Visit to a Menopause Clinic today

[Oxfordblue]

Finally got my appointment with the menopause clinic at the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital today.
Lady I saw was lovely & after explaining how I was feeling & my concerns over taking tablet HRT (which have worked well getting rid of my hot sweats), she prescribed Estradiol & Utrogestan.

I'll be finishing this mth of Femoston & then to start the new regime. Interestingly I'll be starting with the Utrogestan for days 1-14 only, along with 2 or 4 (depending on how I feel) of Estradiol. So looks like I'll be having 2 weeks of 'progesterone', which I'm a bit at, but sure it's all ok.

Although the Estradiol may make a difference with boosting my libido, I requested testosterone, so will be taking a pea size amount of that each day.

I'm booked to go back for a review in 4mths.

I was on Femoston but was prescribed the same combination as you at a HRT clinic.

I was told to start it the other way round.

Why are you taking the progesterone first?

Were your testosterone levels checked?

I asked but the doctor didn't think it would be necessary with the Estrogel & Utrogestan.

Good luck. Hope it works for you.

How are you taking the utro - orally or vaginally?

If orally, can I recommend you take it at night once you're in bed: it makes you sleepy, which is great. However, for me it makes me very dizzy if I attempt to stand after taking it.
I once forgot to take it at night so took it first thing in the morning and it wouldn't have been safe for me to drive! I'm not sure if others react this way but it has quite an effect on me.

Taking it vaginally is very effective and has no side effects at all.

I've read about taking Utrogestan vaginally.

I had very severe side effects from the progesterone in the Femoston.

HairyLittlePoet did you find it caused any emotional/physiological side effects?

I'm very reluctant to take it due to the side effects I experienced on Femoston.

I did think it was a bit odd to take it this way but having googled it, it's fairly common. Helps with the bleed I think. The Utrogestan is tablet form & I'll start it next month.
Not sure I fancy a vagina 'tablet'

Thanks for the night tip - that's what's on the meds too.

Apologies for my ignorance but what is a menopause clinic? I've started the menopause and we don't have this in my area.

Yes I remember thinking it an odd way to take it too but whatever works!

I work rotating shifts so I keep avoiding starting the HRT as I already take medication & have difficulty taking that medication on an empty stomach etc.

The progesterone will interfere with my other medication.

Hope it works well for you.

A Menopause Clinic is, a clinic that specialises in menopause & HRT.

I would be very surprised if your in the UK, that you don't have one locally.

I was referred there as I had an extreme reaction to HRT.

Oxford They are experts at that clinic so you have had excellent advice.
Is it gel you are using? (estradiol is in all forms of HRT except for prempak and premarin which are synthetic types.)

I've used the gel/ Utrogestan combo for over 5 years now. You can use the Utro capsules vaginally- in France this is the default way I understand. It can avoid some of the drowsiness which can occur taking them orally. However, the downside is that if you are sexually active, you have to time the action around them- obviously they have to stay in the vagina overnight to do their job. Whichever way you use them- orally or vaginally- bedtime is best.

There seems to be a lot of 'worry' over Utrogestan, for some reason, but to be honest it's supposed to be a) safer then all the synthetic types and b)fewer side effects than Norethisterone which is in all other types except Femoston.

Using it for 14 days is 'standard' but there are other women who- with medical supervision - use it for 12 or 10 days a months if the side effects are bothersome. (I've never used it for 14 days) and also do longer cycle HRT where they only use it alternate months - again, with supervision & scans to check the lining.

Good luck with it!

I had a reaction to HRT patches. Made me super sleepy. Having MS, fatigue is a problem anyway. The doctor just said "so we won't do those then". No referral. My MS nurse isn't especially interested either.

My GP has referred me to see an Endocrinologist - I am assuming because of my symptoms - is that the same as a Menopause clinic?

Alwaysthepessimist i saw a consultant menopause specialist- no blood tests required as they treat based on symptoms. What are your symptoms that your GP thinks you need to see an endocrinologist ?

gussyfinkienottle as far as I know everyone is entitled to see someone at a Menopause clinic. Find your nearest one & ask for a referral.

GP's are for referring you to anyone if they can't treat your issues.

This site gives a list of clinics. I think it may not be up to date.

menopausematters.co.uk/clinicfinder.php
Not all areas have menopause clinics- pretty sure mine doesn't.
If your GP can't help they should refer you to an NHS gynae who has expertise in menopause. If they won't, you can always pay for a referral yourself if you can afford it and quite a few specialists will take self-referrals for menopause issues.

oxfordblue I have no idea why she has referred me, I am under 50 so she was writing to them for advice as I have been feeling so rubbish then the next thing I knew I had a referral to an endocrinologist....

NickyNora no side effects at all, other than the immediate dizziness/sleepiness when taken at night, which is in fact rather brilliant for getting a decent night's sleep. As to the dizziness, I was utterly unaware of it for months because I was always horizontal already when taking it! It needn't be an issue, and it doesn't affect every one this way. I now know to use it vaginally if I have to take it during the day for whatever reason.

Taken vaginally, absolutely zero side effects. Nothing noticeable at all.