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[Neerb74]

Just wanted to hear others experiences of this pill? I'm 45 and have so many symptoms of Peri but mainly affecting my mental health/horrible pmt that lasts for 2 weeks. The gp is adamant it's not Peri as I'm having regular periods and my blood levels are normal.
I've tried 3 pills which I have reacted to and have now been given Qlaira. I've looked it up and it does say it can be used as hrt?

[Hurdity]

Hi Neerb74

Was just logging off when I saw your post. I don't have experience of QLAIRA but it is often recommended for women in your position who are suffering from extreme pms that can occur in the Late Reproductive Stage when periods and ovulation are still regular. This is the last stage before peri-menopause. Qlaira will eventually stop ovulation and regulate the cycle so that your don't get sich extreme hormones fluctuations and therefore hopefully reduce mood swings. yes the good news is that it has the same oestrogen in as we produce ourselves ie estradiol so is the same as most HRT in that respect, and different from the other contraceptive pills that have synthetic oestrogen which is much stronger. I think it also has one of the newer generation progestogens which are better tolerated (dienogest)?

I would suggest you do a search although there don't seem to be many on here who have used it - so perhpas that's a good sign as they get on well with it!  Also I'm always suggesting it so you would just see loads of my posts like that rather than others' experiences! Worth a try though - perhaps look for posts with Qlaira in title, for your search?

Hopefully there will be someone along who has experience....

All the best

Hurdity x

[dangermouse]

I used this for 2 months but I found it less effective for controlling the hormone volatility compared to the Ethinyloestradiol combined pills.

I also didnt like the progesterone in it, its a newer one and I've never got on with those as they feel more synthetic what with all the additional things they add to try to improve other symptoms.

Only way to tell though is to try it as it may be perfect for you!

[Neerb74]

Thanks Hurdity, you have given me some brilliant information there. I will definitely have a search on the forum too 
Dangermouse I am sorry to hear it didn't work for. You are very right in that I'm only going to know once I've tried it. I'm just so fed up as as well as having tried 3 contraceptive pills I've also tried do many anti depressants too. Fingers crossed this helps! X

[CrispyChick]

Hi Neerb

I'm in a similar position to you. I'm 43. Been through over 2 vile years before doctors will even consider this is my hormones. I am currenly trying the combined pill. Have had to reduce my estrogen as it brought on migraines, now I feel ropey again, so about to switch to another type.

Can I ask which pills you have tried already? I have looked into qlaira - it seems expensive, so I can't imagine my gp prescribing. Whereabouts are u? I'm UK. Good luck..... I hope it works for you x

[Alicess]

Crispychick,. just to be sure...the progesterone ( progestin) in Geradel doesn't have any estrogenic properties, only progestogenic and very low androgenic properties. It's possible that either the progesterone- side or low androgenic properties are causing your migraines... if did for me.

Alicess

[Neerb74]

Hi Neerb

I'm in a similar position to you. I'm 43. Been through over 2 vile years before doctors will even consider this is my hormones. I am currenly trying the combined pill. Have had to reduce my estrogen as it brought on migraines, now I feel ropey again, so about to switch to another type.

Can I ask which pills you have tried already? I have looked into qlaira - it seems expensive, so I can't imagine my gp prescribing. Whereabouts are u? I'm UK. Good luck..... I hope it works for you x

It's so frustrating isn't it? I do have a history of mental health difficulties but this is something else and no one seems to be listening so I feel your pain.
I've tried Yasmin, Microgynon and Gederal. I reacted to all of them. The last one made my skin flare and my anxiety was high and mood low.  Funnily enough I started to get headaches and even had an aura migraine the week I came off Gederal.
I'm in the uk and luckily saw a locum and just asked to try this. I haven't started yet as want to give my body a week to settle down. X

[Hurdity]

Alicess,  Crispychick didn't mention Gedarel  . In any case this pill ( as with some others) has two different doses of oestrogen (20 mcg and 30 mcg) so it is possible to reduce the oestrogen dose. Yes you're right it can be either the oestrogen or the progestogen which can cause migraines and new onset aura migraine is a reason to stop the Pill I understand.

Neerb74, do report back on how you get on with the Qlaira and if you feel up to it perhaps as a diary on this thread as we don't have any up to date experiences on here (but I understand your not wanting to spned time on this!).

Good luck with the Qlaira and do make sure you give it time ( fingers crossed) to suppress your cycle which I gather can take a few cycles?


Hurdity x

[Neerb74]

Thank you so much Hurdity for all of your help and advice. I did a search and found lots of useful information.
I will definitely keep you updated. Fingers crossed this helps x

[Alicess]

Hurdity, bit confusing but Crispychick mentioned Geradel in another tread. 

Neerb74, Qliara is a  four-phasic pill, it contains different estrogen and progesterone doses during a cycle. It also contains estradiol valerate instead of estradiol hemihydrate. Estradiol valerate is less potent then estradiol hemihydrate according to this study:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11709743

As Dangermouse says ethinylestradiol in birthcontrol pills is much stronger then estradiol in HRT.

 But you could give Qliara a try as you have tried different BCP's already.

Alicess

[CrispyChick]

I'm really glad you got it Neerb74. I'm UK too, Scotland, so maybe I should ask.

Yes, alicess is correct. I am on gederal. I was on 30/150mg and liked it, but the migraines came...... Now on 20/150mg gederal and not feeling the love. Some of my original symptoms have returned. I don't feel there is enough estrogen.

I thought gederal had a very estrogenic progesterone - being to the far right of the pill ladder??!!! I've got a prescription for microgynon now, so that's my next move.

The migraines have gone now I am on 20/150mg gederal. The prog dose is the same, plus I was on cerazette mini pill before which was the sane prog, hence me assuming it is the estrogen causing the migraines. Such a mine field!!!

I have an appointment with the meno clinic at the end of the month, so would love to hear how you are getting on with qlaira, Neerb74. Yes, this is an awful position to be in. They say we are too young, bloods are fine etc, bug the symptoms are horrific!!!

[dangermouse]

The pill ladders refer to the equation of how weak or strong a particular progestogen is (as all different strengths) x its dose x the oestrogen dose.

This then places the pill on the ladder between the two parities oestrogen-dominant and progesterone-dominant. So the progesterone itself isnt oestrogenic but the weaker it is the more dominant the oestrogen its combined with will be felt.

I always faired better with an oestrogen dominant pill and so used Brevinor. Microgynon was somewhere in the middle but more towards prog-dom and made me feel awful.

[CrispyChick]

Thank you dangermouse. So the migraines on 30mg gederal, but not on 20mg gederal - because the prog is weaker???

20mg is not enough, hence me about to try microgynon. Brevinor is 35mg estrogen - which makes me nervous.

[Hurdity]

Crispychick, no! The progestogen dose in both pills is exactly the same. If your migraines have reduced on the lower dose Gedarel and don't return then it's due to the reduction in oestrogen.  Nothing to do with the pill ladder as it's the same pill just different oestrogen dose. yes it's on the far right and no it isn't because the progestogen is weaker. All the progestogens in the pills on the left are derived from testosterone and so are androgenic and actually much less like our own progesterone than some other progestogens. Most of these COC pills contain ethinyl estradiol, a strong synthetic oestrogen which can cause bad headaches in some women. The tablet Neerb74 was asking about, Qlaira, contains bio-identical oestrogen estradiol ie same as our bodies make.

Hurdity x

[Alicess]

I don't agree, Hurdity, it's not as straight forward alas. I always had migraines on anti- androgenic birthcontrol or with low androgenic properties. Either with high of low dose estrogen. Only when I was given a higher androgenic BCP with higher estrogen my migraines where completely gone. Not all progestins have meaningfull androgenic properties even if they are derived from testosterone and some have a higher affinity for DHT then testosterone. Progestins also have other properties like glucocorticoid activity or antimineralocorticoid activity. It also matters if you skip the pill- free week or not.

And, although ethinylestradiol is much stronger, it doesn't mean every wonen absorbs it in the same way. Same as with HRT ( bio- identical hormones)  and some wonen just need a higher ethinylestradiol or estrogen dose. Some women even need estradiol patches alongside their BCP because the estrogen side is not strong enough.

Alicess x