Estrogel and Utrogestan - chat

[BrisaOtonal]

I have been taking this combo for 6 weeks now. I am not sure about it yet. I am just interested to hear how it is going for others and see what benefits or issues you have?

I am finding that after taking the Utrogestan my periods are really heavy, even clotting. I am taking it for 8 days, one tablet. I take 2 pumps of Estrogel every day. I have bad period pains like I did when I was a teen.

I feel slightly better, but not as good as I thought I would feel. I still feel anxious and have lowish mood, although not as bad as it was. I am thinking that perhaps I need to up it to 3 pumps to get my oestrogen reserves up. I think I have felt rubbish for 3 years and just accepted it as age and so did not realise how low my reserves where.

What are everyone else's experiences? Please share.

The dose is 10-12 days a month not 8. The dose is 2 capsules- 200 mgs - each day.

Taking less will result in a heavier bleed because the estrogen you are using is not being opposed for enough days a month- so the lining is building up.

Why are you using it only for 8 days and only 100mgs? Is this your GP?

I think you ought to start using the right dose for a month or two and see how that feels. If you increase the gel, your lining will be thicker and the bleed will be heavier.

The 'rule' is you give any HRT 3 months at least. So do another month with the right dose, then think about increasing it to 2.5 pumps for a couple of weeks, then 3 if you still feel rubbish.

Ohhhh sh!t, I have been taking the wrong dose.

How did this happen? I am not usually suck a F'wit.

Thanks to you Queen I just had a look at my packet of Utrogestan. I should have been taking 2 x tablets (200mg) for days 19-26 (8 nights). The reason my GP (meno specialist) did this was because she thinks my body is progesterone intolerant and she wanted to start me off on this amount. I took the right dose over 8 days last month by my calculations except I forgot to take it the first night.

I am actually having quite a heavy bleed and feeling shit and I am a bit worried now. I do have a 3 month appointment with her in which I will be addressing the oestrogen pumps and prog amounts. She mentioned a Mirena to me. I may do that if it is better.

On another note. I just learned on another thread that dolphins go through the menopause. Poor things.

Have you been taking it for some time in order for your dr to be sure you are intolerant to progesterone?

How do you feel on it so far?

My bleeds on HRT are far heavier than any of my old, normal periods and it is def a downside but I don't want to use progesterone every day.

Are you post meno or having some natural cycles as well?

If this is your first try with HRT it would be better to take the recommended dose and then try reducing if it doesn't suit rather than the other way round. The actual dose is 12 days per cycle, though some consultants are happy for it to be reduced to 10 days if women suffer bad side effects. A 7-day regime is the absolute minimum and many women doing that will have an annual or biannual scan to check all is ok.

I onlu use Utrogestan (200mg) for 8 days every 2nd month. Though I'm postmenopausal.

4 pumps of Estrogel daily.

Its ok. I can't say i feel amazing but alot better then i was.

I really struggle with progesterone. By day 6 I'm intensly agitated. I can barely tolerate my children or anything really!

I was prescribed this but my GP wasnt too sure re dosing.
I am under 50 but post menopausal (due to an eating disorder and low weight I think).
I have had an endometrial ablation so am not sure whether I should take progesterone every day or not. I seem to remember not getting on too well with the combined pill when I tool it many years ago.
Any thoughts?

Really think its trial & error to be honest.

I am peri menopausal. I went to see her a few times before I decided on HRT and she thought I had very bad PMS and other symptoms at certain times of my cycle which she put down to progesterone intolerance. Not sure how that works, she is meant to be the expert. I have natural cycles but was beginning to fall down the rabbit hole.

I didn't bleed as much on the last cycle probably because I was taking the progesterone almost properly. It was heavy though. Last cycle and this I felt a bit off after the first dose of prog but was mostly OK on it. I will sort that end out but think my dose of eostrogen may be too low as I feel little effects from it, but of course will give it more time.

I never got on with Estrogel. Much better off on patches.

Sorry to jump on your post but can I just say thanks to Queenofthenights who sorted out my hrt issue?! For some reason I couldn't respond on my post and I always felt bad because I hadn't responded. Good luck op with your hrt!

Thx. I really need it to work. Basically feel like my life is on hold at the moment.

I want to run through the Autumn leaves with my hair swishing in the wind and love life. LOL.

On another side note, have you heard of/ tried a mooncup? I bought one in July and I love it. So much more comfortable than tampons that dry your insides out. Makes dealing with periods again so much easier. I couldn't understand why no one else had told me about them - but how do you raise that in conversation?!

I havenno need for a mooncup. Very light periods.

I am going to check out the moon cup!!

It's a bit owwww getting it out - don't think I've mastered that yet - but other than that I think it's fab. So much more comfortable than Tampax and so much cleaner than pads. I love it! Weirdo.

I have found it to be brilliant! i uses 2 pumps a day and utrogestan for 12 days of the month. it has completely stabilised my moods which were horrific for 2 weeks out of every cycle.
however the last moth or so i have been very low and weepy and think i need to increase my dose.
also i have not had much bleeding (and some months not any at all) in the withdrawal period.
tbh i am feeling very sad about it all but know it is hormones so need to sort it out.

If extraction is a bit owww, then you're not breaking the seal. Focus on that, before pulling. Bearing down helps to get it within easier reach.

*small hole

Jelly slice -Oh fgs! Struggling to post! I've been able to break the seal but can't get the large piece of equipment out of a small hole (who am I kidding?). I can't work out how to make the diameter smaller to get it back out iyswim?

Read the title of this thread and thought it was a baby names chat!

Glad it's not and now watching with peri-menopausal interest

Once you've broken the seal by pressing the rim inwards, continue pressing as you ease it downwards. Don't try to remove it uncollapsed, it comes out almost as folded as it went in. Then you sort of rock it out, rather than bring it out completely straight, and the leading edge unfolds as it comes out.

Hope this is helpful - I'm very out of practice. I haven't had much use of my Mooncup since I've been on Mirena + patches!

You might like to start a new thread asking specifically for Mooncup advice.

Thank you jellyslice.

LeicesterPiggott,

Well, you have another baby name as well to choose from - Mooncup

Jelly i thought the femseven patches were great i that they made me feel so good but they didnt stay on so switched to gel

I've tried 3 different patches. The best ones for sticking IME are Estradot. They're also the smallest. Significant?

Also, I find that the best time to change patches is not the most logical time. I automatically removed old patch before thf shower, and put new one on after the shower. But patches stay stuck on me better if I change at almost any other time. Perhaps my skin is somehow still damp, even though properly dried?