Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: discogirl on May 24, 2023, 04:13:39 PM
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Hi everyone
I'm currently taking utrogetan 100mg vaginally in the mornings; I cannot take it orally or vaginally at night as it upsets my sleep, which is already poor.
I am thinking about taking it vaginally every other morning, as taking it every day seems to kick off my anxiety. I wondered if anyone else is using this regimen.
Many thanks
xxx
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Hey hunni
So is your anxiety as bad as when you took it orally or have you noticed some difference? Bless you I was hoping this method would of suited you better. I'm due to start my utrogestan in a few days not sure whether to try vaginally this time too instead of orally like last month.
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My anxiety is so much less taking it vaginally. I just wondered if my anxiety starts as my progesterone builds up. maybe having a 3 day break might help.
but taking it vaginally my anxiety is much better than it was.
I really do not think I could take it orally at all now.
Plus I do think taking it vaginally in the mornings helps as well xx
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Hi Discogirl
I don’t do this but know it is a viable option as I was offered to me by a meno specialist. I tried it and couldn’t cope with the dips on the day off, but maybe you’ll be ok x
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My anxiety is so much less taking it vaginally. I just wondered if my anxiety starts as my progesterone builds up. maybe having a 3 day break might help.
but taking it vaginally my anxiety is much better than it was.
I really do not think I could take it orally at all now.
Plus I do think taking it vaginally in the mornings helps as well xx
Ahh I see. Hope you can find a routine that helps you. I plan on trying this vaginally too when I mentioned it to my GP she just looked at me blank and then asked me a diff question :o.
So I am prescribed 200mg daily for.12.days may just try 100mg vaginally seeing as my GP didn't answer my question
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Hi - it does take some tweaking doesn’t it?!
Two weeks ago, I went back on Utrogestan as I was all over the place with my HRT regime. I’m now taking 100mg orally every other day and it’s the best regime I’ve been on so far in terms of reducing side effects and symptom control. Hope you find the dosing that works for you. x
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Dr Newson says you can halve the dose if used vaginally and I think many of her patients are on this regime. The BMS and besins think you should stick to the full dose regardless of delivery method. Maybe try it and see if you can have a scan in a few months to check there's no build up? Obviously more risky the higher the dose of oestrogen you're on.
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I am currently on 0.5mg of sandrena gel and 100mg x 2 utrogestan. So I will maybe try 100mg utro vaginally and use ovestin on a morning. I dont bleed either due to having the contraceptive implant or periods may have stopped no idea and I ideally dont want to bleed either.
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Dr Newson says you can halve the dose if used vaginally and I think many of her patients are on this regime. The BMS and besins think you should stick to the full dose regardless of delivery method. Maybe try it and see if you can have a scan in a few months to check there's no build up? Obviously more risky the higher the dose of oestrogen you're on.
Good point about the scan actually. I’m now taking combined Biest/Estrogel for oestrogen component. Need to check the Utro regime is ok.
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100mg Utrogestan every other day is definitely worth a try but if you continue to have side effects, you could try Cyclogest which is a wax pessary that can be cut into tolerable 50mg doses. You can use Cyclogest vaginally or anally.
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thanks Mary G that is my plan moving forward.
the cyclogest sound ideal. i just hope my gp is ok to give me a prescription for it as i dont think we can buy them over the counter here in the uk xxx
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thanks Mary G that is my plan moving forward.
the cyclogest sound ideal. i just hope my gp is ok to give me a prescription for it as i dont think we can buy them over the counter here in the uk xxx
You may have to get a private menopause ‘specialist’ to instruct the GP to prescribe cyclogest. I may have to consider this if the utrogestan doesn’t work out for me. x
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I would check with your surgery before you pay for a private appointment. If it isn't on the list of approved medication for hrt on the nhs they can still refuse to prescribe it. If you have to get a private prescription it may be expensive.
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My anxiety is so much less taking it vaginally. I just wondered if my anxiety starts as my progesterone builds up. maybe having a 3 day break might help.
but taking it vaginally my anxiety is much better than it was.
I really do not think I could take it orally at all now.
Plus I do think taking it vaginally in the mornings helps as well xx
Hi discogirl
I have been using 100mg of Utrogestan vaginally on a morning for 9 days now and I don't feel any side effects that I can think of some anxiety but not sure if related to Utrogestan. I am only on a low.dose of oestrogen gel so hopefully this is sufficient. How are you getting on?xx
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Hi Losingtheplot
Im doing ok.
i take 10mg of amitrypline which ive been on about 16mths i take them in the morning and what has helped my anxiety is i take my utro about 3 hrs later as i used to use the utro within 30mins of taking my amitrypline.
Im still taking the utro rectally every morning (obviously after bowel movement) and so far so good (touch wood) im not bleeding either.
im pleased your doing well vaginally. do you take it every night?
is your anxiety manageable? it could be the change in how youve been taking the utro.
my gp has also prescribed me some cyclogest to try xxx
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Hi Losingtheplot
Im doing ok.
i take 10mg of amitrypline which ive been on about 16mths i take them in the morning and what has helped my anxiety is i take my utro about 3 hrs later as i used to use the utro within 30mins of taking my amitrypline.
Im still taking the utro rectally every morning (obviously after bowel movement) and so far so good (touch wood) im not bleeding either.
im pleased your doing well vaginally. do you take it every night?
is your anxiety manageable? it could be the change in how youve been taking the utro.
my gp has also prescribed me some cyclogest to try xxx
I take Utrogestan on a morning for 12 days so days 15-26 as I use ovestin on a night. My GP is treating me as being peri menopausal due to me being 47 almost 48. I tend to insert the utro
upon waking then take Fluoxetine anti d 1x20mg about 30 mins or so later after breakfast as can't tolerate the fluoxetine on an empty stomach.
I feel my anxiety is more manageable this way it could be due to anti depressants only been taking them for 4 weeks or lions mane capsules I have also started to take either way my anxiety does appear to be more controlled. Hope it continues! I am reluctant to stop any thing I am currently taking inc utrogestan vaginally as this is the best I have felt in a long time. I am pleased your GP has prescribed Cycolgest hope it helps you if you take it xx
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I'm so glad your anxiety is more manageable.
I think taking the utro vaginally or rectally does lessen side effects.
i will update you on how i progress.
take care xxx
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I'm so glad your anxiety is more manageable.
I think taking the utro vaginally or rectally does lessen side effects.
i will update you on how i progress.
take care xxx
Thank you.
Please do. U take care too xxx
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Hi all. I've had to reduce my utrogestan from 200mg orally at night to 100mg at night. I'm struggling with sleep and wondered of taking it in the morning would be better. Can't tolerate the 200mg dose and nit sure I want to try it vaginally because I suffer from recurring utis. It's a struggle for us ladies, just want to feel myself again😊
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Hi Nellf,
I'm sorry you're struggling on utrogestan.
I used to take it vaginally in the mornings as I also couldn't tolerate it at night.
Besins state for utrogestan vaginal use (this is for fertility treatment only)
"Utrogestan is normally absorbed within minutes of insertion, however, it is advised that you wait 15 minutes before showering and 30 minutes before having sexual intercourse or swimming."
This is the link the above is from: YOUR GUIDE TO UTROGESTAN - Besins Healthcare
However, this is off licence in the UK and there are other progesterone options that you might like to try.
If you suffer from recurring utis, using the utro vaginally might irritate you xxx
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Thanks Discogirl. Is really difficult. I'll try the 100mg orally in the morning and see how I get on. Thanks for the link xx
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I've just started taking utrogestan vaginally, 1pm yesterday.
My hope was that the side effects of insomnia, depression/anxiety and heartburn would be less than taking it orally.
I think it takes me three weeks to recover from the last time taking utrogestan. The heartburn goes in a few days, insomnia is on most of the days I take it but the mood problem stays with me another week.
13 hours after taking the first one, I woke at 2am wanting a divorce (which I fortunately kept to myself, but his snoring was loud!) and also planning ways I could kill myself. Maybe some irritation down there too? Maybe just a rough dressing gown.
How much of this is reasonable I wonder? I don't mean to put others off, it's just how I've always reacted, if you don't already know this about yourself from the pill then you're probably safe enough to take any old progesterone for hrt as well.
I'm chewing mango, vaping something soothing and sipping somthing even soothier. At some point I'll go back to bed and not sleep until I've had coffee :'(
It's just not nice lying there wishing I could die and knowing I can't.
My point is I wanted to believe utrogestan doesn't go further than locally if inserted vaginally, however for those who believe other women like myself, I can confirm it has definitely crossed the BBB and is racing around my cranium just as readily as if I'd popped it in my mouth instead of inserting it as far up as it would go.
I've bad heartburn too even though I didn't take it orally. I believe that progesterone opens valves and relaxes tissues in general, so that figures.
So much burping! I forgot how bad the first day had been that way last time.
Edit, by day 4 I was ok! Noone more amazed than I am. Mood is ok, but my joints are very unstable.
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Meno-mel I totally feel your pain. I had been taking 200mg at night. I too felt like I wanted a divorce. I hated myself and the way I looked. Nothing in my life seemed right. I'm reducing the dose to 100 and trying that again to see how I feel. Cried myself to sleep the other night thinking I couldn't go on . Been there before while on evorel conti. I thought utrogestan would be the answer to my prayers. I don't want to take it vaginally because I get recurrent cystitis. I can totally empathise with you. Its a mine field. Let's hope we can get our balance like and feel like our old self again. Sending hugs 😊
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Hi Nellf,
I'm sorry you're struggling on utrogestan.
I used to take it vaginally in the mornings as I also couldn't tolerate it at night.
Besins state for utrogestan vaginal use (this is for fertility treatment only)
"Utrogestan is normally absorbed within minutes of insertion, however, it is advised that you wait 15 minutes before showering and 30 minutes before having sexual intercourse or swimming."
This is the link the above is from: YOUR GUIDE TO UTROGESTAN - Besins Healthcare
However, this is off licence in the UK and there are other progesterone options that you might like to try.
If you suffer from recurring utis, using the utro vaginally might irritate you xxx
Hi Disco - this is a useful reminder as I’ve had to go down vaginal route for Utro (from last night). Had been taking orally every other day with low dose oestrogen which worked well for a while on that dose. But then increased to every night as upped my oestrogen slightly. Started to get sore breasts, bloating and the most horrendous fatigue and joint pain. Immediately reduced both of them which eased symptoms but some have remained, making me think it’s not so much the Utro as much as the dosage and/or route.
Taking vaginally every other day but I did wonder about the intimacy thing - your post answers this 👍🏽
Given your initial question at the start of this thread, I’ll keep you posted how it goes! x
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Hi Furyan,
If you're taking the utro vaginally at night, maybe best to use the utro after intimacy.
Yes please, let me know how you get on xxx
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I'm now on daily desogestrel (mini pill) and uterogestan. I'd like to find a good regime for the utogestan to avoid a bleed, and also keep other unpleasant symptoms of the uterogestan at bay. I wonder what the smallest dose of uterogestan is over each month that I can get away with? I'm trying 100mg orally at night every other day, but I'm getting IBS symptoms from the uterogestan days. Maybe vaginally 100mg every other day 🤔. Any suggestions would be welcomed.
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I'm now on daily desogestrel (mini pill) and uterogestan. I'd like to find a good regime for the utogestan to avoid a bleed, and also keep other unpleasant symptoms of the uterogestan at bay. I wonder what the smallest dose of uterogestan is over each month that I can get away with? I'm trying 100mg orally at night every other day, but I'm getting IBS symptoms from the uterogestan days. Maybe vaginally 100mg every other day 🤔. Any suggestions would be welcomed.
I find that taking utrogestan orally gives me horrendous reflux, then while taking it vaginally still gives me wind and heartburn but it's much better than orally for all side effects, especially mood ones.
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Been on 100mg vaginal Utrogest every other day since my last post and, so far, noticeable reduction in night palpitations, lower back pain, joint pain and feeling very tense emotionally. With the low dose oestrogen and testosterone I’m taking, I feel more settled than ever, with room for minor tweaks. Bloating still an issue though 🙄
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I'm now on daily desogestrel (mini pill) and uterogestan. I'd like to find a good regime for the utogestan to avoid a bleed, and also keep other unpleasant symptoms of the uterogestan at bay. I wonder what the smallest dose of uterogestan is over each month that I can get away with? I'm trying 100mg orally at night every other day, but I'm getting IBS symptoms from the uterogestan days. Maybe vaginally 100mg every other day 🤔. Any suggestions would be welcomed.
If you're on desogestrel as well then this will be giving you some progestogen to protect the womb, and provided there is no antagonism between desogestrel and utrogestan then every other night vaginally may well work for you re bleeding. I presume you are doing this with sanction from your doc and will consult if abnormal bleeding ?
Hurdity x
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Im really pleased Furyan.
What dose of estrogen are you on and are you post meno by the way xxx
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If you're on desogestrel as well then this will be giving you some progestogen to protect the womb, and provided there is no antagonism between desogestrel and utrogestan then every other night vaginally may well work for you re bleeding. I presume you are doing this with sanction from your doc and will consult if abnormal bleeding ?
The doctor first prescribed 100mg vaginally or 200mg orally for 12 consecutive days, along with the mini pill daily. Then changed it to 100mg everyday vaginally with a 3 day break. I've got to wait ages for my next appointment so I'm just trying the every other day without her approval 😬.
I'm on 3 pumps of oestrogel, but I think I only need 2. She made me go up to 3 before she would prescribe testosterone. I definitely felt better on 2 pumps. The testosterone seems to have improved libido massively, and just makes me feel more like my old self. The mini pill,in the past, just eliminated my libido, so I'm hoping that doesn't disappear again. It's all so tricky to get well balanced 🤦♀️
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Im really pleased Furyan.
What dose of estrogen are you on and are you post meno by the way xxx
Thanks for your encouragement Disco 🙂. I’m staying cautious though, as we all know that this balance can be a little delicate for some of us in particular, it doesn’t take much to upset the applecart! My oestrogen = Evorel 25 patch + compounded Biestrogen cream (0.5mg each of estradiol and estriol combined). If you add up the estradiol from both sources, it’s still a pretty low dose, less than 2 pumps estrogel/50 patch. Hadn’t planned to do this, I got the Biest then quickly worked out that my body might benefit from a low steady stream of oestrogen that a patch offers if that makes sense? Continued to take Biest so as not to waste it, but it seems to work nicely with the patch atm 🙏🏽
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Hi Furyan
You're absolutely right, it doesn't take much to upset the apple cart.
Nice and gently does it xxx
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I’m wondering if I need to increase Utro vaginally to EVERY day now, lol.
A few days after my last post, the few niggling symptoms suggesting that I maybe need to increase my oestrogen got worse - claw fingers and toes and muscle cramps, joint discomfort increased to the point of feeling it even when driving. Ditched the Biest and slapped on another Evorel 25 patch, taking my current oestrogen to the equivalent of a 50 patch. Said symptoms feel better but now a light period for the past 4 days.
Should I increase vaginal Utro to daily or just wait to see if bleeding subsides? Or may even alternate between oral/vaginal daily 🤔
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Hi Furyan
You're absolutely right, it doesn't take much to upset the apple cart.
Nice and gently does it xxx
How are YOU getting along Disco? x
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Hi Furyan
Well its all a work in progress i think.
ive been taking cyclogest 100mg rectally and its too early to say just yet but taking the cyclogest this way does seem to suit me better than the utrogestan.
maybe your bleed is from changing from biest to evorel patches.
im by no means an expert in hrt but if you can manage it try it everyday vaginally that way at least your getting a consistent dose of the progesterone. i could not tolerate taking it orally.
if you find taking the utro vaginally affects your sleep you could try taking it earlier in the day.
it really is a very delicate balancing act at times.
how about trying the cyclogest that is a wax pessary that can be taken vaginally or rectally. i get the 200mg pessary and cut it in half and take one a day xxx
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Hi Furyan
Well its all a work in progress i think.
ive been taking cyclogest 100mg rectally and its too early to say just yet but taking the cyclogest this way does seem to suit me better than the utrogestan.
maybe your bleed is from changing from biest to evorel patches.
im by no means an expert in hrt but if you can manage it try it everyday vaginally that way at least your getting a consistent dose of the progesterone. i could not tolerate taking it orally.
if you find taking the utro vaginally affects your sleep you could try taking it earlier in the day.
it really is a very delicate balancing act at times.
how about trying the cyclogest that is a wax pessary that can be taken vaginally or rectally. i get the 200mg pessary and cut it in half and take one a day xxx
Hi Disco - but this is great that the cyclogest seems to suit you a little better 🙂. Sending positive vibes and hope that you’re on the way to being settled on this regime 🙏🏽
Thanks for those great ideas - tonight I took Utro for the second night in a row and will see how I respond. Depending how it goes, I’m also keeping Cyclo in mind as there’s more room to calibrate it with the cutting etc. Increasing Utro to 100mg every night might be too much, we shall see. Speaking of, did you ever try Utro rectally? Can’t remember if I saw any posts from you about this…
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Hi Furyan,
Yes I'm still in the process with cyclogest, but I do seem to tolerate it better than utro. Its strange as they're both micronised progesterone.
The reason I didn't go down the utro every other night route was after some research I think my estrogen/progesterone ratio would be out, and I think the dips from the progesterone from the days of not taking it would probably cause progesterone withdrawal, which for me I know would be lack of sleep and anxiety.
I did try the utro rectally for about a week, but I didn't feel right taking it, and as there wasn't enough evidence regarding taking it rectally, I went back to taking it vaginally. That is part of the reason I went onto cyclogest, at least with that it can be taken rectally and vaginally and as they are wax pessaries they can be cut.
Keep in touch and let me know how you do xxx