How do you remind yourself to take Utrogestan for 14 days each month?

[Natureyhello]

Maybe a daft question. And I know I’m having a tech blind spot here, but how do you remind yourselves to take the progesterone pill for 14 days each month?

I tried setting a reminder in my calendar, but it’s such a faff to get the days to set it right (Ie: I can set it every single day, rather than for 14 on and 14 off).

Is there an app you use?

Just a bit worried about missing a pill! And since it’s not every single day, a daily reminder won’t work!

I am about to start taking them today! Started the oestrogel 15 days ago.

I use a paper calendar and write down when I need to replace my HRT patches and with what patch. Could you use a similar system?

I can just as easily do 12 as I can 14. Not sure which to pick!

How about 13?

I also have a reminder on my phone on the first day of taking utrogestan

I'd set a reminder for day one to repeat in 29 days. And copy that to day 2 through to 14.

Then you will get 14 days of reminders and 14 without.

I take it on the 15th-26th of the month and have them out on my bedside table so I remember at bedtime.

The reason 13 is not generally suggested is that it's an 'odd' number unlike 14 - so two weeks from say Tues - Tues.

Picking 13 is slightly harder to remember the routine

I had this exact issue, and I have been using a free iPhone app called My Therapy. It has really flexible reminders including n days on, n days off, which you need for Utrogestan. It is really, really good. It also reminds me on my patch change days.

@Natureyhello The medical advice is....

The option of 12 or 14 days is there because some women bleed heavily on the withdrawal bleed. Using progesterone for 14 days can help reduce the bleeding because it has an 'anti- growth' effect on the womb lining.

Also, many women find they have some side effects with progesterone, so using it for a few days as possible, but keeping the lining under control, means 12 days is fine.

It's only very recently that 14 days has become standard advice but this was suggested by one private GP, who wrote a guidance for other GPs, and said it was 'easier' for women to remember 14 days / 2 weeks, rather than counting to 12 (debatable!)

It was never a medical decision - suggesting 14 days- but one that was supposed to help women remember.

The reason 13 is not generally suggested is that it's an 'odd' number unlike 14 - so two weeks from say Tues - Tues.

I understand that 2 weeks/14 days is easy to remember when doing 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off

But why 12 days and not 13 or 11??

Place marking this, as also struggling to remember to take them. Once I've started I'm fine, but it's remembering the first of the block that keeps defeating me!

I take it 12 days a month as directed by my consultant gynaecologist, also that’s what it states in the information supplied in the box. I don’t follow my cycle as I am 7.5 yrs post hysterectomy so no periods.

I use a one month pill organiser. I also put the dates in my phone as a back up.

@Pinkdafodils The amount of progesterone used in HRT is based on the scientific research of how much is needed to keep the womb lining thin when using estrogen.

12 days is considered the dose that would suit most women the best when using a low-medium dose of estrogen.

Under supervision, from a consultant, some women use less ( 10 days, or more weeks of estrogen-only.) But these variations are only done on a 1:1 basis. The lower doses are often monitored by private scans to check the womb lining.

I write day 15 and day 28 on my phone calendar and just hope I remember to look. I do know the days not taking them go past much faster than the days taking them (I struggle taking pills and these always seem to get stuck :( )

Why don't you have an alert set, so it flashes up on your phone daily / the start day, whatever?

You can customise these easily.

I think someone suggested it upthread but I use an app called mytherapy. You set the medication cycle and it sends you a notification on the 12 'on' days to remind you to take the pill. It will also remind you when you need to re order your medication.

I made so I started them on the first of every month and keep them next to the gel with 'first' written on the box!

I have always had a large wall calendar in the kitchen- everything gets written on it for the whole family. I write down when I need to change my patches and when I need to take the utrogestan.

Also as far as the number of days I take utro? I aim for 12 but some months the side effects are so awful I have to stop at say day 9. I always get a decent bleed though.

What side effects are you getting? I’m only on day 4.

Yes I’m curious about this too! What side effects are people getting?

No side effects for me on the first day so far…

I know I’m going to get told off but I only take one utrogestan tablet a night for 12 nights when I’m meant to take two. I did used to take two and I hated how I felt, so dropped it down. I still have natural periods so nothing has really changed to make me feel like I’m doing anything detrimental (although I know Mumsnet talks about the importance of taking progesterone correctly). My bleed amount is the same, I feel excellent all night, I’m just going to carry on unless something changes.

*all month

What side effects are you getting? I’m only on day 4.

I didn't tolerate Utrogestan at all. I basically got a return of most of the peri symptoms, especially anxiety.

I now take Duphaston and it's great.

Oh that’s interesting! Never heard of that.

I must also say that HRT has given me the most ridiculously large breasts I could now be a page three girl. They are both annoying and mesmerising in equal measure. It’s a shame DP isn’t a boob man. Perhaps I should get a plaster cast made of them just for nostalgia before they hit my knees.

I put the first day I need to take them in my phone calendar, then on that day put 12 days' worth on my bedside table.