Utrogestan, why is it 25 days not 24?

[Chocolateporridge]

My GP prescribed oestrogel and Utrogestan, and told me to take 2 tablets every night for 12 days out of every 28 days. The Utrogestan gave me awful headaches and nausea, I stuck it out for 2 cycles, but then spoke to my GP because it really made me feel awful. She suggested taking 1 tablet for 25 days out of a 28 day cycle, which is what I'm doing now and the headaches and nausea have gone. Surely, though, that means that I'm now taking 1 extra tablet every cycle, why is that? My periods we're still normal before I went on HRT, and I'd like them to continue. I'm feeling very confused!

Your GP is switching you to continuous to try to avoid the withdrawal crash that can provoke a migraine.

I know the leaflet says 25 days but in practice, most women use it daily. No break for 3 days. You can have a break if you want to, and you might get a tiny bleed, but to avoid the withdrawal crash = migraine, it's best to take it every day.

You could have used the Utrogestan vaginally for 12 days per cycle and that could have helped. A lot of women do this- it's mainly on the advice of menopause specialists. You just insert 2 capsules high near the cervix.