Remembering to take Utrogestan tablets

[Newusername21]

Hi All - just picked up my first prescription of HRT. After discussion with GP have opted to take Utrogestan with the Estradiol gel.

I'm wondering if there are any easy fuss free ways to remember to take the Utrogestan on the right days - instructions tell me to start taking on day 15 of my cycle which actually is today then take for 12 days. Do I then wait for a period and then first day of next period is then counted as day 1 again - and repeat this cycle. Or do I count up to day 28 then count day 1 again regardless of weather I've had a bleed?

After waiting months for a chance to get an appointment I had about a 10-15 min discussion with GP over what to take so I didn't get a chance to quiz her on the practicalities!

I have a little diary, each day I record either right or left for the estradial as my doctor says to alternate which leg to put it on. (And I am horribly forgetful 😄) Then I write UT start on the day I start then stop on the day I stop. Very easy to keep track of things. Diary is kept in my bathroom. 🙂

No idea about counting period/cycle days-mine stopped a couple of years ago.

I’d second using a diary, I’ve never had a bleed so that wouldn’t work. I take mine , and put the gel on, before bed.

@Newusername21 My meno consultant is a very good one who trains other drs (Dr Louise Newson puts him on a bit of a pedestal!)

His advice is to stick with the same day each month. So the 16h May then 16th June etc.

It's not necessary to do all the counting. As long as you take a course of Utrogestan fairly regularly (some women under consultants only take Utrogestan once every 6- 8 weeks - but 'don't do this at home'- unless you've been told to!)

If you are still having periods, they should eventually be controlled by the HRT cycle but you might in the early months find you get your own period a little out of sync.

Just take them on the 1st - 12th of each month! Much easier to remember.

Thanks all - yes that a good suggestion of taking them for same dates each month - thank you.

I was looking for some info on this very thing! I still get a period usually every 28-31 days so fairly regular. This is week 3 of the patches and I change it on a Mon and Thur. I’m currently on 50 Estradot.
today is day 15 counting from the first day of my period and due to take the utrogestan 2 x 100 tonight.
So, am I right in thinking I take it day 15 (today) until day 26, then because today is the 23rd of May, I won’t take it again until 23rd June regardless of when I next bleed?
I had though up until now that I would start counting from day 1 when I next bleed and count to 15 from there and commence the UT again?
it’s so confusing and my GP appt was short n sweet and I didn’t think to ask this.

I had though up until now that I would start counting from day 1 when I next bleed and count to 15 from there and commence the UT again?

I too have been assuming that day 1 is the first day of bleeding. So take Utrogestan on day 15 of each cycle (for 12 days)?

I find this so frustrating. My instructions on the Utrogestan are to take them for the first 12 days of each month. Surely though if your cycle is 4 weeks (which isn't a whole month unless its February) you should be taking it for 12 days out of every 28 not every 30 or 31?

I don't actually think the GP's have a clue about how to take it.

And also why do some doctors say beginning of cycle and the others say on day 16?

Surely the utrogestan should be taken during the second half your cycle, to encourage a bleed?

I use a sharpie to mark 1 to 12 on the back of the tablet packet. I then mark days 1 to 12 in my diary. I also set an alarm to remind me to take them each evening. I do 12 days on 12 days off.

Sharpie is a good idea.

But 12 days on/12 days off would be a very short cycle of only 24 days in total..?

My menopause specialist said not to overthink it, do the easiest thing. That’s to take it on days 1-12 of the month. It works for me.

I've just downloaded the Flo app which, once you've entered a period will tell you what day of your cycle I'm on.

I'll check with my doctor when I go for my review. It's what is says on my prescription but perhaps I misunderstood or something. It would be good if I had to take it less because it bungs me up!

The patient information leaflet should guide you.
All of the suggested methods work fine.

Another method is to start taking it every fourth Tuesday for example.

You don't need to think of it in terms of your cycle. Utrogestan is replacing your natural cycle with an artificial bleed.

Utrogestan is replacing your natural cycle with an artificial bleed.

So does it override the natural cycle?

Yes, it creates an artificial bleed eg like the withdrawal bleed when on the Pill.

It's not 12 days on, 12 days off.

It's 12 days per month. so 12 days in 30 days ( a month.)

so it works like 1st May, 1st June, 1st July, or whatever day you start.

Lots of posts are making this far too complicated.

see my post further down the thread.

Eventually, HRT will override your own cycle as your periods will stop in time.

Using hrt creates a new 'false' cycle.

You can start it mid cycle, if your periods are roughly every 4 weeks. So if you start it on 25 May (which is the 15th day of your natural cycle), you'd start again on 25 June.

If you are not having regular periods, start it any day and stick to that same date each month.