Utrogestan - struggling with taking it after or before food

Neurodiversitydoctor · 14/06/2025 06:29

Watching with interest, about to pick up my first perscription for HRT from GP. Do you always bleed on Utrogestan ? I haven't had a periid since Feb and am enjoying the freedom although the hot flashes not so much.

MoreHairyThanScary · 14/06/2025 06:35

I’ve just had a very quick Google and taking it with food just increases the rate of absorption, ie you might get a bit more, I take mine just as I get into bed, so I’m going to sleep anyway it just helps!

why are you not eating very much in the evenings? Mounjaro? Could that be the cause of your altered periods?

my periods are no longer regular because of perimenopause which if you’re taking progesterone I’m guessing you are experiencing too so this could be affecting your cycle.

PersephoneParlormaid · 14/06/2025 06:36

Why don’t you have a mirena coil instead? Continuous low dose of progesterone

JinglingSpringbells · 14/06/2025 06:48

glowfrog · 14/06/2025 06:24

I’ve been taking Utrogestan for over a year but I found early on that if I took it 2hrs before or after food, it would make me feel dizzy and act like a sedative - I’d need to crawl into bed and go to sleep. So I started taking it less than 2hrs after food and that got rid of the problem, after some research suggested it was ok to do that.

But what does it mean for its effectiveness or any longe term side-effects?

the other thing is that recently I’ve ended up not eating much in the evening and therefore taking it on near empty stomach - same effects as before but not my period is out of sync with taking it. It used to be it would start after or just before my last day on it but now it’s more like 3 or 4 days.

would appreciate any thoughts on this! I know I need to speak to my GP…

You don't have to take it on an empty stomach.

If taken WITH food, more is absorbed (its effectiveness is increased.) In some women this also means they have more side effects like sedation (but if you're taking it last thing before bed that doesn't matter.)

I've always taken mine around 11pm, which is many hours after eating (finished by 7pm usually) and you should take it just before bed anyway as it can cause dizziness.

You are supposed to take it at bedtime so any dizziness or sedation isn't happening while you're out, driving, or doing anything where it could be a problem.

same effects as before but not my period is out of sync with taking it. It used to be it would start after or just before my last day on it but now it’s more like 3 or 4 days.

Do you mean the bleed is starting 3/4 days after the last tablet? Or before?

It's more usual for it to start a few days after the last tablet.

JinglingSpringbells · 14/06/2025 07:01

@MoreHairyThanScary HRT resets a cycle, so your own cycle doesn't exist any more. It's like the Pill, where you have a short withdrawal bleed every month.

In some women if the progesterone in HRT is too low a dose, their own periods can break through , so they need to talk to their doctor- maybe more progesterone is needed, or taking it with food to make it more effective.

Original poster

glowfrog · 14/06/2025 07:38

MoreHairyThanScary · 14/06/2025 06:35

I’ve just had a very quick Google and taking it with food just increases the rate of absorption, ie you might get a bit more, I take mine just as I get into bed, so I’m going to sleep anyway it just helps!

why are you not eating very much in the evenings? Mounjaro? Could that be the cause of your altered periods?

my periods are no longer regular because of perimenopause which if you’re taking progesterone I’m guessing you are experiencing too so this could be affecting your cycle.

Basically my habits have temporarily changed as I’m currently at my dad’s and looking after him. At home we tend to eat around 8-8.30pm and then be in bed by 10pm, which is when I take it. Writing it down like this makes me think that actually on most days I do take it a fair amount of time after my last meal.

But at my dad’s I’m finding that I’m eating much earlier and also just not as much. By the time I go to bed and take it - within 15-20mn, I’m feeling dizzy and about to pass out. I’m kind of grateful as it helps me get to sleep more quickly!

Since I have been doing this, however, I’m finding that my period / bleeding starts slightly earlier than the last day I’m due to take Utrogestan. I’m still taking it for the 14 day period prescribed, so even if I’m having a period.

I see from other posters that having it with food increases the absorption so maybe that’s what it boils down to, and maybe taking it so it has less of an effect means my actual period is breaking through…?

OP posts:

Original poster

glowfrog · 14/06/2025 07:40

JinglingSpringbells · 14/06/2025 06:48

You don't have to take it on an empty stomach.

If taken WITH food, more is absorbed (its effectiveness is increased.) In some women this also means they have more side effects like sedation (but if you're taking it last thing before bed that doesn't matter.)

I've always taken mine around 11pm, which is many hours after eating (finished by 7pm usually) and you should take it just before bed anyway as it can cause dizziness.

You are supposed to take it at bedtime so any dizziness or sedation isn't happening while you're out, driving, or doing anything where it could be a problem.

same effects as before but not my period is out of sync with taking it. It used to be it would start after or just before my last day on it but now it’s more like 3 or 4 days.

Do you mean the bleed is starting 3/4 days after the last tablet? Or before?

It's more usual for it to start a few days after the last tablet.

Edited

Show quote history

Thanks for your reply - I mean the period is now starting 3 days or so before my last tablet. When I was taking it with more food in my stomach, it would usually start more or less the day after the last capsule.

OP posts:

JinglingSpringbells · 14/06/2025 10:29

I think the answer is to have a small snack before you take it - just a piece of toast maybe 30 mins before you take it.

You're possibly not absorbing it so well if you're bleeding after 9 or 10 days.

The dizziness is normal, but as you're in bed it shouldn't be a problem.

You could consider using it vaginally, which is off-label, but can help women who find orally gives them side effects.

Neurodiversitydoctor · 14/06/2025 11:58

JinglingSpringbells · 14/06/2025 10:29

I think the answer is to have a small snack before you take it - just a piece of toast maybe 30 mins before you take it.

You're possibly not absorbing it so well if you're bleeding after 9 or 10 days.

The dizziness is normal, but as you're in bed it shouldn't be a problem.

You could consider using it vaginally, which is off-label, but can help women who find orally gives them side effects.

Blimey I am not sure I am up for this- just to prevent a few hot flushes- but then the cardiovascular and bone protection....

JinglingSpringbells · 14/06/2025 13:25

@Neurodiversitydoctor Maybe your GP hasn't explained it all very well?
You should have been advised about sequential and combined continuous HRT, which is suitable to you, the differences and what to expect.

Neurodiversitydoctor · 14/06/2025 16:32

Yes I understand as I have had a period in the last year I need sequential HRT. I will give it a go, not mad about tbe prospect of bleeding again or the dizziness tbh.

JinglingSpringbells · 14/06/2025 16:46

Neurodiversitydoctor · 14/06/2025 16:32

Yes I understand as I have had a period in the last year I need sequential HRT. I will give it a go, not mad about tbe prospect of bleeding again or the dizziness tbh.

I've only had 1 episode of dizziness in years taking it, and that was my own fault by not taking it very last things at night, but an hour before.

I now use it vaginally which avoids lots of side effects and is supposedly more effective, on consultant's advice.