Migrating from oral HRT to gel/progesterone, a couple of questions

[slidingdrawers]

I've been on Femoston 2/10mg for just over a year and it's not been working as well as it was.

GP has prescribed me gel (2 pumps) plus progesterone (Utrogestan) at night for days 15-26 of my of cycle.

So my current oral cycle is 28 days. I presume I start the gel on day 1 when I end my current oral pack? Also, with progesterone on days 15-26, am I now in a 26 day cycle or still 28?

I am. Only been on for 2 days.

I only started HRT 2 or 3 months ago. After years of fighting. I should have been on it years ago!
I was on evorel patches (rubbish) and estradiol pills. Worked for a month or 2 and then seemed to stop.

New GP suggested Estrogel and utrogestan. Gel 3 times a day? That's not gonna happen!

Why are all GP's suddenly prescribing this? Is it the new 'thing'?

I'm not happy, but I don't know what to ask for.

@HelloDaisy and @TabbyStar I’m probably being a womble! Nearing the end of my first pack of Utrogestan, if it’s 2 tablets for 14 days that’s 28 tablets right?! So why are there 30 in a box? I understand different people are on different regimes but just want to make sure that 2 weeks on would leave me with 2 tablets every box 🤦🏻‍♀️ Apologies in advance

@pinkrabbits39 Days 15-26 are 12 days. You don't need to take 14 unless your dr said that for some reason (I think they get confused with the tablet types which are 14 days.)

Anyway....why they are in boxes of 30.

This is because many women take 100mgs ( 1 capsule) daily for a month. The manufacturer obviously decided to make most of the production the 100mgs.

Women who use them on a cycle take 2 x 100mgs. Until quite recently ( a couple of years ago) you could get 200mgs capsules. Now, you can still get those , but they are harder to obtain and tend to be prescribed 'off label' with an applicator for vaginal use.

@JinglingHellsBells you’re amazing! Thank you - so Newson have advised 14 days, so guess I ought to stick to that but I might mention it at my review appointment - tbh this whole 2 week off and on thing is proving hard to monitor, especially in a peri fog! I’m reluctant to try a Mirena as it’s not body identical (micronised is safest I think) and if I struggle with the progesterone at least I have other options eg vaginally and not systemic tablets still, the coil is a little too permanent for me until I know how I’ll react to it, I guess it’s all about finding the combination that works 🤷🏻‍♀️