In the US there are pessaries/suppositories.....used for fertility purposes mainly.
We also have prometrium which is progesterone in peanut oil in a gel capsule. I have taken 100mg orally in the past but the levels it gives me (steady state) are lower than docs usually want to protect endometrium with the estrogen I take and the 200mg is known to be more associated with a groggy sedated feeling. It does get processed through liver and has metabolites which may also be active. Vaginally, as Hurdity said, 100mg will give higher levels to protect uterus and still bypasses liver. As most of my symptoms are vaginal/urethral, I was taking vagifem and on a continuous regimen, so I never tried it vaginally.
That is why a lot of HRT here (US) includes progestin with combo pills and patches. I have never used any combo patches as the docs I was able to get to RX HRT all do bioidentical types. One young doc I went to gave me Femhrt which is ethinyl estradiol and norethisterone combo. I gained 10 lbs, was depressed, and hurt all over (muscles/joints) on it for just 1 month! I could never tolerate BCP's either.
Micronised progesterone is becoming more popular as compounded sublingual drops , troches, and sublingual triturates. I got decent levels on both sublingual troches and triturates (which is what I use now 100mg SL). A triturate is a small pellet of powder that dissolves under the tongue...you try not to swallow as it get absorbed (5-10min) through lingual veins and gum vessels directly into blood stream without going through digestive tract first.
I think this is like vaginally, although it's at the opposite end
, though it is a compounded RX. It makes me sleepy about 15 minutes after I take it and so I take it at bedtime. I get ninety for 3 months...you can also bite them in half and take it twice a day if needed. I take it continuously.
Andius
