Progesterone suppository hell - any ideas

[Jodiewa]

Aaargh. The perimenopause is killing me. I am progesterone tolerant and doing really well on oestrogel. But the progesterone element is killing me. First I tried utrogestan but I had too much vaginal irritation. Then I tried cyclogest vaginal and the same thing. I then tried it rectally and now have the worst piles. These have all been huge problems really distressing me and preoccupying. Have any of you had similar experiences? I have Crinone and Kylena down as alternatives - I’m lucky enough to be with a menopause clinic as my progesterone intolerance is so severe. Do any of you have any experiences of these? Any advice very much appreciated.

Hi, I haven't been on them for perimenopause but I used crinone during IVF (progesterone support during early pregnancy). So the fertility board might be a good place for advice if you don't get much here.

I found crinone OK personally. I do get irritation from certain bath products and laundry powders but was ok with this (but if it was the hormone irritating you somehow or dosing it vaginally I don't know whether crinone would be any different). It was a vaginal pessary. My clinic asked me to walk around after using it. The downsides were it builds up after a few days and was a bit messy but I didn't mind it too much. Good luck!

@Jodiewa.....
I'm a bit confused as you say in your first line that you are progesterone tolerant, but in your penultimate line you refer to your progesterone intolerance?
Assuming you meant to say intolerant in the first line, it's not very clear what symptoms you are experiencing, and what treatment you need - oestrogen only?
Have Vagifem pessaries not been mentioned to you? Apologies if I haven't understood your post properly!

What about a Mirena coil? That delivers a much lower dosage direct to the endometrium and is often tolerated better than other forms

@LindyLou2020 Vagifem are an oestrogen pessary so not equivalent to the progesterone the OP needs

That’s a good idea, thanks. I’m a bit cautious because with the progesterone intolerance I get super depressed and am worried mirena would produce a constant drip of low.

I was so desperate I think I wasn’t making much sense. Yes intolerant unfortunately.I’m I haven’t tried vagifem. Basically I am on hrt as much for extreme pmdd as perimenopause. I started this because of mood problems when progesterone peaked so hrt was supposed to regulate my periods to make it predictable and more bearable. But vaginally utrogestan and cyclogest have caused uti and super bad thrush, and rectally external piles, both of which are really horrid! So am trying to find other options! Sorry for the tmi in this post. Thanks.

That is super useful thank you. That idea of walking around that your clinic recommended is a brill idea!

I'm experimenting with Utrogestan vaginally op as orally made me feel like I was having a constant panic attack.

One week into vaginal route and i feel a bit uncomfortable. What difference do you think walking around would make?

Well I am hoping that the clinic recommended it to the lady who posted because it gets all the juices flowing, as it were, and thus that it stops a build up around the vulva which provokes thrush. But I am living in hope!! Fingers crossed for us!

Not quite sure of the reason but I think it helps to break it up/get it distributed properly (?). Looked it up to remind me and it's a gel.