Taking regular ultrogestan as pessary

[TomatoLeaves]

Hi I've scoured threads here (what a brilliant mine of info!) but couldn't find the answer to this. Hope it's ok to ask as I don't want to attract the wrong kind of attention.

Am new to hrt. Prescribed evorel patches (25?) twice a week and for 12 days a month 2x 100mg ultrogestan. Am on day 3 of ultrogestan.

Decided to take the ultrogestan as vaginal pessary after reading experiences here and people saying they had less side effects. I also had a stomach bug so it seemed a no brainer.

My question is, can the liquid run out again?? I'm concerned after noticing dampness both mornings. I'm absolutely certain I must have absorbed some of it the first night because it felt as if I'd taken a sleeping tablet or old school antihistamine and the drowsiness continued the following day. But last night/ today I had no drowsiness so I'm concerned I didn't absorb and it ran out? Or have I just habituated quickly?

So evidence of dampness both mornings but side effect only the first time. I'm lying down straight after, btw.

The only time I noticed any run off was if I got out of bed for an impromptu pee quite soon after putting it in.

The contents of the tablet are quite thick- like a paste- but they do cause discharge in lots of us. I always wear knickers in bed when I'm using them. I think some of the discharge is the outer coating of the tablet and there is always certainly a some of the tablet itself(so it's not all absorbed.)

I get loads of annoying white discharge which even wakes me up (usually briefly) in the night while taking these. Panty liners help a bit.

Totally progesterone intolerant tho, so no choice.

But you still reckon to be absorbing enough?

As far as I know, yes.
I did ask my consultant about this not long ago and they said that as long as I'm having a withdrawal bleed it looks as if I'm absorbing enough
The tablets don't contain liquid- it's a thick white paste, where the ground up progesterone is mixed with oil. The liquid you're feeling is either your own discharge made heavier by the tablets or the coating of the tablet.

Hi OP you can get actual pessary Utrogestan if you ask your GP. When I had to use Utrogestan, they gave me specific 200mg pessaries. Much easier to use than the tiny balls that you usually have orally.

They are exactly the same apart from size.
They are also very expensive! I pay for my HRT privately and each 200mgs capsule is over £2! That's why I use the 100mgs.
Slightly beside the point, but it's also off-licence in the NHS (not prescribed for HRT, only as fertility support, unless GP agrees to go off-licence which yours has.)

@JinglingSpringbells sorry that hadn't occurred to me, I've had a pre payment cert all my adult life for other medicines so I never think of the cost. 😳

I expect not many people know!
I was completely shocked. 30 tabs in the packet at over £2 a tablet. It could be because there is also an applicator for each tablet (waste of plastic because the 200mgs is almost 4x the cost of a 100mgs.)

I prefer the 100mgs simply because there are some days when I'm a bit irritated from inserting it (causes a bit of inflammation ) and sometimes use it orally.

This is all really useful info, thanks everyone.

This thread has been quite eye opening - are the pessaries really the same as the oral capsules? I'm taking it orally and absolutely hate it so have been thinking about talking to the GP but definitely don't want a mirena so I thought my only option might be to stop completely. I actually have a pack of pessaries because I was mistakenly prescribed them first. Is it worth giving them a try?

I use the capsules as pessaries too. I react badly to most medications taken orally so for me this is the best option. No side effects at all and I get a “bleed” so must be absorbing it despite gettting a slight discharge.

I’ve had ongoing issues with bleeding (had it investigated). 100mg Utrogestan continuously didn’t work, neither did 200mg (orally).

I’ve switched to putting the capsules vaginally which seems to be working so far. There is a waxy discharge but I think it’s the outer coating of the capsule. It’s still better than having a bleed.

Pity it’s unlicensed, not routinely offered as a solution to bleeding due to HRT. There must be lots of women who’ve stopped HRT because they weren’t aware of this as an option.