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Menopause

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Original poster

I hate progesterone

56 replies

GreenVelvetCushions · 11/10/2023 20:34

Seeing a private meno doc tomorrow and wondering about asking if i can take less progesterone as it makes me feel horrendous and my GP is useless.

I have been struggling with this for nearly 2 years.

Has anyone else found a way to cope with having to take progesterone?

OP posts:
Wnikat · 11/10/2023 20:38

Which are you taking? Some people find 100mg every day better than 200mg for 2 weeks. Or take it vaginally do lower dose. Or mirena coil

Original poster
GreenVelvetCushions · 11/10/2023 20:40

Taking vaginally
Hate the idea of a coil
What happens to your periods if you take every day?

OP posts:
wizbit123 · 11/10/2023 20:54

Have you tried taking 100mg orally? Your GP will advise you if you should take this daily or during certain days of your cycle (if you still have periods). This has helped me x

Orangedoll · 11/10/2023 21:01

I hated it so much I just stopped. I felt crazy when taking it, like I couldn’t think or cope with anything at all.

I honestly feel so much better taking nothing even though I’m still struggling with brain fog, sweats and exhaustion. My natural symptoms feel like a breeze in comparison to progesterone hell ☹️

Original poster
GreenVelvetCushions · 11/10/2023 22:00

Orangedoll · 11/10/2023 21:01

I hated it so much I just stopped. I felt crazy when taking it, like I couldn’t think or cope with anything at all.

I honestly feel so much better taking nothing even though I’m still struggling with brain fog, sweats and exhaustion. My natural symptoms feel like a breeze in comparison to progesterone hell ☹️

I'm going to see what the Dr comes up with. She's apparently a specialist in progesterone intolerance so will be interested to see what she says.

I've spent most of 2 years pissing about with my GP and I'm pretty sure I know more than they do, I've read so much. Decided to bite the bullet and pay for specialist help! I'm so tired of thinking about it.

I'll report back.

OP posts:
Original poster
GreenVelvetCushions · 11/10/2023 22:01

Orangedoll · 11/10/2023 21:01

I hated it so much I just stopped. I felt crazy when taking it, like I couldn’t think or cope with anything at all.

I honestly feel so much better taking nothing even though I’m still struggling with brain fog, sweats and exhaustion. My natural symptoms feel like a breeze in comparison to progesterone hell ☹️

I felt like this. But my aches & pains were bugging me after 3 moths off & my periods were really heavy.

OP posts:
CrystalMaisie · 11/10/2023 22:54

Mirena coil, no side effects at all here.

Bigcoatweather · 12/10/2023 08:31

I had a consultation with my private meno doctor and she has agreed with me that I will go down to one Utrogestan vaginally and have scans, as I just can’t tolerate two. I’m not particularly prone to depression, but they were finishing me off - really dark thoughts etc, unable to function.
Im switching from gel to patches as I’m struggling to absorb four pumps of gel.
In the new year I will be switching to combined patches as she hopes that taking a little progesterone everyday will sort this out.

Flowerbfbfbf · 12/10/2023 08:37

Good luck and please update.

Moredarkchocolateplease · 12/10/2023 11:29

I went for a coil as oral utrogestan made me suicidal and vaginal gave me thrush.

I still have a natural cycle with the coil but with hardly any blood (so I still get PMT, tired, mood crashes) but it's SO much better than on utrogestan.

Also do consider adding testosterone, that has been a game changer for me.

The coil made me really tired and the testosterone has given me back some energy.

Moredarkchocolateplease · 12/10/2023 11:30

I should add, I was at the point of asking for a hysterectomy privately.

Original poster
GreenVelvetCushions · 12/10/2023 11:32

Urrrgh god it's so awful to have to try and figure this out.

I had some testosterone earlier this year and it just gave me a hairy patch on my thigh!

OP posts:
Original poster
GreenVelvetCushions · 12/10/2023 11:33

I'm disturbed by the thought if getting the coil put in tbh.
How did you find it.. Those of you who have one ?

OP posts:
Moredarkchocolateplease · 12/10/2023 11:51

Hi OP it was fine. A bit of teeth gritting for five mins then done. A few cramps later on but nothing awful.

I've had no hair from the testosterone, though I do vary where I rub it on.

I feel like a different person to how I was in March. Always crying, suicidal, totally exhausted. I felt like I was walking through treacle everyday.

I'm a new woman.

Abra1t · 12/10/2023 11:57

Mirena coil was better than utrogestan for me.

potatoheads · 12/10/2023 11:58

Orangedoll · 11/10/2023 21:01

I hated it so much I just stopped. I felt crazy when taking it, like I couldn’t think or cope with anything at all.

I honestly feel so much better taking nothing even though I’m still struggling with brain fog, sweats and exhaustion. My natural symptoms feel like a breeze in comparison to progesterone hell ☹️

Are you taking oestrogen?

Orangedoll · 12/10/2023 20:14

potatoheads · 12/10/2023 11:58

Are you taking oestrogen?

Show quote history

I was, but I’m taking nothing at all now. First two weeks on oestrogen felt great, then as soon as I started on progesterone for the second half of my cycle I felt horrendous. Stuck with it for 3 months, tried taking progesterone as a pessary for the last month, but just wanted to get back to being myself again so gave it all up.

Coincidentally I recently changed jobs and DD went to university around the same time so my stress levels have reduced a lot. I think this is a factor in why I feel better without HRT. Maybe 🤔

Mustardfan · 13/10/2023 12:46

GreenVelvetCushions · 11/10/2023 20:34

Seeing a private meno doc tomorrow and wondering about asking if i can take less progesterone as it makes me feel horrendous and my GP is useless.

I have been struggling with this for nearly 2 years.

Has anyone else found a way to cope with having to take progesterone?

How did it go? I also hate progesterone, I’m interested in hearing what your doctor said, thanks

Findyourneutralspace · 13/10/2023 12:54

Coil here. I’m one of those who had an unpleasant experience - but they used numbing gel to insert it and I felt a bit crampy for the rest of the day. Honestly, it was a walk in the park compared to the progesterone hell I was living in, and three months down the line it’s a distant memory.
Id recommend it.

Original poster
GreenVelvetCushions · 15/10/2023 08:29

Findyourneutralspace · 13/10/2023 12:54

Coil here. I’m one of those who had an unpleasant experience - but they used numbing gel to insert it and I felt a bit crampy for the rest of the day. Honestly, it was a walk in the park compared to the progesterone hell I was living in, and three months down the line it’s a distant memory.
Id recommend it.

That's reassuring thanks for sharing.

OP posts:
Original poster
GreenVelvetCushions · 15/10/2023 08:38

@Mustardfan the meno Dr was great we chatted through all my experiences with various products and lifestyle for well over an hour.

She has suggested going in at a very low dose of oestrogen for a month on it's own. She says this is fine as my body is peri and periods still regular so I must have my own progesterone.

Then I'm going to start the cyclical dose of vaginally administered Utrogestan but half it initially (1 tab) and build up to two as and when I increase my oestrogen.

This is after a 3 month break from HRT for me, so I am starting from scratch in a way.

She says there is another kind of progesterone pill I could try later but she recommended the coil over anything else as it's the lowest dose and most women of my age (late 40's) love it. I will think on this.

I'm going to review in 3 months with her. It was expensive but so great to finally talk to someone with some specialist knowledge!

She also recommended the blood sugar controlled way of eating.

OP posts:
Original poster
GreenVelvetCushions · 15/10/2023 08:40

Obviously this advice was tailored to my age, medical history and experiences so please seek your own advice if you're thinking of tweaking your own meds. I am happy to DM you if you want to know who the Dr was.

I'll report back here as to how it's going.

OP posts:
Original poster
GreenVelvetCushions · 15/10/2023 08:41

Abra1t · 12/10/2023 11:57

Mirena coil was better than utrogestan for me.

It's the getting it in there in the first place which disturbs me.

OP posts:
Original poster
GreenVelvetCushions · 15/10/2023 08:42

Bigcoatweather · 12/10/2023 08:31

I had a consultation with my private meno doctor and she has agreed with me that I will go down to one Utrogestan vaginally and have scans, as I just can’t tolerate two. I’m not particularly prone to depression, but they were finishing me off - really dark thoughts etc, unable to function.
Im switching from gel to patches as I’m struggling to absorb four pumps of gel.
In the new year I will be switching to combined patches as she hopes that taking a little progesterone everyday will sort this out.

Have you had your menopause yet?

OP posts:
borntobequiet · 15/10/2023 08:52

I hated the idea of a coil but it’s been fine. I had it inserted under GA at the same time as a hysterescopy.