Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: Jules53 on February 02, 2019, 08:26:52 AM
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Hi ladies
I have just changed from Femseven Conti (due to supply problems) to Oestrodose and Utrogestan 100. So far so good and I am feeling calmer already, I'm pleased to say! I hadn't been feeling great on Femseven for a while so, hopefully, the change has been good for me.
There is one thing that is worrying me slightly though and that is that the doctor has advised me to take 100 mg every day continually but the packet instructions say to take 200 mg from days 15 to 26. Is it OK to take it everyday or should I have a break? I haven't had a period for 2 and a half years and I'm worried I'll have a bleed if I have a break.
I'm going to check with the pharmacist today but would be grateful for any advice.
Thanks.
Jules x
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If you are post menopause then take it every night on an empty stomach x
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Thanks Dotty. I've been taking it in the morning. Will change it tomorrow. So every night continuously?
Sorry, another question. Do you use the gel at the same time or un the morning?
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Use gel in morning. Utrogestan at night on empty stomach. I take it just as I go to bed x
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Thanks very much Dotty. Will try that tomorrow. I'm only using 1 pump of the gel so far but may try 2 later on. The doctor recommended 1 or 2 pumps.
Thank you.
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I use 4 😄 pumps x
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I'm worried that the estrogen may make my anxiety worse so going slowly. Lol. May try 2 pumps tomorrow 😁. Thanks for all the advice x
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Oestrogen should make the anxiety better. Anxiety is caused by low oestrogen. X
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Thanks for the tip. Will have another dose this evening😁 X
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Hi there,
I use utrogestan 100mg continually, but I administer it vaginally. Been doing it this way for 12 months now, and its working fine. It isnt lisenced for vaginal use ( for hrt) in the uk but is in europe , but anedotally there seem to be many ladies on here who use it vaginally too, as there are less side effects and i definately benefit from taking it this way rather than orally .
Hopefully it will agree with you which ever way you take it.
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Thanks Tracylr. I'll see how I go with it orally and try it vaginally if I have problems.
A question for you and Dotty if you don't mind? The first day I used one pump of Oestrodose but yesterday I added a second pump in the evening and have woken up feeling so tired this morning. Is this normal to start with?
I know it's not the Utrogestan as I have been taking it un the morning but am waiting to take it this evening so will be taking it at night. In other words the last time I took the Utrogestan was yesterday morning. Hope that makes sense! Thanks.
Jules x
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Thanks Stellajane. Will stick with it as it's very early days and will start taking the Utrogestan in the evening.
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Try not to overthink things. You could be tired due to any number of reasons. You are still in the very early days of taking hrt so your symptoms are probably the menopause symptoms that you would be experiencing anyway. Don't blame every new symptom on hrt side effect....I speak from experience! x
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Oestrogen should make the anxiety better. Anxiety is caused by low oestrogen. X
I don't think it's quite as simple as that - anxiety can be caused by abnormally low estrogen or high estrogen, in fact I think it's more usual for low estrogen to cause depression and high estrogen to cause anxiety (which would make sense given its stimulating properties). But it differs enormously from one individual to another, and on the balance of other hormones too.
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Hi ladies
I have been posting on another thread but can't find it🙄 but it's relevant to this topic so I hope someone can help please.
I am on day 16 of Oestrogel and Utrogestan and have been having stomach discomfort when taking the Utrogestan (orally). I know it's the Utrogestan as I didn't take it on Friday night and my stomach was fine yesterday. I took it last night and my stomach is really uncomfortable today😥. It's like a tight feeling (knot) under my breastbone and a slight stomach ache. I am going to ask my doctor about using it vaginally instead tomorrow. A doctor I spoke to on Friday knew nothing about ut so she has put a call in with my doctor tomorrow.
Has anyone changed from taking it orally to using it vaginally with success? Do you use the same tablets you take orally or are they different pessaries?
Thanks in advance.
Jules x
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Hi it's the same tablet as you take orally. It's not licensed for use vaginally in UK but it is in many other countries x
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Ok thanks Dotty. So the likelihood is that she'll say no then? If she does say no I may have to take it for a shorter amount of time then and have a bleed😥 x
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She might say no but it doesn't mean you can't take it vaginally 😄
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https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aT3aSVfjb20
Have a look at this from Dr Renee Hoenderkamp
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As Dotty says there is not wording written down for prescribing vaginally but loads of consultants and GP's know that it can be used that way. The reason is it bypasses the stomach and any stomach issues (which you have experienced). I use it that way and have done so for 7 months. My consultant has no problem with it. The problem comes when GP's or consultants are not up to date with the latest "thoughts" on menopause. it is perfectly safe to use vaginally and there are thousands of women who do this Jules.
Originally I spoke with a meno nurse of 25 years "experience" who said she had never heard of using that way and then she spoke to the consultant who said "yes - no problem" …. nurse said to me "you learn something new everyday"! It is likely you might encounter this sort of thing. You can still use it vaginally whatever they say!
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Thanks ladies.
I think I will try it vaginally tomorrow anyway as my stomach is so uncomfortable today! Ladybt28 did you have trouble when you took it orally? Do you use it continually?
I've got 3 months worth of the 100's so I've got enough time keep me going😁. I can't believe I had such a good day yesterday but today is rubbish. I guess it's trial and error though and I'm being impatient!
Thanks.
Jules x
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I have never taken it orally Jules - I have had trouble in the past with tablets, nausea and reflux and I definitely have problems with progesterone generally so having read everything here - I was never going to risk it. Oral hrt has to go through the stomach and get processed by the liver. That process can cause different side affects plus being digested by stomach acid is known to change how efficiently the body processes and absorbes the hrt.
I also don't take it continuously either because I suffer from hormonal depression and when I took another form of progesterone called Provera it made me manic and suicidal big time! I use the utrogestan on a cycle vaginally although I am post menopausal at 57 and it is manageable and by the far part of the best system of hrt I have had for me and I have had to go through quite a few (my hrt journey started 10 years ago) to find the right one but I use oestrogel 4 pumps and utrogestan on a cycle and have done for 7 months.
For the first time in years I am actually getting a life!
It is very much trial and error and you need bucket loads of patience unfortunately :)
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Thanks for your reply Ladybt28. Sorry to hear you have had such a bad time of it.
I didn't take the Utrogestan at all last night as I'm speaking to my doctor today. I have got a bad pain between my shoulder blades, which I get when my acid reflux plays up. I generally feel crap and want this meno rubbish to end! I need to find a HRT regime that is good for me. Please could you let me know the cycle you use for the Utrogestan - when you take it and for how many days?
Will let you know what the doctor says.
Thanks again.
Jules x
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hi Jules,
I haven taken utrogestan 100mg vaginally every night for the past 12 months.I have no problems at all taking it this way. I changed from oral use as it made me really depressed taken that way. I dont have any bleeds, but... ocassionally I have a bit of spotting. I have gradually reduced my oestrogen patch from 50mcg to 37.5 mcg ( changed twice weekly) and this appears to have helped with the spotting. I have annual uterine scans which show the lining is @ 2.6 mm so the utrogestan is doing its job . Its a weaker ( natural) progesterone and in my case works well with the lower amount of oestrogen , which thankful appears to be enough for me presently.
hope this is useful info.
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Thanks Traceylr, that's very useful information.
I spoke to the doctor today and she is checking it out with the pharmacist (about using Utrogestan vaginally) and said the pharmacist will call me tomorrow. She also said there is another progesterone I could use vaginally but it's more commonly used for women who are going through IVF! Ithink it's called Cyclogest
I would rather stick with the Utrogestan and may try it tonight to see how I get on. Will keep you posted x
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Hi - Its far more likely to be the Utrogestan that's making you feel tired. It takes 72 hrs for the effects to wear off so yesterday mornings dose will still be in your system. Stick with it, this side effect may lessen.
hello, I'm taking 2 pumps of eostrodiol a day and 100mg of utrogestan every other night vaginally. Been fantastic since December. However past week feel very dizzy and extra tired almost drunk on night I take utrogestan. Feels like dose a bit high for me. Anyone been advised that every 2nd night would be OK to contract two pumps of eostrodiol? Waiting to see gp but she is learning with me. 😢
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Is it OK to take 100mg of utrogestan vaginally every second night rather than every other night when taking two pumps of eostrodiol every day. Feel current dose of utrogestan too high. I know u absorb more vaginally too. Its making me very very dizzy and extra tired on night I take it. Got gp apt but she's learning with me too.
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I presume you mean every third day rather than every 2nd day which is what you are doiing at the moment ie every other day?
Hi Sylv62. The thing is you are already using an off-licence regime - which I know is prescribed by some private (and maybe NHS) gynaes - because some research has shown that you need approx half the dose of progesterone vaginally as orally, to protect the endometrium. However it is not the side effects only which need to direct your dosing, but how well the regime protects the womb - or rather finding a happy medium along with your doctor!
It may well work fine for you and there have been some members who have taken it only twice a week or so (one I think in Switzerland - can't remember her name - she posted in the very long-running Utrogestan/Oestrogel support group in "All Things Menopause"?). It would obviously be better on lower oestrogen doses but I would discuass with your doc as your endometrium would need monitoring. You may start to get spotting and this would indicate the lining is building up.
Hurdity x
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Hurdity thank u for yr reply. Will be useful to bring to GP. Yes meant 3rd, sorry was dizzy when writing in early hours :o
All things menopause, is that another forum? Do u have a link? Thanks again for yr help
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I think Hurdity is thinking of Smarlo who posted here:
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,23372.msg518377.html#msg518377