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Menopause

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Original poster

Utrogestan vaginally

31 replies

badgerread · 19/12/2021 18:05

Sorry if TMI but I have been on HRT for three months now. Patches twice a week and 1 x Utrogestan vaginally 14 days on 14 days off. I've just finished 14 days on and for the last 2 days have noticed a black/brown discharge. Quite heavy in the last day or so? has anyone else had experience of this 😳

OP posts:
AnkylosaurusAches · 19/12/2021 18:22

I've been waiting to share my tmi... finished my first round of it last week and my period started as a brown paste which I realised was all the waxy capsules coming out 😬 I think it was stained by the blood. Tampons did help it along.

It never smelt at all and everything seems to have been ok. I had been expecting discharge from the capsules when I was using them but there was nothing. I'm hoping this is ok...!

AnkylosaurusAches · 19/12/2021 18:23

Sorry missed you've been on it for 3 months...

Have you had booster recently? I think my period was worse after that.

Original poster
badgerread · 19/12/2021 20:30

I usually don't get my period until about 4 days after finishing my 14 days on and then it's just normal bright red? I had my booster a week ago, I hadn't even thought about that being related tbh?

OP posts:
JinglingHellsBells · 19/12/2021 21:13

@badgerread

Sorry if TMI but I have been on HRT for three months now. Patches twice a week and 1 x Utrogestan vaginally 14 days on 14 days off. I've just finished 14 days on and for the last 2 days have noticed a black/brown discharge. Quite heavy in the last day or so? has anyone else had experience of this 😳
Did whoever prescribed this not tell you that after the last Utrogestan capsule you will get a withdrawal bleed like a period? You are using sequential HRT which means you have a cycle and a 'period' each month.

(This is also on the information leaflet in the pack of utrogestan.)

Have you not had a withdrawal bleed yet after the first two months?

Also why have you been advised to use only 1 capsule when the standard dose is two?

There are some women using only 1 capsule but it's not fully researched yet as being safe. I know there is a dr who is in the media a lot who tells her patients to use 1 capsule BUT it's not fully accepted yet that it's okay to do it (I've not been advised to halve the dose by my consultant and have used it that way for many years.)

JinglingHellsBells · 19/12/2021 21:14

The bleed isn't always bang on time. It can sometimes start before the end of 14 days or a few days later. Honestly, this is nothing to worry about BUT I'm still querying why the low dose?

JinglingHellsBells · 19/12/2021 21:15

Sorry for the 'lecture' but your first post suggested you had never had any blood loss in the 2 previous months :)

Sonex · 19/12/2021 21:22

Why wouldn't you use one cap if you can 'get away with it' ?

Original poster
badgerread · 19/12/2021 21:30

I started three months ago and was taking 2 tablets orally however it was making me feel very anxious so my GP advised halving the dose and to take it vaginally. It made a huge difference to my mood and stopped the anxiety immediately. I had normal periods the first two months, they started around 4 days after day 14 of the tablets and lasted 5 days. This month however has been different and I have had this weird discharge. Started spotting around 2 days ago but this morning I woke up and it was very heavy. I started taking the tablets vaginally half way during my 2nd month period.

OP posts:
Original poster
badgerread · 19/12/2021 21:32

Sorry, not halfway through my period, halfway though the 14 days on time

OP posts:
JinglingHellsBells · 19/12/2021 21:54

I'm definitely going to ask my dr about the reduced dose- he's one of the UK's top meno experts who trains other drs. What I do which is slightly different is to use estrogen-only longer than 2 weeks, so I may have to continue with 2 capsules.

Anyway- the black blood is normal. I'd say I get that for 50% of the time when a bleed starts.

Early bleeds on utrogestan usually mean your levels are low (it's not being absorbed enough) because the bleeding only starts when progesterone is withdrawn. Also, too little Utrogestan can cause heavier bleeds (am sure you know why , so no lecture :) )

AnkylosaurusAches · 20/12/2021 06:12

The British meno association (?) recently issued a statement / guidance to take two vaginally

JinglingHellsBells · 20/12/2021 08:11

@AnkylosaurusAches

The British meno association (?) recently issued a statement / guidance to take two vaginally
where did you see or hear that ? @AnkylosaurusAches
AnkylosaurusAches · 20/12/2021 08:26

thebms.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/14-BMS-TfC-Progestogens-and-endometrial-protection-01H.pdf

P4? Same as oral dose. I've only skimmed it; It was mentioned in a meno fb group, I forget which one.

AnkylosaurusAches · 20/12/2021 08:27

Point 8 first page too.

Itsnotdeep · 20/12/2021 08:34

I take 200mg vaginally. I think that's the right dose? Originally I was taking the oral tablets vaginally, but I've now been prescribed one 200mg tablet that you shove up with a plunger thing.

But agree, it can take 3 or more days for your bleed to start after you finish the utrogestan.

AnkylosaurusAches · 20/12/2021 08:40

Yes that's right. I'm thinking of asking for the pessary.

I haven't tried orally. I might be fine but i think I'd struggle with the no food thing as eves can sometimes be chaotic with kids and bed and grabbing dinner. First round of it coincided with completion of a really hard project for which I needed all energy and brain power and I didn't want to risk zombie side effects. Gp had said I could choose oral or vaginally. I've struggled a lot with brain fog as it is and also can get that with hypothyroidism anyway.

JinglingHellsBells · 20/12/2021 08:51

Thanks @AnkylosaurusAches I'd just found it as well and was about to post it :)

AnkylosaurusAches · 20/12/2021 08:55

I think it's worth checking out op, vax have been linked to changes in menstruation. I good GP friend of mine said he's found it common among his patients, but would never say not to get the jab.

Mine period came exactly the day I was going to stop taking utrogestan and two days after my booster. It was the first ever round though so it's early days for me. I was also doing daily lft (had been for 2 weeks prior due to so many contacts at work, teaching) and I noticed slight blood on them every day from the day after my booster for the following 5 days. No idea if a link, but it's possible.

JinglingHellsBells · 20/12/2021 08:55

Yes that's right. I'm thinking of asking for the pessary

There is no difference @AnkylosaurusAches

It's the same thing but one is bigger than the other.

The 200mgs can be harder to get hold of at a pharmacy because (in theory) it's only used for fertility not HRT.

My HRT is on a private prescription and I use 2 x 100mcgs Utrogestan. I could easily get the 200 version (and have in the past) but as I pay for it, it's very expensive per capsule as it includes the plastic applicator.

JinglingHellsBells · 20/12/2021 08:57

@AnkylosaurusAches I'd ignore the 'no food' advice.
The reason they say take on an empty stomach is that with food the (possible) side effects can increase because more is absorbed if it's taken with food.

I actually used to make sure I was taking mine with food, to get better absorption. (My dr and I discussed this.)

AnkylosaurusAches · 20/12/2021 08:57

Ah ok thanks jingling! the oral were fine used like that and I did actually notice good sleep with them, it's just that it seems like my body holds on to the waxy coating till my period... 😬

AnkylosaurusAches · 20/12/2021 08:59

[quote JinglingHellsBells]@AnkylosaurusAches I'd ignore the 'no food' advice.
The reason they say take on an empty stomach is that with food the (possible) side effects can increase because more is absorbed if it's taken with food.

I actually used to make sure I was taking mine with food, to get better absorption. (My dr and I discussed this.)[/quote]
Oops cross post

Ok thanks, was going to trial orally during the holiday.

I could probably avoid eating but couldn't guarantee it!

I have enough of an issue with the thyroxine sometimes (And sleeping better makes that harder!)

JinglingHellsBells · 20/12/2021 09:07

@AnkylosaurusAches

Ah ok thanks jingling! the oral were fine used like that and I did actually notice good sleep with them, it's just that it seems like my body holds on to the waxy coating till my period... 😬
One question if it's TMI (!) is do you find there is a lot of excess from the capsule that comes out? I'm slightly worried (and will discuss with my dr) that there seems to be a lot of the actual product coming out over the day (I can see it in the loo and on my pants.) And it's not the waxy coating.
AnkylosaurusAches · 20/12/2021 09:20

I'm not sure; there was some discharge occasionally but that could have been normal and associated with more hormones?

JinglingHellsBells · 20/12/2021 09:29

@AnkylosaurusAches

I'm not sure; there was some discharge occasionally but that could have been normal and associated with more hormones?
Hmmm with me it's definitely the contents of the capsule as it's white and powdery.