Anyone used Lutigest for post-menopausal bleeding and womb thickening?

[Col28]

Hi I wonder if anyone else has faced my fear of the medication I've been prescribed.
I am 72 & over the past 4 years Ive experienced post menopausal bleeds. This leads to scan & then Hysteroscopy. Each time results show benign Polyps & 11mm thickening of womb. This time the gynaecologist decided I need a coil but history shows I can't tolerate them so he asked my GP to prescribe Lutigest 100mg pessary every night for 6 months. I've read up on this medication & it's used to help women on IVF to fall pregnant & apparently, its not licensed for over 60s ...I'm 72!
I like my GP but I'm very worried about starting this Lutigest as side effects include cramps, headaches & cardio problems & sore breasts. 😱. I really don't want to face anything like that at my age. Has anyone had dealings with this medication?
Thank you girls. xxx

Did you have an ablation or other surgery to remove the thickened lining and the polyps?

I'm similar age and had post meno bleeding, had a transcervical removal of the endometrium and polyp removal. No further bleeding (initially post surgery yes but not since then), and no drugs either. I was never on HRT.

No, I didn't have ablation, the only surgery I had was the Hysteroscopy. I've had first time 2022 & each year until this year. I honestly wish I hadn't reported it because I'm tired of it happening every year following a bleed. Thank God it time it is the same results, all benign Polyps. But, this time the Gynecologist wanted to insert a coil which would put Progesterone straight into the womb to reduce Oestrogen & thickening. I can't tolerate coil so now I've be given the Lutigest pessaries for each night. The right up I read really concerns me. But, apparently I need Progesterone to stop the thickening. Although, my GP did question the Gynaecologist choice because of my age. I really don't want to start this type of meds at 72. Tbh, I just want to be left alone to get on with boring retirement. I'm not sure what do tbh. xxx

I'd be very reluctant to take the Lutigest, but I'm not a fan of meds much anyway! I don't know much about the drug, but having looked it up, AI seems to indicate that it is not designed for thickened endometrium, (hyperplasia) more for IVF support, as you said.

I wonder if there are any other oral progestins you could ask for instead like norethisterone? I know the doc wants Lutigest, but we do have to bang tables and advocate for ourselves a lot! You may already have seen the link below, but it is the Royal College of Obs/Gyn standards for treatment of hyperplasia. You might find something in there to arm yourself with when you go back to GP. Demand something different as per guidelines in the attachment. They can't really argue with that, given that you are unable to use the coil as treatment.

Best of luck. Let us know how you get on, but if you are not happy don't do it and ask for something else.

https://www.rcog.org.uk/media/knmjbj5c/gtg_67_endometrial_hyperplasia.pdf

Thank so much. You're so kind to have gone to all this trouble. I will definitely suggest noristerone & hopefully get this all sorted.
Like you I'm reluctant to take medication but Lutigest has frightened the life out of me.
I will definitely let you know what happens.
Thank you again Perlan.