Absolutely hate Utrogestan - is there an alternative?

[AreWeThereYet69]

I feel fantastic during the estrogen part of my hrt cycle (I take divigel) but when I add in the utrogestan I feel awful, headaches, exhausted, emotional...I would say worse than perimenopause symptoms. I think I might be progesterone insensitive (I could never handle the contraceptive pill).
Has anyone found changing types of progesterone helped with this? I've tried vaginally and that didn't help either.
I've actually been skipping the utrogestan but have been told that is dangerous as can cause endometrial cancer.
I'd be gutted to have to stop hrt altogether 😥

Yes GP in England but I did have to refer to the Nice guidelines which give the option of a 3 month cycle if you have been on HRT for over a year.

I've not seen anything saying it has a lower risk than Utrogestan. The stats in the research says it's around the same, but just ever so slightly higher.

@PetShopGals Yes GP in England but I did have to refer to the Nice guidelines which give the option of a 3 month cycle if you have been on HRT for over a year.

Can you link to this as it sounds as if it is new. Never seen it by NICE.

(I use a long cycle regime anyway but that's with a private meno specialist.)

There is a form of HRT- Tridestra- which is a 3-monthly cycle.
However, it is tablet form and it's not body identical hrt.

The official guidance unless the NICE guidance is newer, says that long cycles are okay-ish but in the longer term there is a small risk of hyperplasia. That's why anyone using that sort usually has scans about once a year (and rarely would the NHS fund that.)

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/menopause/prescribing-information/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/
See the section on regimen

@PetShopGals That's intriguing! Thank you.

It appears to contradict the information that is out there in other guidance.

For example, all the info on long cycle says there is a risk of hyperplasia if it's used long term, and that women who are post menopause should use continuous to reduce this risk.

(Although they don't mention there is a risk to breasts with continuous.)

I used a 3 month cycle for several years in late peri but this was very much off label through a meno consultant.

The bleeding got too much as it was 3 months' worth of lining coming away and I had a lot of pain.

I have gradually reduced the cycle and it's now usually a 2-month cycle, sometimes a bit shorter.

There is a small risk of hyperplasia with longer cycles, and if anyone does choose that it's probably best they have scans now and then to check all is ok.

I hated utrogestan and recently changed to everol sequi patches and tolerate progesterone fine that way.

I’ve written a couple of long-winded comments about this, so I try and be brief.

Duavive - made by Pfizer- check it out as no progestin needed! Whoohoo! I hope this is the answer.

How long did it take you to feel better after using utrogestan internally? I took it orally for 12 days, felt utterly dreadful so was advised to insert it internally. Have done this for 2 days now but still feeling dreadful. Am considering just stopping.

How long did you start to feel better after using it internally. I was on it orally and felt dreadful so switched over the last 2 days to internal but still feel utterly dreadful. Not sure if I need to give it longer or give in and stop taking it.

Weird as it sounds (if you take utrogestan for 12 days and then a 16 day break), it can take 3 full months for your body to get used to it.
I can’t fathom how it can get used to it when you aren’t taking it continuously, but if you haven’t completed at least 3 or 4 full mo the then there’s definitely still a chance that you will be able to take it with almost no side effects at all

I have ecover Sequi patches and they suit me more than utrogestan