Progesterone

[Ataloss44]

Hi I’m 52, menopausal symptoms started around four years ago . Itching, flushes, aches all over, brain fog which is a killer as am a midwife, tiredness, severe anxiety. I tried hrt for oestrogen and had the mirena for progesterone - mirena ran out past five years last year - so after much chasing I’ve been prescribed progesterone tablets 100mg per day so am a week in and miraculously my anxiety is much much better ! I really hope this continues. Has anyone had similar ?

It turned me into a whale. I literally put two stone on. I’d rather have the brain fog itching flushes and aching all over.

It makes me feel drunk for about an hour most evenings. It's awesome 😄 in reality it just makes me very dizzy. But not every night. It's a bit Russian roulette. It's not a bad side effect all things considered but I just have to time driving.

Sorry to scare you but progesterone made all my hair fall out and it only started growing back when I stopped it. My husband was shocked by the hair loss.

I’ve felt absolutely exhausted by it - I think. Not sure whether it’s my allergic rhinitis, this, or my Sertraline (low dose) or all three. I climb into my bed at every available opportunity - in after lunch or tea, and if it wasn’t for my dogs I’d have had a lie in, for a week, maybe even a month, or a year.. how delicious a thought. I’ve had so many blood tests, and have to wait so long to get any diagnosis, I just accept that this is me ie; knackered. It’s torturous. I’m so glad I can rest most of my life, but I’m also aware I’m not exactly living it either.
I wasn’t exactly full of energy beforehand but it’s a distant memory now, so I can’t tell as been in HRT for 3.5 years now.

It should be taken at bedtime when your head hits the pillow.
Dizziness is a known side effect.

www.drlouisenewson.co.uk/knowledge/utrogestan-micronised-progesterone-explained

Utrogestan can be a natural sedative so can cause drowsiness in some women. It is therefore recommended you take it at bedtime.
It is best to take Utrogestan on an empty stomach because eating food can actually increase its absorption. Aim to take it at least two hours after food, but if this is not practically possible then you can just take it before you go to sleep.

Yes I find it really calms
me down and helps me sleep. Stops the blind panic over nothing in the middle of the night.

Everyone seems to tolerate it differently.

Thanks for all the input. Will make sure I start to take it at bedtime from now on. As for weight gain I will take that over the absolutely crushing anxiety I had the constant ruminating I was waking up with my Jaw clenched shut. Long may this continue

Common bad advice is that the mirena can be used for progesterone...mirena doesn't contain actual progesterone but synthetic progestins.

I haven’t had weight gain and it’s true the Mirena is synthetic so you do get more benefits from the micronised body identical versions if you can tolerate them.

Definitely take just before bed!

Ugestan sorted my anxiety mostly.

It took me through peri and menopause with few symptoms. I added oestrogen for hot flushes and mood swings. The lack of periods from 40 to post menopause was life changing for me. I had endometriosis from late teens so I mean life changing. Maybe the fact it was not progesterone was a bonus.

Im now post menopause and I’ve never felt so chilled. I’m taking anastrozole, post breast cancer, so my hormone levels are that of an 8YR old. No sex drive but hopefully when I’ve done 5yrs on Anastrazole I’ll feel the difference. In my case low hormones mean the side effects out way the risk.

If the op felt better on Mirena then it can be used as HRT.

As someone with very low hormone levels I actually feel great. I feel my age but mood wise best I felt for years.

Menopause experience is skewed because most of us who have had an easy journey don’t tend to moan about it but there are plenty of us out there.