Accudientslly started Utrogestan cycle a week earlier than due

[IckyPop]

Hi all,

I've been taking HRT for about 18 months.
I've been doing two weeks on/two weeks off of utrogestan since January (before I'd been 12 days calendar month and kept getting things mixed up, so switched to the new system for ease). My bleeds and cycles have been a bit erratic since January but nothing unmanageable.

I started my latest cycle of utrogestan on Monday 🤦‍♀️ I should've waited until this coming Monday. A bleed has started this morning (day 20 of cycle).

I'm not sure what to do - carry on with the two week cycle of utrogestan and then reset?

Thank you for reading

Apologies for typos 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

Don't worry. It's nothing. Just carry on and then take the next 2 weeks as you normally would.

To be honest, it's far better to start it on the same day each month rather than doing this 2 weeks off and on thing.

Many specialists tell patients to use it once a month for 12 or 14 days, and use the same date each month.

So 21st October, then 21st Nov, etc.

Why is this a problem? Just put the date in your phone as an alarm/reminder or write it down somewhere.

Do you normally bleed so early when using it?

It's not usual to bleed just 5 days after starting Utrogestan. Are you taking 2 capsules for each of the days?

Thanks for your reply and advice.

I took it two weeks on, two off as my bleeds/cycles were erratic and I'd read that this way can help regulate a bit more, like when you're on the pill. But I'm not sure it's helped that much tbh

This is my cycle history since January. I sometimes bleed part way through utrogestan cycle but I struggle to see a pattern

Yes, two capsules. Three sprays of Lenzetto every morning

That is quite odd- those cycles.

After 18 months you definitely should have settled into a more regular HRT cycle.

Are, or were you, in very early peri when you started HRT?
It looks as if Utrogestan isn't controlling your cycle as an HRT cycle.

Normally you'd expect a withdrawal bleed to start 3 to 4 days after the last progesterone course, every time. (Sometimes a day earlier or later, but more or less regular.) And have a bleed roughly the same duration- anything from 2-5 days.

I'm not familiar with Lenzetto doses, without checking online on the HRT 'equivalent tables' but have a feeling that 3 sprays may be a high-ish does.

One thing you could try is taking utrogestan with food as this doubles its strength.

(This is why is says take on an empty stomach but some women need and absorb more if taken with food.)

If it's bothering you, would you think about swapping to patches or the tablet Femoston, which may help regulate your cycles?

Hi,

Thank you for taking the time to look and reply.
I started on 2 sprays which was fine for about a year then my symptoms started to flare up again (sweats, anxiety, aches) so saw the menopause nurse and asked if could up it. She confirmed ok with GP. She also discussed with GP my erratic cycles but apparently they weren't worried.
I should prob go back, but even getting a telephone appointment is a month wait. And then they inevitably call at the end of the day when I'm driving and have my son in the car. And don’t phone back 🙄

Thanks for the tip with taking progesterone with food too, I always take it just before bed so a pretty empty stomach

Oh yes, I was maybe earlyish peri meno when started. I'd had mild symptoms for probably about 2 years before but also had lots of life shit going on so might not have noticed the mood/mental health side of things

Sorry, also forgot to say, the main trigger for going to get hrt in the first place was the anxiety (which is never had before, depression tea, anxiety no) plus I'd noticed a thinning of the skin around my vaginal opening/vulva and it was becoming progressively w to small tears. HRT has total sorted out the thinning skin thing

*Should say becoming prone to small tears