How do I know when my cycle is if I’m perimenopausal and on contraception! Utrogestan question

[Kai1981]

I’ve been prescribed Utrogestan, along with oestrogen gel by a private doctor.

In addition she has just switched me from microgynon to desogestrel for contraception (day 1 of taking this but today was supposed to be my week off microgynon when I would normally start my breakthrough bleed).

The doctor has said to take Utrogestan two weeks on and two weeks off, for three months. The pamphlet says twelve days on from your 15th day of cycle!

Can I just start taking it now? I have no idea when my cycle is with perimenopause.

I had the same issue. Doctor said it didn’t matter you just need a starting date and work it from there. Doesn’t matter what that date is.

My GP prescribes me patches and capsules; she said to start using the patches on a Monday and then start the utrogestan 2 weeks later on the Monday. She said to do it 2 weeks on 2 weeks off always starting on a Monday.

Because you've been on contraception, it's fine to start from now - it'll be far less likely that you'll have prolonged breakthroughs compared to starting whilst bleeding - the advice is in respect of women who are starting from an unmedicated cycle. And it's always been advice (at least since the early 90s at any rate) to run packs together when changing contraceptive pills instead of leaving a gap to avoid any possibility of conception.

Oh thank you, that’s what I thought but good to have it confirmed!