm not gonna lie!
My periods were horrendous the last 8 or so years having to take Tranaxamic Acid to clot the flow
Being totally in the dark about HRT I didn't even realise you had to go back to periods- I could cry! 😪
I'll try the lower dose and see how I get on and maybe ask for a referral to a Gynaecologist/Menopause clinic via the GP and see if I can get scans that way? If not I'll have to pay, how do you go about getting scanned privately?
Thanks M x
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Mandyjw - you could consider a Mirena if you don't want periods. Do try the HRT combo you have been given and see how things go - it may well be fine. Don't expect problems, the anxiety will make things worse. Also remember it can take up to 3 months for the body to settle and full benefits to be felt.
Just take the regime as I described and you shouldn't need a scan. Keep us posted and I hope you enjoy feeling better once the HRT starts to help. DG x
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Hey DG!
Thanks again for a reply.
I did have the Mirena coil for a few months about 10 years ago after months of very light periods I was getting bigger and bigger almost pregnant like and I'm a slim person it was just my tummy, so I had it taken out, then oh my god 😲 I was in A&E on a drip the blood was pouring out of me. From there I was offered a hysterectomy but I was in my 40's and felt I was too young to have that done- so I suffered the horrendous periods with medication😪
So, a new chapter in my life begins I'm sure it'll be fine once I get my head round how it'll work and hopefully no weight gain 😧
I'm just hoping I can work this around going away on July 14th it doesn't leave me much time as the first bleed will be early July I'm going long haul so don't want the dreaded period during those 9 hours.
Many thanks again
M x
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If you are going away there is no harm is playing around with the dates and cutting it a bit short if you need to, I've done it loads of times. Remember you have to allow for the number of days you are taking it, anything up to a 6 day gap and then a 5 day bleed. That is probably worst case scenario, well it is for me anyway.
Re scans, Mothercare do uterine scans and there will be other places that do them in your area, might be worth a Google?
Good luck!
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❤️ thank you
Just googled Mothercare and found a clinic 10 mins from home x
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Hi again sorry 😐 me over thinking utrogestan again!
So my first day on Estrogel was June 6th and I'm going to take 100mg of utrogestan vaginally for 12 days this month so is this right..
Start utrogestan on June 20th till 1 July then start it again 20th July and so on.... continuous gel everyday
Can I leave longer then every 20th of the month or should I stick to that? I may have to leave longer for next month as I don't travel back from holiday until July 28th.
I'm feeling very good on 1 pump a day of Estrogel sleeping with no nights sweats now
Sorry I'm sounding very thick 🙈 but I just need an idiots guide I don't want to get it wrong
Thx again M x
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Great to hear things are improving already. What you have stated in your last post sounds fine, an extra few days of Oestrogel only will be OK. DG x
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Hi I take 100mg of UTrogestan for 12 days a month, and have an annual scan, working well so far, you can extend past the 4 week mark now and then, if needs be, I have done so in the past, although one is supposed to start the Utrogestan on the same day every month, I often forget and when I look again I am a week past when I should have started.
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Thank you again 🙏🏻
I'll post again with an update later,
in the meantime I'll keep reading x
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If you are only taking 1 pump a day of the gel you might be able to get away with a longer cycle of progesterone, although if your last period was only March and you had quite a few recently before that, then your own cycle may well kick in to mess your cycle around a bit anyway? Do make sure you make any changes under medical supervision - or at least have a regular scan and tell your doc.
The Days 1-25 of cycle is for post-menopausal women and allows for a small withdrawal bleed if necessary on the 3 days off. It might also work in late peri if you prefer to take it (the prog/Utro) more of the time (most of us don't!).
Hurdity x
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Thanks Hurdity
I'm up to my ears with hormones this week! Along with me and the HRT polava my 15 year old daughter has today been scanned and diagnosed with PCOS and a Hemorrhagic Ovarian Cyst😢
I could 😢 cry!
Anyway - onwards and upwards chin up shoulders back!
Thank you all x
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Sorry to hear about your daughter Mandyjw - she will need your support!
Hurdity x
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Hi all
Just an update:
I'm doing well on the 1 pump a day seems to have cured all symptoms.
Yesterday 1st July I started The Utrogestan vaginally, 100mgs will I get away with using it for 7 days or should I go for 12 for the first round?
And should I up the gel when taking the utrogestan or should it be balanced enough?
Thanks in advance
Mandy
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Hi MandyjW
Thankls for the update. Some members who use the gel do increase their dose when taking the progesterone part of their cycle because they find flushes can return but I've never done this as I have a patch and it doesn't seem to make any difference to my general symptoms ( ie adding the prog). Personally I would start with the 12 days - after all it is still only half the licensed amount - notwithstanding that used vaginally it is suggested that half the dose can be effective compared to oral use. See what sort of bleed you get after a couple of months or so.
Ah I've just seen from you previous posts that you're going away on 14th so in this case you might want to cut it shorter this first month to get most of your bleed over with! Hopefully the bleed won't be too heavy and you can catch up next month and take the full 12 days?
Hurdity x
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Thanks Hurdity
Stupidly I've given the wrong holiday date 😂it's actually August 14th 🙄I'll go with 12 days as advised and see what occurs
Thanks again and I'll update in 12 or so days - hope I don't get a big fat bloated tummy in the meantime 🙏🏻
Mandy xx
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Hi
Can I just have some advice pls!
I started my utrogestan 100mgs vaginally on the 1 July all going well so far no side effects.
This morning it looks like my bleed is
starting
I was going for the 12 days then stop, should I carry on taking it or stop it from tonight.
Thanks Mandy
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Keep using the utrogestan for the full 12 days. You may find that in the first few months the bleed isn't consistent but it's important to have progesterone for enough days each month to ensure a proper shedding on the womb lining.
DG x
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Thank you 😊 x
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Update on progress:
So the tiny bleed I mentioned earlier stopped that day and amounted to nothing - carried on with the utrogestan for the 12 days.
Period started yesterday was ok but today is a different story!
Ive got the bleed from hell 😱 and terrible cramps took 2 paracetamol and 2 ibruprofen about 8.30 this morning and I've just about got rid of the pain and got my phone!
Safe to say I think the 100mgs vaginally is working a treat! Hope it eases off by the end of today, are periods a bit shorter on HRT as my normal ones went on for 7/8 days
Thanks Mandy x
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Everyone experiences the withdrawal bleeds differently. The bleed should last as long as is needed to fully shed the lining. If you are a high dose of oestrogen then bleeds can be heavier. I had awful cramps with the withdrawal bleed (the cramps got worse as the years went by as I think my uterus didn't like being stimulated) and this was one of the reasons I eventually stopped hrt.
The Mirena worked best for me as I didn't have bleeds and there were no cramps. Hopefully things will settle.
DG x
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Thanks DG
I'm only on 1 pump a day
Yeah I guess we are all different I'm glad it's worked so well at this low dose I could always change and take it continuously I suppose if I get fed up with the bleeding it's early days for me atm so I'll just plod along.
Got a holiday in 4 weeks time so not sure the best way to tackle that do I miss the utrogestan on August 1st for 12 days and just sort it when I'm home or is that too long to go?
M x
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I can't really advice regarding changing the cycle. I believe you could bring utro forward a bit or start the utro a few days later. DG x
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Morning everyone!
Just another update:
So, I was in a dilemma about what to do with utrogestan this month as I'm going on holiday next Tuesday (14th)
I decided I'd need to take it before I went but I didn't want to take the 12 days for obvious reasons so I decided to start it on July 30th for 10 days.
I started - but after day 5 I forgot to take it 😳 couldn't afford to mess anymore with extra days so left it at that and hoped for the best 😂
Well I'm pleased to say after 3 days of a light bleed it's kicked in overnight and I've got the heavy bit! I get on ok with it actually and kind of like the utro bit 🤣🙈 and I looove the fact I'm now in control of when I get a period 👍🏼 I'm on 1 pump of EstroGel a day also.
So, just another update for anyone on utrogestan.
Have a lovely day! It's now raining here and a normal temperature 😉
Mandy x
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Hi Mandyjw - glad it seems to have sorted itself out for you - also that you are fine on the prog (Utro) phase!!! When you are post-menopausal you can control when you have a bleed but this is less predictable when you are peri-menopausal. Hopefully now that you've had you bleed you will be OK while on hols. I presume you counted the start of your bleed as Day 1 again so will start the Utrogestan at the appropriate time ( was it Day 15 or 16 or something like that?).
Hurdity x
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Hi Hurdity
I had a very short time between these 2 periods I actually started the utro on July 1 (that was my first time using it) and took it for 12 days, that would have taken me to Aug 1st but didn't want to take 12 days worth making the bleed arrive the day I went away. And my bleed is “very goodâ€! I'll start again on September 1st but not sure 1 need 12 days worth so may carry on with 7 days from now and scan around December time. Does that sound ok? And advice welcome
Mandy x
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The licensed dose is 12 days per cycle so you shouldn't really shorten this to 7 days without medical supervision. This is the amount SOME private gynaes (eg Studd) prescribe for severly progesterone intolerant women, but close attention will need to be paid to any signs of abnormal bleeding to ensure no overthickening. If your doc says it's OK to use for only 7 days then fine.
Hurdity x
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Thanks ladies, I'll post up in a few weeks with another update
Mandy x