Does this sound like progesterone intolerance

[Ginflinger]

Hello, can I ask for an objective view?

I am 3 months in on HRT, sequential, utrogestan and Evorel.

Coming to the end of the utrogestan part of the cycle and I feel absolutely appalling. Paranoid, headachey, can't stop crying, emotional wreck, despairing, anxiety through the roof.

I've noticed this building over time each cycle but now feels like I have been hit by a sledgehammer. Horrific. Otherwise in perfect health and normally a pretty level, cheerful person.

If you're progesterone intolerant, does this sound like what happened to you?

And how the hell did you face work? I'm hiding upstairs and crying.

If you don’t tolerate progesterone orally, you could try taking it vaginally instead and see if this works better for you. This can bypass systemic absorption and any adverse effects. Check out page 4 in this link https://thebms.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/14-BMS-TfC-Progestogens-and-endometrial-protection-APR2023-A.pdf

I came off HRT completely in August 2024, after starting it in February 2024. I had horrendous stomach cramps, swollen boobs that hurt like a bitch, more emotional and eventually diarrhoea every morning. My GP said I am sensitive to the progesterone, and I decided the side effects were worse than my perimenopausal symptoms!!! It simply wasn't worth it. I take magnesium and zinc supplements, which help my sleep pattern.

You can try other sorts.

At the moment Utrogestan is the default drug but there are many other sorts, all of which are an option.

1 Mirena coil
2 Dydrogesterone (in Femoston tablets)
3 Norethisterone (in patches or as a separate tablet)
4 Mini pill Noriday 3 tablets a day.

Or if you really want to stick with Utrogestan it can be used vaginally off-licence so your GP will have to kay it (although they can't monitor it in person!)

Thanks all for advice.

@Sassybooklover symptoms sound nasty but completely different to mine. Hope it's worked out for you.

Would love to hear other experiences from people who are progesterone-intolerant. Thank you.

I was ok on Utrogestan until I had to go up to two tablets a day instead of one (as upped the dose of oestrogen patch) then I became oversensitive, teary, paranoid etc, crying behind my sunnies 😕. So Dr concluded that I couldn't tolerate that type of progesterone at that dose, so put me on Provera 10mg one a day (in evening) and I've been fine on them.

The symptoms are pretty much like yours but vary from 1 to 10.
Yours sound like 9.5!

I use it vaginally - done it that way for years through my consultant.
I didn't start that way. Did it orally for some years.
I'd feel more tired and lacking in energy but no real mood swings. I had more of those on Norethisterone.
I do feel hot at night and sleep less well on it ( contrary to it being a sedative.)

If you find you can't tolerate any types, there is also the option of longer cycles so you don't take it every month but you need medical supervision and occasional scans of the womb lining.

Hi.
I had problems with progesterone, it made my very anxious and moody.
I'm now on Femseven conti patches which has levonorgestrel as its progesterone and so far all good.

Thanks all. Really useful to hear not just me.

Very interesting thread. Consultant wants me to try Mirena Coil but I've dragged my feet. He has me on 200mg Utrogestan and I hate it. I'm on month 5 now and if anything I feel worse. I do believe I'm progesterone intolerant. Would Mirena be likely to help?

I feel like I can stop taking the tablets. If I reacted like this on the Mirena, don't trust the medical establishment to get it out of me quickly. Can barely get a GP appointment round here.

This is what puts me off the Mirena Coil too.

Yep

Thanks again for advice, everyone, and for detailed advice @JinglingSpringbells - I will go back to GP (or try to!)