Hi Keepgoing
The licensed dose of utrogestan in UK is 200 mg orally for 12 days per 28 day cycle.
The French instructions for this product suggest vaginal route for those experiencing adverse side effects from oral use (nausea, dizziness) but does not suggest a reduced dose.
Used vaginally the progesterone goes straight to the uterus where it is needed to protect the lining - avoiding digestion and metabolism through the liver. Some research has shown also that systemic concentrations are higher for a given dose of Utrogestan when used vaginally than used orally, and therefore that lower doses of progesterone are needed than through oral use. Half the dose has been suggested.
I use 200 mg vaginally for 12/13 days every 5-8 week cycle and this has always been OK for me. My womb lining has always been fine on this on the occasions that I have had to have scans.
However all our bodies are different and I can't say what will be right for you I will leave you to decide for yourself having given you the information! It depends on your body - how much oestrogen you are absorbing from your HRT, whether you a peri-menopausal and how much of your own oestrogen you have, whether you are ovulating (in which case you will also have your own progesterone), whether you have fibroids or polyps which could cause additional bleeding etc. My understanding is that duration of dose is as important as actual dose because the progesterone changes the structure of the endometrium and then it is shed when the progesterone is withdrawn. There needs to be sufficient time for the structure to change as well as a high enough dose but this is not a precise science and what is fine for one women may not be enough for another!
Good luck
Hurdity x
