Body identical progesterone better?

[bitachey]

I’ve been prescribed Evorel Sequi patches for peri menopause. I’ve put off starting them as I keep reading about the terrible side effects in the progesterone 2 weeks. I hated the combined pill as I was so bloated and grumpy! Really sore boobs too.

My SIL who is a pharmacist says I need to get the body identical progesterone as the side effects are less.

Shoukd I go back to the GP? I’m quite annoyed that this wasn’t discussed.

I would give it a try and rely on your own experience rather than other people's. I've just started HRT and am doing fine on it so far despite the fact that I always expect to react badly to things. I've been pleasantly surprised so far.
Everyone is different,you can go back and ask for something different if you need to.

If you struggled taking the pill then yes. Go back and ask for utrogestan (natural progesterone). I was suicidal on the first type of HRT I was given, it was terrifying, no problems at all with utrogestan

I'd suggest you see how you go.

The progestogen in patches is not the same one as in the Pill, for a start.
So you can't really compare.

Your SIL isn't correct. It's a very personal thing. There are women here who hate micronised progesterone (that's the one your SIL says) and who want to get off it asap.

Others are very happy with it.

I've used both- Norethisterone (which is probably the one in your patch) and micronised progesterone.

I had some side effects with both - and completely different ones.

I swapped to micronised progesterone as it's slightly safer long term, re. cancer risks if you intend to stay on HRT for over 5 years.

Thanks all! Still can’t decide. 🙃

@JinglingHellsBells I think on average there are less side effects. Louise Newsom’s website also states this.

I had the opposite experience, I couldn't get on with micronised progesterone couldn't cope with nausea and bleeding so I now get my progesterone from the mirena which really suits me. I will have to reconsider when this coil runs out and give utogestan another go because I will have been on HRT for well over 5 years.

It's very individual.

Some women are fine on it, others hate it!

The side effects are different. It can lower mood, cause drowsiness, tummy upsets, and skin problems (spots.)

I find it fine if used vaginally.

On the other hand I found Norethisterone not too bad, but it's an 'androgeneic' form and that means it's related more to male hormones. This can cause mood issues, PMS, and also acne (I used to get a regular horrible spot on the chin each cycle.)

Horses for courses!

@TinaWeymouthsBass You can have another Mirena when it runs out.

I had utrogestan when they ran out of patches I was so ill! Bleeding and nausea and headaches

Couldn't wait to get back on the patches x

@JinglingHellsBells
ive had lots of mirenas over the years but am nearly 55 and been on HRT for 8 years and intend to remain on it as long as possible so think swapping to a body identical progesterone rather than synthetic may be a safer option.

I hated my Mirena and get migraines so she said to avoid the pills. It’s such a minefield. The body identical is only now being prescribed on the NHS in Scotland, since July. Previously it was private prescription only. Interesting hearing everyone’s experiences.