urtogestan - can I stop taking it after day 8?!

Menopausingperi · 2023-02-11T19:03:46+00:00

I posted about how i’m not getting along well with utrogestan already. Sorry for the second post about it! I’m on day 8 of utrogestan, and this is my first month of HRT. I have now started brown spotting and am dreading taking my next two 100mg capsules tonight. I’ve been headachey, nauseous, jittery and a bit lightheaded, which has gradually built up over the last week or so since I started it. Can I stop taking it? Or would that be dangerous as I’m applying one pump of oestrogel daily? Anyone else had funny side effects from utrogestan?

Original poster

Menopausingperi · 11/02/2023 20:44

Just bumping this as my timer has gone off to take my utrogestan!

OP posts:

JinglingSpringbells · 11/02/2023 20:56

you really need to try to keep going. Side effects are very common. Sometimes they reduce the more you use it over a few months.
You shouldn't stop just because the bleed has begun.

You're taking it quite early in the evening- are you off to bed now? It can cause dizziness so it's best taken no more than 15 mins before you go to sleep.

If you don't get on with it, ask your dr for a change of type after a few weeks. There are many other types of hrt (patches or tablets) and this type doesn't suit everyone.

Original poster

Menopausingperi · 11/02/2023 21:06

JinglingSpringbells · 11/02/2023 20:56

you really need to try to keep going. Side effects are very common. Sometimes they reduce the more you use it over a few months.
You shouldn't stop just because the bleed has begun.

You're taking it quite early in the evening- are you off to bed now? It can cause dizziness so it's best taken no more than 15 mins before you go to sleep.

If you don't get on with it, ask your dr for a change of type after a few weeks. There are many other types of hrt (patches or tablets) and this type doesn't suit everyone.

Thank you, jingling! I will keep going with it.

I do go to bed early! So will be going to sleep in about half an hour, which is why I take it when I do.

Should I finish this month and then talk about a different type? Or go a few more cycles?

OP posts:

Xrays · 11/02/2023 21:12

Only one pump of oestrogel?! That’s a really low dose. Normal dose is 2-4 pumps, most people are on 2 or 3. It may be that your oestrogen dose is too low rather than the utrogestan causing issues. I would keep going with it .

Xrays · 11/02/2023 21:14

It’s also very normal to have breakthrough bleeding or even a period or two when you first start HRT and it can take a while to settle. (I had bleeding on and off for my first few months and now have none at all- I’m on oestrogel 3 pumps, utrogestan 100mg every night and the mini pill).

Original poster

Menopausingperi · 11/02/2023 21:42

Xrays · 11/02/2023 21:12

Only one pump of oestrogel?! That’s a really low dose. Normal dose is 2-4 pumps, most people are on 2 or 3. It may be that your oestrogen dose is too low rather than the utrogestan causing issues. I would keep going with it .

The doctor said start with one pump the first month and then I can up it the second. Although I am slightly doubting myself now - I thought she meant the first month, but maybe she meant “at first”?

Do you think two pumps will help balance out the progesterone?

OP posts:

Original poster

Menopausingperi · 11/02/2023 21:42

Xrays · 11/02/2023 21:14

It’s also very normal to have breakthrough bleeding or even a period or two when you first start HRT and it can take a while to settle. (I had bleeding on and off for my first few months and now have none at all- I’m on oestrogel 3 pumps, utrogestan 100mg every night and the mini pill).

That’s reassuring to know!

OP posts:

TitsInAbsentia · 11/02/2023 21:48

First couple of months on utrogestan were horrible for me. I ended up going down to just 1 x 100 capsule. I tried vaginally but that was just a bit messy. I take 2 for the first couple of days then go down to 1 and take them for a bit longer. I know it's not what's prescribed but it still works for me and stops be bludgeoning my husband and colleagues with a spoon...

HairyKitty · 11/02/2023 22:22

@Menopausingperi i imagine the very low (half of a starting dose) of oestrogel will definitely not be helping

WarriorNun · 12/02/2023 06:56

My Gp was happy for me to use vaginally, it's off licence in the uk like this but is done elsewhere.

More oestrogen may help; I certainly couldn't deal with it when I first started and used it vaginally. I'm on much more oestrogen now and actually found I need it. I'm on a completely different regime too now.

There are different sorts though it's best to give it a good 3 months or more to see how you do.

thebms.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/14-BMS-TfC-Progestogens-and-endometrial-protection-01H.pdf

JinglingSpringbells · 12/02/2023 08:44

The doctor said start with one pump the first month and then I can up it the second. Although I am slightly doubting myself now - I thought she meant the first month, but maybe she meant “at first”?

There is no absolute 'right and wrong'.

Some women will never need more than 1 pump, others will need 4.

Your dr was being quite sensible to suggest a low starting dose. Many women come along here, floored by the impact of 2 pumps at once and then give up on it altogether.

I started on half a pump as advised by my specialist. They didn't give me a timescale for increasing but said play it by ear.

For me it was easy to work out what I needed as my symptoms were purely physical- hourly hot flushes and night sweats- so I increased until they disappeared.

Unfortunately, Utrogestan has become the 'go to' progesterone (as it is safer in some ways) but this is a recent change with prescribing. It doesn't suit all women. The tablet form of HRT called Femoston is a very good alternative with an almost-identical progesterone to Utrogestan.