Little 'survey' on Utrogestan

[JinglingSpringbells]

With all the shortages of this I'm really curious.

Is everyone being offered Utrogestan now as the default progesterone?
Are you asking for it or being given it with no discussion?

If so, I think it's happened because of a training manual for GPs written by a meno dr, to help make prescribing easier and they don't have to think about it.

It's a bit odd because almost daily, this forum is full of women asking for support with it and not liking it.

I moved onto it after 6 years on Norethisterone because it's supposed to be safer for long term use. I was warned I'd love it or hate it!

But for women using HRT for 5 years or less, the other options are safe and it always used to be accepted that up to 5 years had negligible risks.

The other options are
Mirena coil

Dydrogesterone (only as part of Femoston except in Ireland where it can be prescribed on its own along with gel/ ptaches.)

Norethisterone (in all patches and most tablets) but can be prescribed alone to use with gel or estrogen patches.

MPA - in many patches and tablets

Provera (same as MPA but can be prescribed as a tablet rather than as part of a combined estrogen+progestogen pack of tablets.)

I didn't want a Mirena.
I didn't want northisterone.
I had to have continuous progesterone and patches/gel.

Left Provera and Utrogestan - specialist said Utrogestan was better.

Absolutely no problems with it at all.

I wasn’t really given any option on the progesterone element when I started HRT about 18 months ago. It was a mirena or Utrogestan. If I’m honest I don’t get along with it and it seems to affect my mood quite badly. But there is no way I’m having a coil. If my GP were more knowledgeable I would ask to change but she’s given me such utterly incorrect information on HRT I’m reluctant to have the conversation.

It is probably my fault WE have a shortage. I have packets of the stuff as I can never remember when to take it. I've not ordered any for 6 MONTHS and have boxes and boxes

😮Is it on some sort of rolling repeat that you don't need to request?

I refused Mirena
Mini pill put me in hospital with migraines
Combined patch gave me week long migraine so I spent 3 months on only oestrogen
Last ditch I asked GP if I could try vaginal utrogestan and thankfully they agreed, I love oestrogen and it has been life changing and didn't want to give it up

Can’t do patches.
Had problems with the pill.
Can’t do Mirena.
Utrogestan was what I was offered, but due to shortages my prescription is only month by month.

A good few years ago whilst on tablet hrt l heard of utrogestan and l asked my gp if l cold swap to it (alongside estrodot) as l had read it was the 'gold standard' of progesterones. However it didn't suit me at all and gave me stomach cramps as well as making me feel quite unwell. The gp stopped my hrt and sent me for a scan as the pain persisted for some months. The scan was clear and l was finally allowed to restart hrt. I couldn't take noresthisterone so went on low dose Femostan ( tablet hrt) which l've been on with no trouble ever since.

I was prescribed Utrogestan and evorel patches at my first HRT appointment last year, no discussion or other options offered but I was so pleased they were giving me the HRT I didn’t question it.

It was fine for the first few months and even helped me sleep really well for a while. Last couple of months have not been so good. I’m 7 days in to current cycle and feel I have hardly slept all week, having very vivid dreams, and waking frequently to go to the loo. Last night I woke with a banging headache.

Had no idea about the other options- are these likely to be prescribed if I tell GP I’m having so many issues?

Utrogestan was what I was offered, daily along with oestrogel as I am postmenopausal. It works very well for me, no issues.

I haven't noticed shortages, it's always available when I need it. I wonder if this is because I'm in the EU (Ireland) not the UK? I've just checked the packet and mine came from the Netherlands.

I requested utrogestan because of the lower risks. To my surprise, the gp prescribed 200mg utrogestan pessaries. It's only been one cycle but so far so good.
The only other option I was offered was the Mirena, which I wasn't keen on.

I had a Mirena but it was due to be changed during Covid and I was convinced to change to Utrogestan.

However I didn’t get on with Utrogestan orally, after reading online advice I tried it vaginally which was better but when I mentioned this during a HRT review I was criticised for doing this and told I should only take it orally.
Finally this year, after pestering my gp, I was able to have a new Mirena.

Like @Doggymummar I somehow ended up with packets of Utrogestan, I did return them to the pharmacy although I understand it is likely they were destroyed.

I was only offered estrogen patches + sequential utrogestan. It’s been 18 months and worked well. But pretty much each time I get a new prescription at least one of them is out of stock.

I tried several of the other options before being offered Utrogestan and I instantly felt loads better on it, random bleeding stopped and I lost weight.

I was recommended the Mirena, but after a hideous (unsuccessful) fitting lasting over an hour and with 3 specialists (not at my GP surgery) unable to do it. I opted for Utrogestan.
I’m getting on just fine with it.
So far no supply issues.

I couldn’t tolerate the Mirena I tried about 10 years ago.

I resisted HRT for a few years due to being a migraine sufferer and having concerns about clots, and familial history of breast cancer. My symptoms got so bad earlier this year that I had a mental breakdown, in the midst of severe peri-induced depression and anxiety. I hadn’t slept properly for two years and had most of the worst peri symptoms. My GP went through a thorough risk assessment with me to see if we could find a way for me to have HRT safely. The combination of oestrogen patches (because transdermal methods carry a lower clotting risk) and Utrogestan (as micronised progesterone has less breast cancer risk) was the only option that could be recommended.

I’m just starting my third month and it has transformed my life - I am starting to get back to being able to function again and am back at work after 3 months off. No side effects beyond some very mild and common ones for the first few days, only huge benefits. My brain is working again, I’m sleeping, my joints don’t hurt, I’m able to function without anxiety and my mood is so much better. I get out of bed easily and have so much more energy.

They will have to fight me if they want to take my Utrogestan away. I think I might well not be here any more if I hadn’t started treatment when I did. I had to wait 3 weeks for my first lot to be available but no supply issue since.

I resisted the mirena because I didn’t like it very much when I used it for birth control (that said, I used them for 9 years so I didn’t like them that much). I thought mirena destroyed my sex drive when I used it in my 30s.

I struggled with the combo of utogesteron and birth control and struggled to access both from my GP. I finally got a mirena for a quiet life and get on really well with it in combo with oestrogen and testosterone. My sex drive is the best of my adult life - keeping in mind I have been on hormonal bc since I was 18 and I my off long enough to have a few babies.

No it's a private prescription and Dr did six months initially then three on the next one. But I have to take it for 14 days from day 14 of the cycle by the time I remember it's usually much later and my period starts again. They are about 19 days apart now.

I was offered mirena coil or tablet. I said yes to tablet and it was utrogestan I was prescribed. I was glad as I’d done my research and wanted estrogel and utrogestan which was the doctor’s suggestion. I’ve had no problems with it and use continuously as no bleeding for a few years (with exception of two random periods which we’re investigated and I think was the Covid vaccine) over a year ago

@Doggymummar It sounds as if you not taking them the right way.

Did the dr not explain? The idea is to create a new cycle with HRT which will be regular. It's impossible to use it following a natural cycle because in time they will be less and less regular.

The leaflet says take 12-14 days in 'each therapeutic cycle'.
The key word is 'therapeutic' (therapy) meaning this is an HRT cycle, not your own.

The way to do this is to start Utrogestan on the same day each month such as the 1st, and stick to that. This will create a new HRT cycle.

Really? No she said take it for 14 days from day 14 of my cycle so 14 days after bleeding starts. During the 14 free days at some point a bleed will occur and the count begins again. I had it in my calender but the bleeding started getting more erratic and I gave up. I threw the boxes away after the first couple of months as they didn't fit in my bedside pill holder but that's what the pharmacy instructions said too. I will email her to check.

Not the pills just the boxes btw

Take two capsules at bedtime on days 15 to 26 of your 28- day cycle.
You will usually have a few days withdrawal bleeding (like a period) after this time.
Continue to take your estrogen HRT every day.
If you have any problems with the withdrawal bleed, your doctor may change the way that you take Utrogestan. This will help to reduce the amount of withdrawal bleeding.

Yes, really!

It's not sustainable because in peri your periods will be all over the place.
What happens when you miss two or three or six in a row? (For example.)

You've already found it doesn't work doing it that way.

I've been on HRT for 15 years- private menopause consultant who trains other drs.

The pharmacy will only print what the dr has written on the script.

There are loads of other women here (on the forum) using it and they will tell you the same.

Not quite sure about emailing her as then she has to admit she's got it wrong or she may insist her way is right.

@Doggymummar That's what is on the leaflet BUT it's missing out the word 'therapeutic'.

The leaflet says 'take for 12 days from day 15 of each therapeutic cycle.'

(You can read this on your own leaflet/ boxes.)

The therapeutic means the HRT (T=therapy) cycle. Not your own cycle.
Because women rarely have 28 day cycles and not in peri!

And, to make it easier, consultants advise using the same day each month - forget 28 days- it's over calendar months.

The government sent out a bulletin this morning saying that the Serious Shortage Protocol has been issued for utrogestan supplies.
Limited now to two months' supply. Maria Caulfield calls it 'decisive action'... I'll leave that right there.
Last time there was a shortage I got Provera which was a nightmare.