New hrt user - lenzetto + vaginal utrogestan

[WashableVelvet]

Hello, I’ve just been prescribed hrt for the first time for early (peri)menopause. I’ve been referred to local menopause clinic. In the meantime the dr has prescribed me lenzetto spray for the oestrogen, and we were discussing how local progestogens like mirena are less likely to have side effects like nausea and low mood than tablets are. She recommended mirena to me as a longer term option but for now has prescribed me 200mg utrogestan pessaries which she said was available on her system as a new option.
Wondered if anyone can share experiences with either of these products, how long it took to get used to them etc? I’m keen to minimise effects on my mood from the progestogen bit of the cycle.

Try not to worry or anticipate any problems.

I've used Utrogestan for 9 years (from a private consultant). The benefit of vaginal use is the drug bypasses the nervous and digestive systems, so you shouldn't have any mood changes or tummy issues.

One tip- the capsules do leak a bit at night so you may want to wear pants in bed (but see how you go.)

That is really good to know! I had only heard of people using the oral tablets (or even using them as if they were pessaries), so good to hear the capsules are out there in use. Do you have the same dosage? I would have thought it was lower locally, but the capsules and oral tablets both seem to be 200.

I actually use 2 x 100mgs now as a pessary (simply because they are interchangeable and if I fancy a night off from inserting- sometimes just too tired to!) I use them orally. Also, I have mine on a private prescription and they 200mgs (which I have used also) are very expensive.

The dose is the same whichever way, for use on a cycle.

The 100mgs a day is for women using them daily, post meno.

I use 2 100mg tablets vaginally op (the tablets and pessaries are exactly the same apparently, just that they include an introducer in the Pessary packs and charge a fair bit more for them). As Jingling says, it’s a good idea to wear a pad. I think I have a bit of a local reaction to them, as I notice I get sore after a few days. I’m also slightly crap at remembering to use them some nights (if I’ve had a couple of glasses of vino!), so I’m waiting now to get a mirena coil fitted, though the surgery has a longish waiting list I’m led to believe. Using them as pessaries eliminated the side effects I was getting on the combined patch days, so that was a big positive for me.

Bear in mind that the Mirena coil can also have side effects. I felt absolutely fine on 2 x 100mg utrogeston daily, but was persuaded to have a Mirena coil fitted, but it didn't suit me at all. The insertion was terribly painful, and after a few days I was suffering from severe anxiety, panicky and very tearful all the time. I had it removed quite quickly and reverted back to my usual self within a week. Doctors always seem keen to encourage women to have the Mirena, but don't seem to discuss the possible downsides. I have heard reports that the Mirena manufacturers incentivise the NHS to promote the use of the Mirena and although I can't confirm it, the actions do seem to fit that theory. JinglingSpringBells seems quite knowledgeable, but she posts very pro HRT posts and not much else, so I think she is in the HRT PR industry and is biased.