Why does my period always start just a week into utrogestan

[CurdinHenry]

I thought that hrt would help with annoyingly short (often 3 week) cycles

Any chance that as time passes they'll start lengthening again? 3 weeks is too often

Maybe I need to give up wine oh God

Are you on cyclical or continuous?

Cyclical

As I understand it, HRT isn’t like the pill. I thought it doesn’t affect when your periods come: they do their own thing. All the progesterone does is to reduce the risk of endometrial cancer that unopposed oestrogen would cause.

I guess that makes sense. I had thought that taking hrt night boost the falling hormones. I used to be 28 days like clockwork. I guess things aren't that simple.

That’s interesting as I’m finding it the same thing - on the second week of progesterone I’m getting a period and they’re definitely more frequent than before and I agree, every three weeks is just too much

How long have you been trying it? I started in July and it seems to be getting a bit worse. Wonder if things might improve or this is it.

How bizarre - I had to google how to use progesterone whilst having a period about 10 mins ago (!!) as it’s happened to me and I’ve been on HRT for about 10 months. I had about 2-3 months with no bleeding and now I seem to bleed a few days into taking the progesterone.

Welcome to the annoying club! Did googling offer any tips?

I used to bleed second week of utrogestan however this should still only work out to every 4 weeks if you take it 12 days on and 16 days off. Do you reset back to day 1 as soon as you start bleeding because you shouldn't be doing that and should ignore your natural cycle.

I take it for 12 days every month and it always brings on a bleed towards the end of the 12 days so it's like having a period once a month. This is exactly what my Dr said would happen, my understanding is it's to guard against a thickened womb lining happening, you have to take both the oestrogen and progesterone to have the correct balance.

@PinkCatCushion

HRT sets a HRT cycle. The 'period' each month is a withdrawal bleed, so yes, it's very much like the Pill. Some women find their own cycle overrides this but as their periods get further apart in peri, the HRT will create its own cycle.

@CurdinHenry How are you using it? Some women try to fit it around their cycle, but you have to stick to a fairly regimented way- to make it easier and also help to settle a more predictable bleed.

The best way is to take the progesterone on the same DATE each month (this will create a 30 day cycle rather than a 28 day one - many consultants suggest this.)

You could try resetting your cycle. Wait till your next period and the day your period starts is DAY 1. count 14 days ahead. That is mid cycle. Start the progesterone then. And keep to the same date next month.

eg If you start is on 12th November, do 14 days, then 14 days from 12 December.

I always start taking it on 23rd of every month for 14 days.

So is it the case that because I’m probably still ovulating regularly, that the bleed is a standard period rather than anything to do with the progesterone?

Surely it's the opposite?
You've set an HRT cycle and it's working.

You won't know if you're ovulating or not.

Tbh that might be the issue as I have just stopped it when the period kicks in

Thanks this is really helpful tbh I found 28 hard to count

don't stop taking it just because your period starts or you won't be getting a high enough dose! I take it religiously 14 days out of 28 and my cycle is anything between 21 days and 35 days! If you use google calendar or your phone calendar just put a recurring 14 days "appointment" in it for "pills" and "no pills" to keep you on track.

But why would HRT set it so I’m having periods basically as soon as I start progesterone? I assumed that would delay it a bit?

To be honest I don't think I really "need" much prog atm because it exists to make sure your uterus doesn't build up and mine isn't. I get that you need a balance in principle but I think it should be more tailored to individual bodies (I get that the tech/data for this is a long way off and prog is nice for sleep anyway so no hardship in just taking it overall)

Many moons ago I took the progesterone only pill and it made me spot constantly so I'm wondering if some people just can't tolerate it well

HRT isn't setting it at the moment, that's the point.

It's too late then to delay it. Your body produces progesterone from day 14-ish of a 28 day cycle.

I explained in my previous post that you can try resetting the cycle by waiting to start the next progesterone days when you are mid-cycle- so roughly 14 days after your period starts.

If you do that, the progesterone will coincide with your natural cycle when your own progesterone kicks-in mid cycle.

perhaps you should consult a medical professional before making your own version of prescriptions!

I'm not sure if you've met any medical professionals in the UK but they're not exactly known for recognising nuance. People with no uterus don't need to take prog, it's only to keep the periods going and sloughing things off.

One of my friends who does still have a uterus is only prescribed oestrogen. I don't get it and have asked if the GP explained why but she does t seem worried.

Sorry totally missed this. Thank you!

Does she have a mirena? Your GP isn’t going to discuss someone else’s meds with you!