Short cycle - when to take progestorone part of HRT?

[ThuggeryAffair]

I have just started taking HRT: Evorel 50 and Utrogestan 100. The personalised info on the box says to take Utrogestan from day 15 to 26 of my cycle (12 days worth). I've got some questions:

1. My cycle is not usually 26 days long, it's normally around 23 days and can be shorter. Would this affect when I take the progesterone?
2. my friend who also takes HRT was surprised I hadn't been told to take 14 days worth of progesterone, like she had. Was this a mistake?
3. Will my cycle length be affected by the HRT, or will I still have a period around 23 days? If so, do I keep taking the progestorone even though my period has started?

Thanks in advance if anyone can help.

it doesn't really matter about the timing so long as you get 12 days' worth in a month or thereabouts. (Some women use a different variation than this under a consultant, ranging from 7 days, to 10 days, to longer cycles - some even use it only every alternate month.)

I am NOT suggesting you do any of that as it needs supervision beyond what a GP can offer, but just to reassure you that you can't go far wrong if you stick mainly to what's been prescribed.

1 You need to take 200mgs ( 2 capsules) not 100mgs. This is on the leaflet. The 100mgs dose is for women using it daily.

2 The dose is 12 days per month. (Some GPs seem to say 14 days as that is the usual regime with pill-type hrt in packs.)

3 It doesn't matter if you take it slightly earlier each month to fit in with a short cycle ( eg take it from day 12.) That way the withdrawal bleed may coincide better with your own period. However, in time, your own periods will get further apart, so you may decide then to take it on the same day of each calendar month ( many women choose the 1st or the 15th).

If you do start a period before the 12 days are up, you still need to keep taking it.

Oh thanks, it does say take 2 a day you're right.

That's good to know about the 12 / 14 days.

I hope you don't mind but I have a few more questions, if you can help. I do appreciate it!

Is the withdrawal bleed a separate thing from my period? When will that start and how do I know which is a period and which is a withdrawal bleed?

Will my periods get further apart because of the HRT or because of the menopause? I already had a year or two where they got further and further apart and then stopped, but now they are back regularly with a shorter cycle than ever.

The withdrawal bleed is an artificial period to clear the lining so it doesn't over grow. This is necessary for all women on a sequi regime .
Eventually when your periods stop, it will be the only bleed that happens (and you can swap to a continuous regime then if you want- no bleeds at all.) So while your periods are there but not regular, it will shed the lining.

It tends to happen around 3 days after the last capsule. (Can be sooner or a day ro ro later.)

If it comes before your own period, you may not have a period at all the lining will have been shed.

Sorry if this is confusing but it's not black and white!

Your own periods will do their own thing! Some women find they are a bit weird for months, then normal, then weird again....
they may get closer together or further apart- it's different for everyone.

My cycles got shorter - one was 17 days- then I missed a couple, went back to normal for months, then went about 4 months with none, then had another one and that was more or less it. This was over around 18 months in total.

Thank you, I appreciate the info as it is quite confusing isn't it!

So I might have two periods a month? This is hard news as I already have one every 3 weeks at times.

How do i know when to take the second phase of utrogestan? It says start on day 15, but day 15 from when? From the start of my period or from my withdrawal bleed?

How do i know when to take the second phase of utrogestan? It says start on day 15, but day 15 from when? From the start of my period or from my withdrawal bleed?

The aim is to use in a way (if possible) that mirrors you own natural cycle. So, progesterone rises after ovulation which in a 'average' 28 day cycle would be days 14-15 ( 14 days after the start of a period.)

IF you can take it midway between you own periods, that's good. If not, it doesn't matter. You will just re-set a new cycle and hopefully you won't have 2 periods, just the withdrawal bleed.

It probably all sounds more complicated writing it down here than in reality!

Thanks so much, it is a little complicated to read but I'm very grateful for your help!

this has just been the perfect info that i was searching for. my GP just wrote take as directed :o) and no direction. !!! i hope you are still getting these messages - if so can you advise if evorel 25 is high enough to be useful ! a friend said it would give no protection against osteoporosis ? i was thinking of startin on the 25 and going to 50 after 6 months. is this a good idea ?? thank you