Cerelle / Utrogestan help

[WilloTheWispy]

Hi
I’m on gel + Utrogestan. But also Cerelle. I’ve had pretty constant bleeding for months now. Just had a call with a GP. Who tried to tell me I didn’t need contraception (I do, I’m peri) and then Utrogestan as contraception would be fine (🙄). And then I can ditch the Utrogestan and remain on Cerelle for progestogen.

But I’m a bit reluctant to take this advice given the other nuggets… so does anyone else know if this is indeed correct?

my other option is to come off Cerelle and try the injection. (For various reasons I’m not going down the Mirena route)

many thanks in advance!

I'm a GP.
Cerelle/any contraceptive (apart from a 52mg levonorgestrel coil such as Mirena) does not provide adequate progesterone cover for HRT, nor can utrogestan be relied on as a contraceptive. Your GP clearly needs a bit of a training update with respect to HRT and contraception if that was their advice.

You can switch your Cerelle to any other progesterone only form that you don't otherwise have a contraindication for. Besides the mini pill the main options are the depot injection (likely within a few months to result in complete cessation of bleeding), the implant (unpredictable effect on bleeding, anything from complete cessation of bleeding to continuous breakthrough bleeding can happen) or the Mirena (high chance of stopping bleeding altogether, or at least typically makes bleeding lighter/ less frequent, and can replace your utrogestan as the progesterone component of your HRT). The copper coil would also be an option for your contraception, although it typically makes bleeding heavier/more painful.

Thank you so much @pbdr
Alarmingly this one I spoke to was my practice’s meno ‘expert.’
But yeah, I didn’t think the advice to replace Utrogestan with Cerelle seemed right.
I’ll look into the depot injection.
Really appreciate your response.

That's disappointing. I think HRT options have developed so quickly over recent years that some GPs (particularly older ones who trained a long time ago) have struggled to keep up and there is an element of don't-know-what-they-don't-know.
I think if you feel able to, it would be worth dropping the GP or practice manager a brief letter to point out that the advice you were given is incorrect and could put women at risk, as there is clearly a training need to be addressed here.

Yes, thanks again @pbdr - that’s really good advice.
I’ll drop the practice manager a message. This is the second time (different GPs) I’ve had incorrect advice on this issue.
(Again I was told Utrogestan would serve as a contraceptive - I had to point out that I was fairly sure this was NOT the case. Then go back and confirm, no it definitely was not - to my GP). Baffling.
And incidentally, both are female GPs.
So you’re absolutely right, I do need to flag it.