Progesterone - how long without a period to go without it?

[HelenHywater]

I am really intolerant of progesterone and wondered when I'd be able to go without it? How long without a period before you don't have to take it?

And if you are on it (and therefore having bleeds) how do you know that you can stop it (because you're actually menopausal rather than peri menopausal)?

Watching with interest, I’ve often wondered this.

Although, I don’t know what progesterone you’re on, but the Evorel Conti patches affected me really badly. I switched to Utrogestan tablets and they’ve been great.

If you have a uterus you always need progesterone regardless of having periods. Only thing that changes is whether you take it on a cyclical or continous basis.

I didn't know that @Cheesybiscuits01 - why is that?

It just makes me feel so shit. But I want the benefits of HRT.

Absolutely cannot stop taking progesterone if you are taking oestrogen hrt, its main function is to protect the womb lining from building up which is a cancer risk. Thays why women will be at the very least be prescribed a progestin like the coil or Conti patches which will do this but not have the systemic benefits that body identical progesterone (utrogeston) does. As said above sometimes switching from one form to another helps, taking it vaginally rather than orally, some women add a pump of O on P days (i think on the basis P can 'mop up' O but not at all sure)

Oestrogen on its own causes overgrowth of the lining of the womb. This can lead to cancer. As pp mentions mirena or utrogestan are better alternatives.

The latest guidance from NICE says that in peri you can have a 3-month cycle, so that means taking it for 2 weeks out of every 12.cks.nice.org.uk/topics/menopause/prescribing-information/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/

See this...

For perimenopausal women, monthly or 3-monthly cyclical regimens may be used.

A 3-monthly regimen may be more suitable for women with infrequent periods or who are intolerant to progestogens. See the section on adverse effects for more information.

A monthly regimen produces monthly bleeding whilst a 3-monthly regimen produces a bleed every 3 months.

A continuous combined regimen is not suitable for use in the perimenopause or within 12 months of the last menstrual period.

Note: the absence of bleeding whilst taking a cyclical regimen reflects an atrophic endometrium.

Exclude pregnancy in perimenopausal women or women with premature ovarian insufficiency.

Check compliance with therapy if the progestogen component is taken separately.

If HRT was initiated in the perimenopause, consideration should be given to switching from monthly or 3-monthly cyclical regimens to continuous combined regimens after the woman becomes postmenopausal.

Most GPs won't offer this, (it has been used privately that way for years often with access to a scan if there is odd bleeding that needs checking out.)