Could this be side effects of starting progesterone, and if so, will it settle?

[PollyIndia]

Hi all
Started HRT this month, currently on day 66 of my cycle having been relatively regular before. I just started with the utrogestan pessaries on weds and it's coincided with really feeling odd and anxious, with a sore belly and lower back. It could be me fighting off a bug, but it's a coincidence. I've seen a few threads mention side effects so just wanted to see what others had experienced, and if those settled down. Before I started HRT, I was on a herbal prescription (photo-oestrogens) for a year and I felt really good on that, but it's expensive, and I always planned to go on HRT when I felt clear I was in peri and having some symptoms. I'm 50 next birthday.
Thank you!
This forum is so helpful, being able to ask other women what their experiences are, even though I know we are all different.

I always believed that utrogestan taken as a pessary rather than orally was less likely to cause odd emotional symptoms as it's not processed by the liver so I guess doesn't get into the nervous system. I tried for a while but instead went to 100mg a day orally continuous - ie without a break and that works well for me. I feel less of a zombie compared to 200g a day for two weeks.
There is a menopause forum called menopause matters that is excellent for help and advise.

Can I ask why you're only starting Utrogestan on day 66 of a 'cycle'?

That means you've gone for over 2 months with no progesterone unless I've got it wrong.

You'd normally use estrogen every day then after 14 days you'd use Utrogestan for 12 days as well, and have a withdrawal bleed. That would be a month then you'd start all over again.

What sort of estrogen dose and regime are you following?

Re-read and guess what you mean @PollyIndia is you've had no natural period for 2 months (and that's 66 days?)

You mention Utrogestan pessaries.
Have you been given the 200mgs vaginal pessary? To use in a cycle each month?
Is this through your GP?
Did you ask for vaginal Utrogestan?

It is quite normal to experience some side effects at first that can be anything from a bit of bloated tummy, 'pelvic' discomfort, and more but medical advice is give any new hrt 3 months to see if these things settle.

sorry, guess I’ve not been clear. So my period was 10 days early in sept, and came with a whole host of headaches and hot flashes and anxiety (though also coincided with the loss of 2 good friends), so I decided to start hrt. I picked up the patches and 200mg pessary utrogestan and waited. Period didn’t come so I asked the gp and he said to just start the oestrogen and on day 15 to add in the progesterone. I’m now on say 18 of that cycle, and 66 days since my last period. I was pretty regular before that early period in sept.
as I’m new to hrt, I’m not sure how it’s all meant to work but I assume I’ll have a bleed in 9 days ish when I’ll go back to oestrogen only and be in that cycle properly… maybe?