Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Periwoman on January 18, 2022, 12:40:08 PM
-
Does anyone know why there are no patches with the body identical progesterone / utrogestan available? Is it scientifically not possible to take it as a patch? Seems obvious that a combined patch of body identical estradiol and utrogestan would be useful. I've googled this question but no explanation found.
-
I've no idea but I am with you - I wish wish wish this was available!
-
I'm not totally sure, but I've been looking into progesterone a lot lately.
I suspect it's because utrogestan is micronised natural prog and other routes of administration are not deemed to provide enough to protect the uterus. As in your body won't absorb enough through other methods. Unlike synthetic progesterone. So utrogestan only licenced for hrt if taken orally.
But I'm sure someone a lot more knowledgeable will be along 😁 plus a lot of people on here seem to take it vaginally 🤷♀️
-
Utro is licensed for hrt vaginally in the rest of Europe just not in the UK. It's licensed for ivf vaginally here. Oh, the wonders of bureaucracy - same reason we have to go to a specialist to get testosterone, there's no medical reason for it. Don't know why it can't go in a patch.
-
Don't know the science behind it but think it's said to be too unstable to be suited to patch administration?
-
Lack of profit/ better returns investing elsewhere would be my guess.
-
100% agree with Victoria LACK OF PROFIT :( :'(
-
Thanks all. If anyone hears that they start making the patches please put a post here. In the meantime I'll try and write to the pill manufacturer and ask them.
-
I'm very new to HRT and struggling to find what's right for me. I don't know if this will help but my GP says there is a combined patch for Progesterone and Oestrogen, although I think the Oestrogen component will be too high for me. I'm so sorry I don't know what it is called, but perhaps you can throw the question out there. Hope this helps in some way. :)
-
Dex139 I think Evorel Conti is what you're talking about.
-
Hi all - see below the email response from the Utrogestan manufacturer Besins. Unfortunately no explanation given why they can't put it in a patch.
"Thank you for your recent enquiry regarding Utrogestan (micronised progesterone).
Currently, Besins Healthcare manufacture Utrogestan 100mg for oral administration1 and Utrogestan vaginal 200mg for vaginal administration.2
There are currently no plans to manufacture a transdermal patch version of Utrogestan.
We would suggest that you discuss any treatment queries with your doctor, who is best placed to give you advice based on your current condition, medical history and the benefits and risk of treatment. If your doctor requires any further information regarding your enquiry, they can contact us directly.
I hope this information is helpful.
Yours sincerely,
Shahanaz Kobir MSc
Consultant Medical Information Specialist
Besins Healthcare (UK) Ltd
Lion Court
25 Procter Street
London, WC1V 6NY
Tel. +44 203 862 0920
Fax: +44 207 681 1808
Web: www.besinshealthcare.co.uk
-
Loosely translated as 'run along dear and mind your own business'. Thanks for posting the reply though.
-
Hi all, the reason you cant get Utrogestan in patch form is because it doesnt absorb well enough through the skin - hense why you can only use the drug orally or vaginally.
X
-
It doesn't absorb reliably and consistently through the skin, unlike estrogen and testosterone.
-
....and the point being that unlike with oestrogen and testosterone - it is crucial to know you are getting the right amount of progesterone in order to protect the womb. Oestrogen is also not supplied as a cream so presumably the same issue that it is not reliably absorbed. Not sure about androfemme but if it is more variable than say gel - this is not so critical - it would just be less effective?
Hurdity x