How quickly did progesterone sensitivity show up?

[SameKeyThough]

Hi, I've been struggling with my mental health for the past year, very severe depression and anxiety. It's a lot better now, and I'm on quite a few meds which are helping, but I'm still not consistenly OK or back to my usual pretty cheerful self. So I have started on hrt - estradot 50 for the past 2 weeks, which seems to be going OK- and am due to start the utrogestan 200mg tomorrow. I'm going to use them vaginally to try to avoid side effects. I'm very scared that I will get changes to my mood and will go downhill again. If that is the case, do you think it will happen quickly or will it take weeks to show up? How did starting utrogestan make people feel? Thank you.

I went for vaginally for the same reason and it worked really well. Almost a bit too well as it takes a week for my period to arrive. But it does work well. It's more locally absorbed so v effective for bleeding.

I can't remember the half life but iirc it would take 2-3 days to reach peak levels in blood if taken orally.

I'm trying continuous orally and I think will go back to vaginally tbh. less in blood so theoretically less side effects as only one tablet but I think I may feel a tad groggy in the mornings.

However most women find they adjust over time and side effects diminish. So I should probably perverse but I also have too much on in the mornings to cope!

@WarriorN thanks for replying. Did you have anxiety/depression before you started hrt? Did it help? I don't have any other symptoms really.

Following with interest OP as my history is similar in that I've only experienced MH issues since I was in my 40's.

How old are you?

I'm 50 - I have always had depression/anxiety and taken antidepressants, but it became much worse over the past year. It was also very bad pre and post-natally.

It's hard to explain as anxiety and low mood in me is linked to / caused by fatigue and pain. Those significantly increased in peri and could be cyclical. Hrt definitely helped with both of those a and very quickly. I became very buoyant within a few weeks. Patches and using utrogestan vaginally. I've only switched to oral this week.

Prior to that, mood wise, irritation and rage were definitely peri related. I stopped wanting to cry with any anxiety and instead would chew over annoyances or feel enraged. It wasn't very nice.

I've since felt a little depressed but that has been a direct result of stopping breast feeding my son early summer. I've lost the oxytocin from that and it was really notable. (I was still feeding him when I started hrt). I also think I went very down hill peri wise after Easter. Oestrogen levels were too low despite patches. So I don't think my experiences can be compared.

I actually feel taking it orally is making me a bit dopey so I'm going to go back to vaginally.

Gp says it's better for bleeding vaginally. Some women find utrogestan actually helps to chill them out.

Thanks @WarriorN. I'm not surprised you don't want to feel groggy with a little one to look after! My son is 14 so much less needy, although it's been very hard trying not to let him know just how unwell I've been.
I've decided I'm going to start the utrogestan (vaginally) this evening. I'm getting myself into a state worrying about it. It's day 14 of my cycle so I was meant to start tomorrow but I just want to get it started now.

If it helps, I noticed no side effects at all. It's localised so doesn't go through liver. But if course apprehension could potentially cause tension - but I know how hard that is to beat!

What does help anxiety for me though, amazingly well, is taurine and magnesium glycinate. www.larabriden.com/benefits-of-taurine-for-womens-health/ I now buy the powder with a scoop rather than the pills. It's added to energy drinks to counteract the caffeine. And has some medical uses (epilepsy I think?) as well as anxiety and sleep.

I also found when I started hrt, a good level of oestrogen really helps my sleep, as I've only ever used it vaginally. Which of course helps my anxiety!

Vaginally, I’m barely affected at all most most. Orally, my mental health was badly affected very quickly - within a couple of days. So if you’re like me, you’ll know very quickly. I also got much less painful ‘periods’ when talking the Utrogestan vaginally so that was another plus.

Most months, I mean

Sorry, should have added that I have a long history of anxiety and depression.

Thank you so much @SilverGlassHare @WarriorN for taking the time to reply. I feel a bit less panicky!

Hope it goes well :)

I do think increasing oestrogen helps confidence and well being. Sometimes you can feel a bit buzzy while you're getting used to it.

I started with what I thought was depression and anxiety at 38. I'm 41 now and started hrt last November. I'm no longer suffering from either and 100% believe it's peri menopause related.

If you use it vaginally do you just insert it up there with your finger like a tampon? And is it half of the oral dose? And is it best to do at bedtime j guess so it doesn't drop out?!
I've just started with the estrogen patches which are making me feel a bit nauseous, due to start taking the progesterone tablets in 12 days I think

@TriffidInMyShower that's interesting. I have has both throughout my adult life so assumed (as did my psychiatrist) that I was having a relapse when I became very unwell last September. But after nearly a year of treatment with various antidepressants/anti- anxiety meds I think it's time to see if hormone treatment works any better.
@Arcadia I believe its the same dose put up as far as you can. I'm hoping it doesn't fall out!

Yes, same dose as oral prescription and just shove as high as you can

Thanks both, I like the idea of not taking loads of pills!
I had v bad mental health postnatally, and not great during pregnancy either, I wonder if some of us are more sensitive to hormonal changes than others?

And don’t worry if you see some in the toilet in the morning - you should still be getting enough (I think that’s why the dose is the same as it is orally).

@WarriorN I am not sure if I picked up this correctly from your post. If you use Utrogestan vaginally, on a cycle, the dose is still 2 capsules. I know that some drs are telling women to use 1 capsule, but the British Menopause Society produced a very 'strong' report on this in January saying a half dose, vaginally, was not correct. (I've linked to it here a few times.)

Apologies if I've misunderstood what you posted.

That's what I meant, exactly the same dosage as you've been prescribed orally. Sorry if not clear but thanks for clarifying in case it reads wrong.

Ah yes I was saying "yes" and agreeing with SameKeyThough but it it could be read incorrectly.

Thanks @JinglingHellsBells for clarifying because I saw a video somewhere of a woman saying to take half the dose, I think.

Well the first night is done! No issues putting them in, was much easier than I expected actually. Slept fine, woke up slightly anxious but I've been like that for months so no change there. I'll post updates in case anyone is interested!

I'm pleased that went well for you :)

I reverted to vaginally and don't feel hung over. Though I'm not sure if I'm allowing long enough between food and taking it.