Not doing well with progesterone - what are the options?

[BusinessScrub]

I've started HRT post-menopause and have been prescribed gel + progesterone tablets. The progesterone was fine for about 4 days and then I was incredibly depressed and having suicidal thoughts. I have stopped taking it for two days and already feel almost normal. But the dr has made it clear that I need it.

Are there different formulations which don't do this to a person? I am scared of using Mirena because if this does the same thing and I can't get it out it will be hell.

Any advice most welcome. And yes, I have asked to talk to the dr but who knows when this will happen...

I felt terrible when taking the progesterone in pill form but mainly as nausea. I switched to the everol conti patch and it’s been much better.

I've had the same!! Am hoping it stops as I adjust

I was in EXACTLY this position. I totally lost the run of myself with the progesterone and was horrified at the thought of a coil that might hurt to get in and would be stuck giving me something that’s sending me mental, via the muff!

Anyway I was v brave and gave it a go and my gynae put it in under sedation (he was up there for a rummage about other things too) and I’m like a new woman. I just have the oestrogen patches now, almost no bleed what so ever, no PMT (and I was like the antichrist at one point) and all is well. I’d never have believed it, such was my horrible reaction to progesterone.

Honestly, I could not do it - every interaction with someone made me feel like I was a terrible person and I was considering suicide as I drove down the motorway after 7 days. I don't think I would have survived to find out whether it improved or not.

What I fear most is coming of oestrogen, as decreasing levels give me massive health anxiety. I'm only taking this because it's also badly affected my bladder. Which is at least improving.

"would be stuck giving me something that’s sending me mental, via the muff!"

THIS. But so glad it worked out for you - I was going to try with the capsules via the muff route as an experiment, apparently this does work. But will see what the dr says.

Same here. The progesterone part of HRT makes me incredibly depressed and want to stab people. I tried norethisterone as an alternative and it was slightly better but my GP wanted me back on Gepretix or a Mirena coil because she said they were safer long term. We came to a compromise and I now use Gepretix for 12 days every other month. It’s not great but better than no HRT at all.

I had a crack at the muffin capsules but I felt weird about them falling out if I sneezed or something. Honestly inside a week after the mirena I felt great. I upped the oestrogen to 100mg and also got some testosterone and that’s (ahem) highly effective too.

Oh yes, the bladder stuff was the reason I saw the gynae in the first place. I thought I was getting loads of UTIs but it was because the bladder tissues had started to atrophy which has joyfully been reversed by the HRT.

@Iheartmysmart "incredibly depressed and want to stab people". Exactly. I run my own business; if I am like this even 12 days every other month I will not have work.

@Rawnotblended Yes exactly - and the HRT pessaries were no longer enough for me which is why I switched. But you give me hope about the Mirena, so will try with the capsules for now

Have you tried using it vaginally? If not, give that a go and see how you get on. I've just recently had a menopause review (been on HRT for a couple of years now) and the consultant said it's fine to use Utrogestan vaginally and it can really help if you're suffering side-effects.

Is it literally the same tablets vagibally or do you need a description for a different tablet??

Nope, the same ones you just pop them up instead of swallowing!!

Oh I see!! Why do they have a different impact? I would have just assumed it was all absorbed into the body regardless - I also know basically nothing about medicine....

If you se Utrogestan vaginally, @Rawnotblended then it's best to insert at bedtime- that will avoid it slipping out.

I appreciate this isn't relevant now for you, but for anyone else reading.

This is my question too - I am a bit surprised that it is not going to make me feel, once again, that everything is my fault, but am prepared to give it a go.