Oestrogel Schedule please help!

[Ndodson]

Hi, I'm 44 with typical peri symptoms, night sweats, irregular periods, lack of confidence, increased anxiety, all the good stuff. I got prescribed today Utrogestan 200mg daily for 12 days (enough supply for three months) and Oestrogel 1 pump a day.

Here's where I'm confused, doctor said to take the gel for two weeks only then stop when I start the Utrogestan then back on it once that's finished. So two weeks on two weeks off pretty much.

Apart from one comment I saw on here once of someone doing a two-week on and off schedule with the gel everything else says to take the gel every day. Its just the Utrogestan you have the break from.

My period's due roughly in the next week and I was gonna start the gel on first day of period then stop and take the Utrogestan capsules for 12 days then back on the gel.

Does anyone have any experience of this, I will call the doctors but getting an appointment is a nightmare! Just wondering what the benefit of having the break from the gel would be or if anyone does this schedule?

Thanks so much!

I'm no medic but I'm sure the doctor is wrong.

Normally you take oestrogel every day. If one pump isn't enough, you increase it until your symptoms subside. The usual starting dose is two pumps but you can use up to four per day if necessary.

I was postmenopausal when starting HRT so Utrogestan was every day without a break, until I changed to the Mirena coil.

If you are still menstruating, taking your 12 days of Utrogestan starting on the first day of your period sounds about right.

In short, you are correct and the doctor isn't. It's quite shocking really.

That Doctor needs to go back to med school. Christ.

I've never heard that. As PP said, usual regime is daily estrogel, do not stop.

Start gel on day 1, start ustrogestan on day 15 and take for 12 days. Next period should come towards the end or just after the utrogestan.

If you don't get on with gel, ask for patches - I much prefer them.

As others have said I think your Dr is wrong. Also I would question why this Dr is starting you on only one pump. The usual dose is 2 pumps.

Your GP has got it wrong. Out of interest, how has the pharmacist labelled it?

There will be a leaflet with the spray and that will confirm how to use it (daily) and the correct dose.

www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/353/pil#gref

How much to use and when to use
Apply the gel once a day, either in the morning or evening. Try to use the gel at about the same time each day.

The usual daily dose is 2 measures (i.e. 2 pumps) of gel. The Pump Pack will last four weeks.

Call the reception and ask for a phone call or SMS message from the GP to confirm the dose, explain what you were told doesn't match the information leaflet