Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Postmenopause => Topic started by: KarineT on May 01, 2022, 12:36:08 PM
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Hello,
In case I have to go the HRT route, is there an alternative to Utrogestan? I understand that it causes very low mood in some women. The is one of the symptoms I am trying to alleviate. I really don't want to make things worse.
Thanks
Karine
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Hi Karine,
It might not cause low mood in you. I’ve been taking it since August and the side effects have changed each month, sometimes I’ve had none! Last month was the decider month for me, I was convinced I was intolerant and fully expected to feel awful, was ready to ask GP to switch. Absolutely no side effects, felt great! Didn’t get withdrawal low from it either!
My friends love it, they don’t get side effects at all!
If you are meno you’ll be taking it daily so you won’t get the withdrawals.
Good luck!
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Hi VictoriaV,
I am just over two years postmeno.
I've noticed that a few ladies reported awful side effects with this.
I have decide to have HRT, i might give it a go but it would be nice to know if there is an alternative, should Utrogestan disagree with me.
Where are you in your meno journey? What symptoms prompted you to go on HRT?
Thanks
Karine
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Hi Karine,
I’m peri. Last July I woke up with awful anxiety, aches, nocturia, hot flushes, brain fog, failed bank security as couldn’t remember my birth year! Within a week my life felt over. I couldn’t work or leave the house - I couldn’t even reply to customer’s on email! I thought I had dementia. I don’t feel like I had a choice about taking HRT but I’m so, so very glad it was available.
It took two weeks to get the HRT in my hands, I had developed depression by then and getting up 6 times a night for the bathroom resulted in my insomnia being at it’s worst. I had never had anxiety or depression before and described it as intense fear . . of everything.
It worked quickly, i was lucky, it’s needed tweaking here and there but I would not be alive without it.
Don’t be scared of it, you don’t have to suffer with symptoms that make life an utter misery.
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Hi I take Utrogestan without any side effects at all. Remember that there are hundreds of ladies who take Utrogestan quite happily … they don’t come on these forums. Try not to worry about it xx
If Utrogestan doesn’t suit you then there are alternatives. xx
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I have no side effects it makes me a bit hyper if nothing else.
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I love utrogestan. No side effects at all.
I’m only coming off it as it doesn’t control my bleeding on my patch.
There are alternatives such as the Mirena, norethisterone and provera for example. Im having a Mirena fitted soon.
Give it a whirl, nothing is forever and if it doesn’t suit, you can try something else.
The beauty of HRT is that there are many products to trial.
Best of luck :)
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Thanks everyone for your replies.
I was asking because my symptoms are mainly anxiety & low mood. The physical symptoms are aches and pain in the joints, cold chills, sometimes internal shaking & the odd hot flush & extra warmth st night from time to time. I would say my symptoms are mild to moderate and they don't occur 24/7 but they troublesome enough for me to notice.
I am currently taking a supplement called Femarelle Recharge. I'll see what happens in the next few months with these.
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Can Utrogestan be taken transdermally?
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No only per mouth or the other way which many of us use that is vaginally.
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KarineT, apart from anxiety and low mood are you concerned about bone density loss? I know strength exercise helps, do you do that or please share if you are doing something different for bones!
Thanks.V☀️
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There are also non standard body identical progesterones, like Crinone, but they are not so widely used and not licensed for menopause (used for fertility treatments tho so well tested for other uses). Also a couple of coils like the Mirena.
These all have less progesterone than the usual Utrogestan dose and so may help with side effects, if you get them.
You will struggle to get them prescribed by gp though
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Thanks everyone for your replies,
VictoryV, I exercise three times a week and do weight-bearing exercises as well as cardio. I'm not sure if I would be at risk of getting osteoporosis as I am slightly overweight and I think it could affect those who are of normal to undrweight and the condition might be hereditary. I hope I'm right because I don't want the possibility of broken bones the older I get. HRT might help with bone density issues but I don't know if it can really prevent one from getting them though. I know a few ladies who are well past the menopause and they don't have any problems with their bones.
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Karine I had no problems on utrogestan but it didn't control my bleeding so got a mirena fitted. Vaginal utrogestan might be an option too.
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Can utrogesten be used vaginally? I don’t seem to be absorbing this orally but my GP says it most definitely wont absorb vaginally it needs to be different to the tablet- it is soft gel though but she won’t hear if it. I’m on oestrogel and was ok for 9 months now got heavy bleeding though so obviously not been absorbing the utrogesten orally! Anyone else had this and then been ok using it vaginally ie no bleeding. She’s taken me off everything now and I’ve to go cold Turkey. Not happy
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Also so how do I know the utrogesten is absorbing correctly vaginally as it has now given me a clear discharge in a morning so I’m thinking this is it coming out!
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Gosh how ignorant! It absorbs beautifully vaginally, better so, in my opinion as it does not have to bypass the liver etc. Works a treat. Many ladies use it that way, I know it not officially licenced to be used that way but we even have ladies on here who use it rectally but vaginally definitely works yes.
The discharge is perfectly normal, you may see bits of the outer shell in your first wee as well. Just shove it in when you get into bed, works great.
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Thank you so much! Yes they duct seen to know much. If it’s not on the leaflet for them in black and white they won’t consider anything else! If it’s used the same in France etc the exact same thing it must work! Fingers crossed as the bleeding has now stopped. Just hope they let me carry on with the hrt! It’s your life in their hands! Scary!