Can I use Progesterone capsules vaginally?

[Shallysally]

I’m prescribed Utrogestan capsules. Been taking them for a couple of years together with oestrogen gel.

Over the last couple of months I’ve had a couple of bouts of thrush and had some dryness.

Can the progesterone be inserted please or do I need some sort of progesterone pessary?

You can use them vaginally, but you can also ask for the vaginal version , it’s just one capsule with an applicator , rather than the two smaller ones.
Using it vaginally can cause irritation though, so if your vagina is already irritated it might not be a good idea.

Thank you @Christwosheds, I didn’t know about it causing irritation. Might see if things settle down first.

I’ve been using Utrogestan vaginally for the past 6 months with zero issues. I struggled to swallow it orally and it frequently made me feel rough so swapping to vaginal has been a huge win for me.

Same! Gave me reflux so this is a better option

So do you take the progesterone orally at the moment? And the oestrogen is a gel?

I'm confused why you'd want to start taking the progesterone vaginally?

You might be thinking about vaginal oestrogen helping with dryness and vaginal health. You can be prescribed this as well as the rest of your HRT. Vaginal progesterone will not help the symptoms you are describing.

I take utrogestan vaginally, it has hugely reduced the symptoms I got taking it orally.

I've just started splitting the dose (2 x for 14 days) so I now take one vaginally in the morning and the second later in the day.

It doesn't make me sleepy using it vaginally more it negatively impacts my sleep and it does seem that using it earlier in the day is working well for me.

I spoke to my GP the other day about this as I've been starting to have side effects from Utrogestan - possibly linked to coming from a different manufacturing site? But I mentioned about taking it vaginally instead and she said she'd never heard of that and didn't recommend it 👌

Translation: she knew very little about any of it, dismissing my experience of side effects and wanting to get rid of me as quickly as possible. No hint of her learning something new from this, speaking to colleagues, just patronising and dismissive.

So to sum up - I'm going to do it anyway because I know other people do and it seems to work for them 😂

I've just been told to do this by private HRT specialist Dr.

Yes that was who told me - private specialist.

The women's health nurse I saw at my GP was very supportive of using Utrogestan vaginally, even though it's not licensed for that route.

However she did say it would lessen the sedative effect, and I find daily progesterone really helpful for helping me sleep so I'm going to continue taking it orally.

Agree that it's posdibly vaginal estrogen you want for dryness and irritation though, OP, not progesterone?

Thanks all. I didn’t realise is oestrogen that improves vaginal condition.
I’ll have a chat with my GP.

Can I ask those of you who use progesterone vaginally why you do this please? Is it to reduce side effects?

I’ve heard anecdotally it’s fine vaginally from an absorption perspective but if you’re irritated OP it may exacerbate?

I wouldn’t want to give up the oral route — I take in the evening and sleep soooo much better during the part of the month I cycle progesterone.

Sounds like it could be Ovestin (estriol cream) or Vagifem (estradiol vaginal tablets) you might want to ask for in addition to topical oestrogen OP

Yes. Normal on the continent and bypasses the liver so a safer option.

I asked my GP about taking the progesterone vaginally and she said 'don't be sticking that up there' like I was nuts. When i said I'd read about it she said she couldnt recommend or prescribe it as its not licended for that use. The pharmacist said the same. I'm on the oestrogen gel 2 pumps daily and 2 x 100g capsules micronised progesterone from Day 15 to Day 26. I get really tired when I'm taking the progesterone and my mood is just very flat. I want to try vaginally. So do you just stick the capsule up with your finger?! And the same dose? And do you think I can do this without telling my GP? I think if I do they might not prescribe it for me any more. Its very disappointing as they are usually pretty good otherwise so I don't want to move and I don't have the money to go private.

I was absolutely and definitely told by the menopause specialist at the Newsom clinic to do this. I queried it as I’d never heard it before and confirmed it was safe.

it’s been well over a year.

I do it because I have bad night time reflux.

If you are using weight loss injections you should be taking your progesterone vaginally- to do with absorption.

My private Meno doctor suggested using them rectally to avoid possible irritation and mess you get vaginally. Works brilliantly well.

Thank you. And is it the same capsules and same dose you were taking orally? And take them at night? And just push it up with your finger?! I take 2 x 100mg capsules at night.

I've been having absorption issues so started taking progesterone vaginally. So far so good.

It is what we do on the continent.

I asked my GP about taking the progesterone vaginally and she said 'don't be sticking that up there' like I was nuts. When i said I'd read about it she said she couldnt recommend or prescribe it as its not licended for that use.

It's not licensed in the UK but it is all over Europe and has been for decades. My consultant told me that over 10 years ago, as well as the options of orally, vaginally and rectally.

Your GP isn't up to speed which is common as they have no training in HRT unless they choose to do a course.

The British Menopause Society has a detailed guide on the use of progesterone in HRT (I've left links to it before, here.)
Vaginal use is allowed off-licence for women who can't use it orally.

@BlackStrayCat my liver enzymes have been slightly high. They remain over normal but not of concern but when I started taking HRT they were extremely high, to the point my doctor was asking me about drinking too much.

No doctor has really accepted that HRT is having this effect.

It's funny how pessaries and suppositories are upsetting to UK doctors. I live abroad and people were shocked when I said i used paracetamol suppositories for my babies/toddlers. So much easier than trying to get Calpol down them.