Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Peri2022 on April 22, 2023, 03:28:34 PM
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Hi all, I’ve been taking utrogestan vaginally since starting HRT last year because I was so depressed at the time that I couldn’t bear the thought of a drug possibly making me even more depressed!
I somehow have it in my head that I’m progesterone intolerant…I guess this is from taking the Pill about 30 years ago and being very moody/grumpy on it. I also remember being very tearful in the latter stages of IVF but to be honest this could have been for a number of reasons.
The thing is, I’m so bloody sick of the feel of vaginal utro leaking out all pasty and oily in the morning. Plus I do worry about the feel/smell/taste of it if and when my partner and I get the chance for intimacy. It makes me really self conscious.
Do I dare take it orally? Positive or negative experiences welcome…I don’t know whether I’m making a big deal out of nothing, or right to be wary.
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Hi, I could not tolerate either the combined or progesterone only pill, but I can take utrogestan orally and have been for 14 months. I take it this way because it helps my sleep which was light and unrestorative before and now deep and restful. It also helps with anxiety taking it orally. I take 100mg for 25 days then a 3 day break. I think it’s important to find the right dose, etc though. The only problem i have now is it seems to make me more prone to acid reflux which gives me asthma at night but I’ve solved that by not eating within 2 hours of bed and take gaviscon if necessary. If you do try it I would start on 100mg and see how you get on.
Ps- the progesterone in contraceptives is synthetic I think whereas utrogestan is body identical. The way the mini pill makes you feel is totally different from utrogestan
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Thank you Katherine. That’s encouraging and I’m glad to hear you’ve gotten on well with oral utrogestan. I’m supposed to take 200mg for half the month but perhaps I will do as you suggest in my next cycle and just take 100mg the first night or two to see how I go.
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I've recently changed to oral for the same reason. Vaginally it didn't help with sleep at all but orally it does (I no longer wake up when OH goes to the loo in the night). I too had acid reflux but I find if I have it with half a glass of water instead of a sip it's OK. I couldn't get on with BCP either but am fine with hrt.
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Hi Peri,
I also take it orally and I was very scared of it due to my sensitivity but I am fine apart from acid reflux that I had before too. Recently I have been put on 200 continuously due to breakthrough bleeding and that was a bit too much and nade me very tired, but you do not need to be on high dose.
Katherine, may l just ask why you have a 3 day break?
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Hi
I’ve also been advised to try it vaginally as dreaded taking it orally.
The clinic advised to only take 100mg vaginally and not 200mg which i was orally.
I’m worried about the womb lining thickening by just taking 100mg.
It is safe?
Best wishes
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I was sterilised at 40 as I was sick of feeling rubbish on the Mirena coil, and years of taking the pill.
So I was really worried about starting the Utrogestan. But other than a bit of short temperedness about 8 days in, I had no problems at all with it.
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Thanks so much to you all for replying. It’s good to hear that utrogestan is generally well tolerated as an oral med apart from, as some of you have said, a bit of acid reflux, tiredness and grumpiness after a few days (sounds like my usual life anyway!).
I only have a few days left of this cycle but will try to brave and start taking it orally on my next cycle. Thanks again.
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Stella, I have a 3 day break as I felt like it was building up in my system and making me feel tired and sedated at times, a sort of anaesthetised feeling, and I was on continuous, so my GP said I could try 25/3, which I’ve been doing a while and it does suit me.
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Thank you Katherine for explaining this, do you get bleeding after the break?
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Stella, My utrogestan break usually coincides with the first day of my period which lasts 4 days and is heavy
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Thank you so much Katherine, I am glad that this regime works for you.
Peri2022 hope it goes well
Wishing you all the best
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I've never taken utrogestan orally but it still wipes me out even when taken vaginally - I can barely wake in the mornings!
Hi
I’ve also been advised to try it vaginally as dreaded taking it orally.
The clinic advised to only take 100mg vaginally and not 200mg which i was orally.
I’m worried about the womb lining thickening by just taking 100mg.
It is safe?
Best wishes
Don't know which clinic you attend, but the licensed dose is 100 mg per day when used continuously or 200 mg per day if used cyclically and the unlicensed vaginal dose (as per the French manufacturer) is the same as for oral, so if you are using it cyclically then yes 200 mg vaginally. There are some small studies showing that half the dose is needed when taken vaginally compared with orally but this would need monitoring as it is less than the licensed dose.
The doses were arrived at using no more than medium doses of oestrogen as far as I recall and therefore if you are using high doses of oestrogen, or experience unscheduled bleeding, then more than this may be needed, as advised recently by British Menopause Society eg 200 mg daily potentially.
Hurdity x
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Hi
Thank you for your reply, it was Newson health that told me to only take 100mg vaginally.
I’ve even checked the letter and it says 100mg.
I questioned this with them and said it was ok. However, I’m not risking anything and will take 200mg as I’m not being monitored with scans.
I’m going to see if it makes a difference vaginally.
Once again thank you.
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I don't know how many of you read the 'Forum news' section, there is an announcement regarding HRT doses prescribed by some specialists. Maybe you have received an email from dr Currie regarding this. Definitely it is better to be on the safe side and check BMS recommendations, vaginal dose should be equivalent to oral.
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Hello Peri2022
I know how you feel as I am in a similar situation. I am supposed to be increasing my Cyclogest pessary to every night instead of alternate nights but I haven't had the courage to do it yet. I have no idea if I am progesterone intolerant or not as I have always been on a continuous regime. I do however worry that my low moods will be worse on more progesterone.
For all the above reasons I was happy to try Cyclogest as at least it is designed to be a pessary. I was also concerned that Utrogestan vaginally never really seemed enough to prevent spotting or bleeding for me.
I'm sorry that none of this really helps you but I would say that I haven't noticed any horrible problems from taking Utrogestan orally.
Wishing you well and take.
K.
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Hello Peri2022
I know how you feel as I am in a similar situation. I am supposed to be increasing my Cyclogest pessary to every night instead of alternate nights but I haven't had the courage to do it yet. I have no idea if I am progesterone intolerant or not as I have always been on a continuous regime. I do however worry that my low moods will be worse on more progesterone.
For all the above reasons I was happy to try Cyclogest as at least it is designed to be a pessary. I was also concerned that Utrogestan vaginally never really seemed enough to prevent spotting or bleeding for me.
I'm sorry that none of this really helps you but I would say that I haven't noticed any horrible problems from taking Utrogestan orally.
Wishing you well and take.
K.