Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Tinkerbellj on August 08, 2018, 01:42:39 PM
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Has anyone tried taking just progesterone? My consultant has recently recommended I take uterogesterone every day. She prescribed everol 75 patches bit I found these useless and went back to oestrogel. But when I take the progesterone I feel calmer and have less joint pains etc. The sweats come when I apply the oestrogen gel. So I have beem researching wellsprongs progesterone only gel. Any ideas / advice welcome please
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I used Wellsprings progesterone cream for a couple of years before I saw a hormone specialist. I'm not sure if it helped or not, but it didn't hinder. The first 2 days i used it I felt terrible. Dead, could barely move or think. Then I was fine. But I have no idea how well it absorbed. It's a bit greasy.
You could use Utrogestan vaginally too if you wanted an NHS option. I'm currently using Utrogestan vaginally every other night and so far I think it's fine.
Perhaps you need less gel?
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I take progesterone only and have just discovered Ona's Natural which I can highly recommend. They have all different strengths and packs to personalise it to your own neeeds.
Previously I took a compounded cream which was also good but I'm actually preferring Onas now.
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I've been taking Cerazette (POP) since Dec 2016 to counteract excessive bleeding. I've only had two bleeds while taking it and feel generally much calmer than before
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Thanks ladies. I think I will try to reduce the oesteogen and keep using the utrogesterone vaginally. The progesterone makes me very bloated and makes me eat like a horse. I habe put on lb in four days..hopong this settles down as I have just lost 17lb and it was bloody hard lol xx
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Is there a way that you could open the little ball and use half a dose each day? I heard some do use a pin to squeeze it out of the capsule.
The hunger and bloatedness could be from too high a dose, although it's worth giving it a week to check if it calms down as there is a short adaption period.
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Oh thats a good idea. Thanks !!! I can't keep my eyes open today sooo tired!!!
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Where are you in menopause Tinkerbellj? OTC progesterone cream is only very low dose and probably doesn't do very much. In HIGH doses, progesterone and some progestogens (MPA) can be used to treat hot flushes but usually the dose is too high to be tolerated by most women. The actual progesterone dose for shown to be effective is I think (off the top of my head!) 300 mg per day - but I doubt many women would want to (or would tolerate) this much daily. I can't remember whether this was vaginal or oral intake. Taken this way it is used as a drug not to replace progesterone, and of course if you don't take oestrogen other symptoms may become apparent the further you go into menopause, including some long term.
If you're going to open up them balls and squeeze little bits out - then be sure you are not using it for endometrial protection (ie aong with oestrogen) as it will be insufficient!
Hurdity x
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Thanks hurdity xxx I am 49 and I still had regular periods when aged 46 and with a six week old baby I was told I was menopausal. I asumed they meant peri!! Yes the progesterone is to protect as I still have womb etc. I just feel rubbish on every type of hrt!! I think I must be nearing full menopause cuz my period doesn't come now until I stop the progesterone. My consultant suggested taking the progesterone 100mg every day but whereas it makes me feel less on edge it alao makes me bloated sleepy and permanently hungry!!!!! X
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Tinkerbell I same the same - at 46 - the daily progesterone makes me bloated, sleepy and hungry - but when I asked about cyclical to my GP she just said no as I am post menopausal... :-\
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It is your choice whether or not to take cyclical HRT so if you want to take it post-menopausal or not then your GP should provide it or go to another doctor. Provided you give your reasons (eg progestogenic side effects all the time) it's your right to choose the preparation you feel would suit you best (as long as no medical reason why not).
Hurdity x
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Ok so using the progesterone 100mg every night is still killing me. Could I apply 200mg on my skin at night?? Then lead up to vaginally? I am really worried as I still have my womb so need to use it but it kills me ans it seems I need quite a high dose oestrogen! Xx
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Why don't you just switch to vaginally straight away?
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At the beginning of the thread you asked about progesterone only, as recommended by your doctor. If the prog was making you feel better but now it's not, are you sure it's not the oestrogen?
Some women's oestrogen takes time to fall. I was just confused as you'd initially seemed to be about to try prog only?
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I tried it vaginally and it still kills me I put on 6lb in four days!! . I get symptoms when I reduce my oestrogen so am a bit afraid to loose it completely. I did try mini pill bit felt lousy. It appears there may be no straifgt forward answer fo me!! Like I said I am just looking at options as I have been at this nearly four years and still no relief!!
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Have you tried the Mirena coil? I had one for BC for years. I was sad, bloated and retained water badly for the first 3 months but then my body got the hang of it and it was fine.
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Yeah had one for nine months. ..nightmare. constant cramping and bleeding. Think im a lost cause :-(