When to take Progesterone?? Confused 😕

[AllGoodNamesRGone]

If there is no bleed on Progesterone (Gepritex) and Estrogel, how do I know when to start the next cycle of Progesterone as there is no day one of my period. Hope this makes sense??

Background:
Age 44, started HRT 2 months ago. When I started using Estrogel (2 pumps daily) I had a really heavy bleed a day later (previous to this periods were far and few between and 8 weeks since the last one).
Took Progesterone 200mg on day 15 for 12 days as prescribed then had a bleed 3 days after I stopped. I counted day 1 from that first bleed on HRT to 15 days and began my Progesterone for 12 days again.

This time once finished it has been over a week and still no bleed. So confused when to start the next round of Progesterone?

I'm so confused as to what to do. I'm having 'period pains' I'm bloated and moody, all signs a period should be here for me - but isn't?

Any advice would be . Any advice would be much appreciated

I have had to create an artificial 28 day cycle now that my periods are less regular. So I have a paper diary where I number the days CD1 (based on the day my period started on the first month I began HRT), CD2, etc, up to CD28. I mark days CD15 to CD26 as the days to take my Utrogestan. The day following CD 28 becomes the new CD1, regardless of whether I’ve started a bleed or not. And then repeat the previous month’s pattern.

I checked with my GP that this is okay and she confirmed. The important thing is that you get your 12 days of progesterone in during every 28 day period to protect your uterus.

My meno consultant advises women to start on the same DATE each month (and the fact that's 30 days not 28 doesn't matter.) Very few women have a 28 day cycle, although HRT is based around the 'perfect' 4 week cycle (patches, tablets, etc.)

He suggests the 1st of each month - just easy to remember.

But as you've already started, the best thing to do is to check the date when you started the last 12 days of it, and wait until that date comes again this month.

So for example, if it was August 10th and you took 12 days from then, you'd start the next Utrogestan on Sept. 10th.

One issue will all of this is that most GPs 'go by the rule book' of precisely 12 days in 28, but you'll find that specialists can say something slightly differently as they are more knowledgeable.

Thank you. Was panicking as I hadn't had a bleed. I am due a follow up in a few weeks as well so will bring it up then.
I appreciate your advice.

This is interesting and also makes sense. Would certainly be an easier way to remember, especially if there isn't a bleed. Thank you.

My cycle can be anything from 17 days to 165+ days so I choose the first of the month to start my progesterone and take it for 12 days. Sometimes I bleed at some point, usually I don’t. It’s all up in the air as I reach, I assume, the later stages of perimenopause.

That was the approach I agreed with my GP. When I first started HRT I was trying to use my ‘natural cycle’ but it has become increasingly erratic, so using the first of the month is the way!