Starting HRT mid cycle

[izzy2076]

I've just received my oestrogel and utrogestan and am on day 12 of my cycle, which is now down to about 22 days long.

The Doctor was unsure about when to start it and the conversation ended with her saying to start the gel on the day my period arrived and then start taking the uttogeston in the middle.

I've been researching this and I'm not sure whether this is the only way? Does progesterone need to be taken post ovulation or is the important factor just that it's taken for 12 days a month.

I'm very confused and eager to get started as I'm so sick of feeling crap!

Bump.
I've been having exactly the same predicament as you.

Yes and google isn't giving me any answers either.

Shall we bump again Izzy? 😂

From what I was told, you can start at any point in your cycle.

I too am on oestrogen patches & oral progesterone.

In my case I didn't - I waited & started on day 1 of my period. I was impatient to get going but didn't really want the hassle of irregular cycles. Additionally I felt it would make taking Utrogestan easier, as I'd know the days to start. While it doesn't matter in the sense of the days of the cycle, it's not 'any' 12 days, it's the latter part of your cycle. But you would 'create' that cycle if you started oestrogen patches whenever.

The bit I'm uncertain about is the number of days to take Utrogestan - like you my cycle was shorter, about 25 days. So I'm not sure whether to take 12 days of Utrogestan or not (based on a 28 day cycle). I think I will.

Doctor and pharmacist (and I have family members who are both) are unsure.

In Ireland at least, Utrogestan is not licensed for use in this way, which means guidance is a bit scant.

I think I'd say to start on the first day of your period even tho you've to wait a while

Ps I noticed an immediate improvement in mood, brain fog & sleep once I started the patches. Hopefully you'll be the same!

Thank you!! I think I'll wait then. It'll be easier to remember when to take the progesterone if I know it's in the middle of my cycle. I'll start on day 1 of my period.

I'm just chewing at the bit to feel less furious and sleepless!

Thanks Earingsandlipstick
That's really helped with my decisions and I think I'll start at the beginning of the cycle.
According to my doc you can take the Progesterone for 10 days. I know some advise 12 or 14 days.

@Cozytoesandtoast00

Thanks Earingsandlipstick That's really helped with my decisions and I think I'll start at the beginning of the cycle. According to my doc you can take the Progesterone for 10 days. I know some advise 12 or 14 days.

What day will you start then? I feel like I want to buddy up with you! (Creepy!)

I'll be starting in about 10 days and cannot bloody wait.

Thanks again for your wise words @EarringsandLipstick'

Do come back and update ... I know I think I sound a bit creepy too! but i'd love to know how you both get on.

@izzy2076 I totally hear you! The sleep was destroying me. I was going to bed earlier than my children in a desperate effort to get enough sleep to feel functional but the quality of my sleep was dire and I just felt so awful. It changed within days. It's not perfect (I think most people seem to suggest tapering up to 75, from 50, but I'll see how the next few months go) but it is SO much better.

The mood ... game-changer. I had gone through period of utter irrational fury, that quite honestly scared me. More recently, it was deep inexplicable misery. Just crying and feeling so so low, like absolutely dreadful PMT but all the time. That is gone. I'm not leaping around ecstatic or anything but I feel more ... level, I suppose? Just maybe normal!

And of course it's a virtuous circle - because I feel better in those ways, I'm making better decisions at work and in my life, so feel better etc.

I hope you find it good too!

@Cozytoesandtoast00 that's interesting re: the days for Utrogestan. My GP was really unsure about that. In fairness, they are very much learning here. There was a massive country-wide discussion about perimenopause, HRT, the works, back in June. GPs literally had the their doors trampled down with women wanting to discuss HRT. Most had zero training.
I'd spoken to my GP before, but had fallen for the 'your periods are regular, you're too young, hormones are not showing anything' line and just accepted it. After the national discussion that went on, a lot of women felt so much more able to go and have a proper conversation and GPs were open to listening.
Best of luck!

I apply Oestrogel every day, and take two Utrogestan tablets at night from day 15 to day 28. I have a withdrawal bleed about 3 days after I take the last Utrogestan.

@BatshitCrazyWoman

I apply Oestrogel every day, and take two Utrogestan tablets at night from day 15 to day 28. I have a withdrawal bleed about 3 days after I take the last Utrogestan.

Hi. Sorry to sound so ignorant but if you still have periods wouldn't you just come on as normal during the progesterone phase rather than have a withdrawal bleed?

If a woman still have a uterus, she needs progesterone to protect against uterine cancer, and also to balance the hormone levels of oestrogen & progesterone in the body.

Taking it in the 2nd half of your cycle mimics what your body does anyway, stopping then induces a bleed.

Yes a woman would have a period but taking oestrogen is affecting the hormone levels so this needs to be balanced with progesterone

The progesterone helps with sleep, and anxiety especially.

@izzy2076 I went on HRT at 56, and my periods were very erratic. I started on continuous HRT, but kept getting break through periods, basically my own 'cycle' breaking through. I switched over to sequential HRT when I was having one of those periods, counting the days from the first day of bleeding.

It seems to have worked for me, eventually your body adapts, I think.