Anyone taking Utrogestan and struggling to get supply?

[Nancy66]

I take it together with the oestrogel for peri symptoms. Now GP tells me that the 200mg dose has been discontinued.

However several different pharmacies have also told me that they cannot get stock of the 100mg either. As far as I'm aware it's the only bio identical progesterone available on NHS prescription.

anyone had to swap to something else?

[pinkfrocks]

Have they said why there is a problem? Is it a temporary supply issue due to demand or what?
Have you tried calling the manufacturers yourself- think it's Besin.

It's nothing to do with it being 'the only one on the NHS' - it's the only one!
I have it on a private prescription from a consultant.
Last time I got some the 200mgs was out of stock ( discontinued) so the pharmacy simply doubled up the amount with 100mg.

I've 3-4 months worth left as I use it only ever 6-7 weeks.
I doubt there will be ( fingers crossed) a long term issue because it's used often for fertility treatment.

There are plenty of other things you could use meantime- Norethisterone for instance- though it's not bio-identical.

[Nancy66]

thanks pinkfrocks.

I have enough to get me through this cycle and then I'm out.

One pharmacy said they have not been able to get hold of any for 3 months and the other said they also have none in stock and their computer system shows it's not available to order at this time.

I'll need to look into it more thoroughly.

[pinkfrocks]

These are Besins contact details
www.besins-healthcare.com/index.php?mode=contact

[Nancy66]

I've contacted them and they say that the 100mg are still being made.

They confirm that the 200mg for HRT has been discontinued. However it still exists as a fertility drug (and is absolutely identical) but would mean a GP being prepared to prescribe an IVF drug for HRT purposes.

Confusing!

[pinkfrocks]

In the UK it is not licensed for vaginal use as HRT- either as 200 or 100 mgs although private consultants are happy to allow patients to use it that way, and indeed in Europe it's often used that way. It's all to do with licensing laws.

Women who are using it vaginally are doing this may be doing it without their GPs consent some of the time- or knowledge- and probably be picking up the info on forums from women who do this.

There is no problem using 100mgs x 2 instead of 200mgs. My pharmacy simply doubled up the amount needed when they had no 200mgs, for my last prescription so hopefully it won't be an issue.

[Nancy66]

I've taken it vaginally when I had fertility treatment. You can buy it over the counter in Greece, for a lot less than it costs on prescription!

[pinkfrocks]

mine's on a private prescription and I pay 50p per 200mgs. So 10 days is £5. You can always ask any NHS dr to write a private script and then you pay the item's retail cost plus they usually add on a dispensing fee.

[Nancy66]

blimey you're a font of knowledge Pinkfrocks!

[Nancy66]

i've used it vaginally when I had IVF. it's horrible because it leave all this stringy stuff behind, so its like having chewing gum stuck up there!