Using micronised progesterone vaginally to reduce low mood side effects

[Calendulaaria]

Does anyone dose their micronised progesterone capsule vaginally? I know it is 'off label'. Does it help with the depressive feelings caused by taking it orally?

It didn’t help me but I’m sure I’ve read here that it does work for a lot of women. The Mirena sorted it for me.

Yes, used it that way for years. I've never experienced depression or low mood anyway, but using it vaginally avoids the sleepy feeling the next day and also bloating.

Hello HRT 1 year in here. I started on the progesterone pill and unfortunately am one of the allegedly small number of women who do not respond well to progesterone. IE as soon as I take it, the following day my mood is dark, angry, sad, emotional, awful! I've religiously logged my moods and physical symptoms on an app - Daylio - which allows you to customise the symptoms etc you want to see over time which helped me enormously to figure out what the hell was going on with me. But to your point I then moved over to the 200mg pessary instead and it is absolutely so much better in terms of how I feel the next day after taking it, and for the 15-26 days that I take it cyclically. It's not perfect, but the pessary is better for sure. Some people don't like it but honestly, I would try anything else other than the oral option. I would not try the Mirena Coil for myself because I am so sensitive to progesterone and a friend of mine (my older friend and HRT trailblazer!) tried it and couldn't wait to get it removed. Do as much research as you can, speak to your GP or Nurse about the side effects and weigh up your options. Maybe try the pessary for a month or two and use the Daylio app to really be able to compare? I emphasise this because for me, it was hard to pinpoint what was going on and when, it was all a bit of a blurred together history of how the progrsterone was making me feel, so having daily data to look back at and take to my nurse was very helpful. Good luck with it all and just keep tweaking until you find your settled place! Xx

It didn't make any difference to me.
I still felt suicidal using it vaginally.

I switched to a coil and my life improved dramatically.

The pessary is identical just bigger than the 2 small oral tablets (which can be used vaginally.) I've had both. I don't use the pessary now as it's very expensive (over £2 each) and I pay for my HRT privately.

@Pantalones i found the pessary much easier to use (despite the side effects) the small ones just fell out.

It helped me a bit taking it a suppository.

New scheme for cheaper hormone replacement therapy launches - GOV.UK https://share.google/QJwRsrvHQgzTwUjZk - this is how I get my prescription through the NHS and it's less than £20 per year OP. If going privately then of course it will cost more so I get this. I work full time, not on benefits or anything and I'm entitled to the PPC, information linked above. That includes the oestrogel and pessaries.

I know what you mean! Sometimes even the pessary can come out 😂. I just make sure I'm heading straight to bed once I've got it in. It's not going to be suitable for everyone though I know.

I take the oral capsules (either the single or two) vaginally. When I take it orally I feel like I’m on another planet - sleepy, anxious etc. which is much better when taking it locally. I also no longer get bloating when taking it this way.
The only downside for me is that it feel like some seeps out during the night which I find uncomfortable.

This is what I'm worried about. I had PMDD when I was having a menstrual cycle and I don't want to go back to that hellish mental state.

Thank you for sharing this, I'm hoping it will work for me this way too.

I was out on continuous a few months ago and literally within three days the doom had reappeared. I switched to using it internally and it’s so much better. My moods are so stable now, it’s been really eye opening as I hadn’t realised just how much it was affecting my mental health

Thanks I know about that but I have had private HRT for many years and stay with my consultant for their advice and expertise, not just on HRT. I've never wanted to switch to the NHS, and fortunately I can fund it.

The NHS prepayment is great for women who use it.

My private consultant contacted my NHS GP and asked them to prescribe it, which they did.
I feel so grateful to be able to use the NHS cert. It’s saving me a fortune.

Yes but that means your GP takes legal responsibility for repeats etc and you have been passed over to them, presumably, and no longer have reviews with your consultant - or is that not how it's working for you?

I’m still under the consultant but the prescription is on repeat which I request when I require it (approx monthly) and it’s sent straight to the pharmacy.
I do it all through the surgery app. I do have to fill in a quick questionaire about any new symptoms etc. but only takes a few mins.

Ok, thanks for explaining. It sounds a faff having to request a monthly prescription. Can't you get more? I get either 3 or 6 months (my choice) depending how much I've already got, usually when I see the consultant.

I went to the consultant as the GP had given me incorrect advice initially (which I knew was wrong from my research) so now go to the consultant for advice/prescribing dosage etc. but the GP surgery provides the actually prescription, as specified by the consultant. Apparently they are quite well known in my area and a lot of local GP surgeries do this for them.

I’ve been on it for less than six months so still figuring out what is working best for me (been battling migraines etc). It seems to be settling now so once I’m happy with the regime I will request that. It is a faff in that it’s so regular but at least it’s a straightforward/quick process. I also have an amazing pharmacist, which having previously dealt with a nightmare pharmacy I do not underestimate the value of!

Really good to hear this, I'm hoping it will work the same for me

Me! Started HRT Feb and because of another condition and response to other hormones, GP sought guidance from consultant who agreed vaginal (cyclical).
First cycle was scary, the estrogen picked me up so well that even the vaginal progesterone was a shock: tired, constipated, nausea and low motivation for anything. Each month after that it has become less and less noticeable.
I have not taken orally in this way but think in general it is such a downer, I wouldnt hack it.