Oestrogel & Uterogestan

[BlueVelvetine]

I have just had a call from my local meno clinic after a referral from my GP. They have agreed to prescribe above combination. I asked about using the Uterogestan vaginally in the hope that this reduces any potential symptoms (biggest worry for me is anxiety/depression symptoms). Can I ask any ladies that use this method if they have any associated anxiety/depression? The lady at the clinic did not think this was a good approach as there is no guarantee it’s reaching where it’s supposed to! Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

The lady at the clinic did not think this was a good approach as there is no guarantee it’s reaching where it’s supposed to!

Is 'the lady' a menopause gynaecologist?

The whole point of using it vaginally is that it does reach where it's supposed to- your womb! In fact it's sometimes prescribed at half-dose for vaginal use, following some recent research (but don't reduce the dose yourself- it has to be prescribed that way.)

Sorry , but whoever advised you doesn't appear to know very much.
In Europe and especially France where Utrogestan is prescribed more often, many women use it vaginally and my consultant told me some use it as a suppository.

In the UK for some odd reason, it's not (yet) licensed for vaginal use but that doesn't mean drs can't suggest using it that way.

Thanks for your reply @JinglingHellsBells. I’m not sure if she’s a meno gynaecologist. All I know is my GP had never heard of Uterogestan and wrote to the clinic for advice. They called earlier today and were trying to nudge me down the route of patch and mirena coil but I don’t think these are for me. As regards using Uterogestan vaginally, is there an applicator I should use? And, do you happen to know if the side effects are less? (specifically interested in anxiety/depression symptoms). She also recommended using oestrogen vaginally to help with dryness. Thanks again…my head is jumbled.

There is no applicator. You just lie down and push it in as far as you can.

It shouldn't cause depression etc as it's absorbed in the vagina and doesn't get into your whole system.

If you need to speak to your GP again, the spelling is UTROGESTAN - she may not have found it in her list of formula, if you were saying Ut - ERO - gestan :)

Thanks again. Apologies for my typo….GP did find it under micronised progesterone but just wasn’t familiar with it. Can I also ask about the oestrogel. She said to use two pumps but this sounds a lot. Wondering if I should start with one pump?

start with 1 pump for a week or so and see how you feel. (ie no side effects.)
When you increase to 2, it's sometimes best to do 1 pump morning and 1 pump later in the day (bedtime-ish).

I've been on this combo since April. Always use utrogestan vaginal my due to being emetophobic and worrying about side effects. Menopause clinic were fine with it.

BTW - mood vastly improved as is sleep. Feel SO much better.

Good luck x

Thanks so much @JinglingHellsBells! I’ll do just that
Oh that’s fab @JemimaMoon! Great to hear you’re doing well on it!

Hi , can I just jump on this thread.
I’ve started to use utrogestan vaginally and I’ve only been using 1 x 100 on days 15-26 . Should I be using 200mg vaginally ?
I started on this HRT in January and always have a bleed a couple of days after I stop.
Although this month I’ve had my own period before I started the Utrogestan this cycle 😩

@BetterthanIthink What did your GP write on the prescription? And it ought to be on the box.

If your GP didn't tell you the dose, that's pretty poor. If they don't know, it's on the patient leaflet in the box.

It's 200mgs per cycle x 12 days each time.

Thanks for the response.
She advised 1 x 28 days with a 3 day break or 2 x12 days. She doesn’t believe in using it vaginally but it made me feel shocking got the first month so I switched to this after reading it can be taken this way also.

I had read on the Louise Newsam website that she advises 100mg vaginally .
So everyone who takes it vaginally takes 200mg ?

My GP also hadn’t heard of utrogestan, OP, but looked it up and prescribed it (along with oestrogel). I put off starting for years as I was so worried about potential problems with increased anxiety/depression. I actually had no problems and wish I had started it sooner. Obviously that’s only my anecdotal experience. However, if it were to cause issues you can just stop, which is not so easy with a Mirena.
I use the Utrogestan vaginally at half-dose, and just had a ultrasound scan which confirmed that this is fine for me.

@BetterthanIthink

Thanks for the response. She advised 1 x 28 days with a 3 day break or 2 x12 days. She doesn’t believe in using it vaginally but it made me feel shocking got the first month so I switched to this after reading it can be taken this way also.

I had read on the Louise Newsam website that she advises 100mg vaginally .
So everyone who takes it vaginally takes 200mg ?

I use it vaginally after years of using it orally and my consultant has never told me to reduce the dose. (I go longer than 4 weeks between cycles so I feel I need to stick to 200mgs.)

Louise Newson's regimes are often more for her private patients. These are women who can access private scans to check the lining is okay. Many private drs will tweak the licensed regimes in various ways, but it's because their patients can access scans or investigations through them.

There is no accepted consensus on using only half the dose vaginally. There is (as far as I know) one research paper which shows it works okay at half the dose vaginally. Women who are using it this way (or any other off-label way) through a private dr may be being asked to have a scan (costing anything up to £300) to check all is ok, now and then.

Your own GP sounds a little behind the times re vaginal use because when I was given it around 8 years ago, my dr told me then that it is widely used vaginally everywhere in Europe except the UK.

@JinglingHellsBells Thanks again for the response. She is the meno doctor at my surgery and she also runs a private clinic, glad I’m not paying her then ! Ha
I will start popping 2 up there from now on.
Thanks so much again

Really appreciate all the info ladies! @Elisandra, can I ask whether you have experienced any side effects from using it vaginally?

My GP prescribes me Utrogestan vaginal and these come with applicators (a bit like a tampon thingy) so it reaches high up. NB this was only after I told her I'd been inserting the oral ones to avoid side effects.
For me taking them orally really made me feel like a zombie, I had zero emotions of any description. Very odd! Now I take vaginally I have no side effects whatsoever (apart from the residue of the tablet but that's no big deal)
Hope this helps

No side effects, OP.

Is there a brand name for those, @Cakey46?

Very reassuring to read this…are you in the UK Cakey? I didn’t think these were available here?

@BlueVelvetine It's a bit complicated re applicators...

When I was given my Utrogestan at a private clinic, they gave me 200mgs capsules with an applicator. These 200mgs used to be available as part of HRT but now, they appear to be a) only by private prescription or b) for fertility treatment . They are also much more expensive (I have to pay for them) and also I don't like the use of plastic, re the planet!

Most NHS prescriptions are for 100mgs with no applicator.

@BlueVelvetine If you are squeamish or whatever about using your fingers, you can probably make a DIY version of an applicator using a tampon holder or something like that.

@JinglingHellsBells….not squeamish as such just a little concerned they get to where they’re meant to…
So for clarity…. 200mg is the dose regardless of whether I’m swallowing or using vaginally? Unless directed otherwise by my GP obviously x

I buy OTC in Spain 200 mgs, no problems and no questions asked.

I use them vaginally more or less 10 days a month.

I feel better on them than off! But I think I might be unusual in that.

Doctor in Spain just wants me to take antidepressants. Adios Hola pharmacia!

[quote BlueVelvetine]@JinglingHellsBells….not squeamish as such just a little concerned they get to where they’re meant to…
So for clarity…. 200mg is the dose regardless of whether I’m swallowing or using vaginally? Unless directed otherwise by my GP obviously x[/quote]
Just use them as you would a 'lillett' type tampon.

Vaginally works better @BlueVelvetine

Thanks @BillieSpain!

Hello, yes I am in the UK. Im quite surprised that people are saying the vaginal variety are not available here. It's is Besins Utrogestan vaginal 200mg with applicators. Now I've googled it I suspect the product I get is intended for fertility rather than menopause but either way......strong recommend from me.