Has anyone REALLY not got on with Utrogestan?

[Hairfriar]

I’ve been OKish on evorel sequi for 18 months and recently switched to utrogestan for the progesterone, as the prescriber thought it might be a good tweak. I’ve been getting some PMS symptoms when I’m on the combined patches, and with utrogestan being bio identical, he felt that might improve my symptoms. Well, last month was awful. One of the worst months ever since I began hrt. My mood was awful, headaches came back every day. I had intrusive thoughts, I’ve been so irritable it’s been really difficult to function.

I really thought this would be an improvement, being bio identical. But I’m terrified to take it again. Was it a freak month? It was it the utrogestan switch?

Yep couldn't cope with it at all so I got the coil. I never thought I would get it but it's been so much better for me.

When i first got her I felt like I was under a dark cloud.
This lifted a bit and I got used to the great sleep so told the gp I was all good.
We've had utrogestan shortages so for now I'm on provera and swear I feel better.

Thank you for your replies.

@Funfuntimes12 what was is that meant you didn’t get on with it?

@whatisforteamum i definitely feel like I’ve been in a very black cloud. It’s over a week since I stopped and feeling more and more like my old self. There’s no way I can take another round if it’s going to be almost a whole month of feeling like that with a few days reprieve.

I’ve been reading up trying to find out about side effects of utrogestan- weakened bladder is one. And this month I’ve noticed I’ve been waking in the night to urinate more, as well as some incontinence which is still pretty unusual for me, and been quite a shock.

I could live with that, to be honest, but the black cloud I cannot deal with again.

Reading that taking vaginally can help some women, but now wondering how that affect absorption and I’m too scared.

Ooh you are brave. My last IUD (no hormones) was agony being put in. I’m also worried that I still might get side effects. Would you mind giving me a few more details? I’d so appreciate it. Thank you and so pleased to hear it’s working for you.

@Hairfriar Loads of women don't get on with it.

It's become the 'go to' prescription because of the possible lower risk of breast cancer, if someone is on HRT long term.

But it actually annoys me that women are made to believe it's some kind of wonder drug and they will fine fine on it.

I was on a different progestogen for years then I asked to change to Utrogestan. My consultant 'warned' me I'd either love it or hate it. And if I hated it, I'd have swapped back to something else.

I don't hate it, it's bearable using it vaginally, and I do it long cycle (longer than 4 weeks).

I wish drs would make it clear to women that there are plenty of other options, including the tablet Femoston which is almost as body-identical, and tablet form is safe for younger women with no clotting risk , and there are patches too.

Reading that taking vaginally can help some women, but now wondering how that affect absorption and I’m too scared.

This is covered in the report / research on progesterone by the British Menopause Society.
Absorption is the same, orally or vaginally.

Thanks so much @JinglingSpringbells . I think I’m going to go back to patches. I only wanted to ‘tweak’ my hrt, because in general it’s been great. Just a few niggles with PMS symptoms when I swap to combined patch for half a month. Nothing like what I’ve just experienced.

Yes... First few months of it weren't too bad but it progressively got worse, like my body was fighting it. Would develop depressive symptoms and horrible brain fog as soon as I started it and it would linger a few days even after I'd finished the cycle. Switched to vaginal (two capsules//night for 14 days) and got so bloated I almost couldn't go into work because was struggling to find clothes that fit (this has NEVER happened to me before). It was like monster PMS or something. The Dr now has me trialling only one capsule vaginally for only 10 days per month. I know this is not normal procedure and it must be done with Dr's supervision (we will be trialling a few months, then doing tests to ensure uterus is fine, etc.--I'm going private). But if this doesn't work I'll have to consider other options. I also have a friend who completely quit HRT because of it; was getting terrible migraines whenever she was on it. So I do think lots of people don't get on with it.

@JinglingSpringbells by long cycle, do you mean leaving longer between taking the progesterone so reducing the number of periods you have? I used to do this when I was on the contraceptive pill by skipping ‘breaks’. I had thought that would really suit me.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/menopause/4776608-utrogestan-hopelessness

This is my thread from April.

Thanks for this thread OP.
So useful to hear others have the same issues.
Been on utrogestan for 2 years now and I hate it.
Jingling is right, they really do hold it up as the best option, even when you try to explain that it feels wrong.
Also have migraines and get really depressed, vivid nightmares and a dark mood that will not shift. Dread the 12 days of taking it every month. When I take it everything seems so bleak and hopeless (totally agree Moredarkchocolateplease) and I just feel physically crap.
My gp is a completely and utterly tone deaf (& she's the 'expert' on hrt at the practise) so I'm going to have to get a bit more determined about asking to try something else or find a bloody private clinic!
Good luck with your situation!

I had to stop
Taking it , made me feel so dizzy and nauseous all day long

Yes @Hairfriar I do this through my consultant (it's private and I've done it this way for many years, right from when I started HRT) but NICE guidance (updated Sept 22 ) does say that women who are intolerant to progesterone can do cycles of up to 3 months. You could talk to your GP about it.

I'm a life long insomniac. When I took Utrogestan, I slept a minimum of 10 hours per night, sometimes up to 14 hours per night. During the waking hours, I was permanently tired and lethargic. My mood plummeted and I was very irritable. My balance was also adversely affected. Using Utrogestan vaginally didn't alleviate any of these side effects.

I hope things improve for you with a change in your HRT regime.

I’m hate it too and I’ve recently discovered that Pfizer have relaunched Duavive (Duavee in US) and it means that you don’t need a progestin as well. No idea why and increased risks state bloodcots which is worrying to me. I’ve spoken to the pharmacist attached to my GP and asked for a discussion. I’m scared to have a Mirena fitted and as I’m over 50 I should be taking Utrogestan daily - no way! I won’t want to live!

So let’s see what Duavive is all about. I’ve also considered doubling my Estradiol dose to balance the Progestin but doubt this is a good idea.

I'd be really interested to hear your thoughts.

VK.

Yes me. I’ve had a horrible time on it the last few months, been taking it daily orally. I’m 49. Really dark mood, suicidal thoughts. Never experienced anything like it. Had to take time off work, couldn’t get to speak to a GP for ages and when I eventually did I was so bad they referred me to an emergency mental health team and sent a policeman round to do a welfare check. Felt better within 2 days of stopping it. I’m now trying it vaginally, in my own initiative, GP no help whatsoever.

@VictoriaSophieK

Duavive is a SERM similar to another one (Raloxifene) used for osteoporosis, combined with a synthetic estrogen.

It is not yet licensed in the UK and would be primarily for women using it for low bone density along with meno symptoms.

I came off HRT because of it. Piled on weight, felt nauseous for the 12 days I was on it. Massive tender boobs. Just hideous. And I had told the sodding Newson health woman that I didn’t respond well to progestogen. Honestly - I felt scammed by them.

I’m wondering if this is what’s causing my migraines to get worse. For around the past 6 months, or so, I’ve noticed that during the two weeks I take Utrogestan I can guarantee a headache every day, and around 6 migraines. I’ve been to the gp who just added in extra medication to take when I have the migraines and I’ve spent the best part of £350, since March, on Acupuncture.

In the past the contraceptive pill and the Mirena coil have made my migraines worse so it could be. I keep saying to DH that I’m going to knock the HRT on the head, maybe I should just do it. Getting a GP appointment is like getting an audience with the King atm.

I’m so sorry to hear you’re bad experiences. Not sure what to do now. Hoisted on my own petard so to speak. Anyone got a better solution?

It gave me crippling stomach pains. I tried both orally and vaginally. Im now on patches which are better than nothing but I much preferred Elleste Duet.

Thank you for this, @Moredarkchocolateplease . I had a read of it last night and your experience sounds so similar to mine.

That sounds horrendous. What an awful experience. Your description of symptoms resonates with me. I’m not taking those tablets again.

It’s so hard to see a GP. In fact, since the initial phone conversation with my GP when I requested HRT, about 2 years ago, I’ve not seen my GP at all, or spoken to him. I’ve never seen in person the pharmacist that does my telephone review and changes my prescriptions. What a state of affairs! If my practice is representative of the rest of the country, we’re in a right mess with a huge shortage of GPs and it seems women’s health is being neglected.

I’m really grateful for the likes of @JinglingSpringbells who give such great information on here. I think the only way forward is for us to share information and learn about the ‘mechanics’ so we can advocate for ourselves.

@Hairfriar yes it was, I had never experienced suicidal thoughts before, I was viewing everything as as possible opportunity. Horrible. I wasn’t at home when the police came but my children were and were terrified that something had happened to me.

I’ve been trying them vaginally for about a week and my mood is badly affected again. Stopped today. For people who are sensitive to it, those tablets are extremely dangerous.