Still confused about progesterone days, help please

[SunnySunnyDayz]

I've read on here but I think the switches of terminology (bleed cycle, hrt cycle, month) become confusing, and my mind isn't great, so I still don't know if I'm doing it right.

I'm told to take progesterone on days 15-26 of my cycle.

I started estrogen on day 1 of my period, took progesterone days 15-26, period started day 29 as normal (day 1 next cycle).

This continued for a few months but then the bleed started later, day33-35.

Id been told to count hrt cycle and ignore bleed so just keep resetting to day 1 on day 29 regardless of when bleed comes, and take P 15-26.

But now it's slipped so much I'm taking P just after I start bleeding. Is that right? Or should I reset my cycle to day 1 on first day of bleed?

It feels wrong to continue like this, i feel like I'm fighting my body, I get my normal pmt but the bleed doesn't start for ages, it's like it wants to but something is stopping it.

I did ask menopause nurse, she didn't seem to understand what I was asking.

My GP told me I can take progesterone anytime of the month once its for 2 weeks and every month.

I had the same, it's so annoying because sometimes I end up bleeding every two weeks - when my normal period is due, and when I finish the two weeks of progesterone and have a withdrawal bleed (which is lighter but still annoying).

When I was on oestrogen gel and progesterone tablets I was taking the progesterone on days 1-14 of the calendar month. Now I'm on patches, so I'm on a 4-weekly cycle (progesterone + oestrogen patches for two weeks, oestrogen only for two weeks). With both regimes I've had these kind of issues, because my cycle isn't a neat 28 days/days 1-14 of the month. I imagine it's the same for many women.

The official advice seems to be that things should settle down after a few months (I've been on HRT for two years), or you can try a different regime/different type of progesterone, or go to continuous HRT. I suspect having a coil for the progesterone might work better - Drs are always trying to get me to switch to one.

To answer your actual question, the way (I believe) it's supposed to work is that you have a withdrawal bleed after you stop the progesterone (so after day 26 in your case). If you're fully menopausal, this is a light withdrawal bleed only. The younger/further from menopause you are, the more likely you're still having actual periods and the hope is that these sync up - but of course that's more likely if you have a regular 28 day cycle and that coincides with when you take the progesterone.

People seem to get differing advice on when to take the progesterone - some 12 days, some 14, some to take it based on calendar days and some based on cycle - I think all are ok and it's ok to go for what works best for you, as long as you are taking it for approx two weeks out of every 4 to counteract the oestrogen

The way to think of it is to compare HRT patches or tablets.
There isn't all this 'when do I take these' because you just follow the pack.

It's not that different with Utrogestan, only you have 2 separate drugs to use.

In patches or tablets, half the 28 day cycle contains both hormones- days 1-14 are only estrogen and the next 14 days are both hormones.

So you're just replicating that with gel/ micronised progesterone.
You don't follow your own cycle because it won't be regular.
If you start gel , then start progesterone 14 days later.

The dose is actually 12 days (see the leaflet in the tablets) but the 14 days is there to make it an easier 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off.
You can do either.

The easiest way and one which many meno specialists suggest is to stick to the same date each month when you take the progesterone.

So if you take it on the 1st of the month, stick to that date next month.
This sets an HRT cycle.

This means each cycle will be 30-31 days (not 28) but that's such a small difference it's not relevant.

You will usually have a withdrawal bleed 2-4 days AFTER the last progesterone tablet.