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[Suecee1958]

Just got back from the GP - I had an email consultation with Dr Currie and she recommended I use an Estradot 25 patch and utrogestan - I printed off the email and showed it to my GP.  He said couldn't prescribe this for me as he didn't know enough about it and suggested I see a specialist!  When I questioned him about the progesterone the only one he could recommend  was the norethistorone which gives people so many problems!  Where do I go from here?..

[CLKD]

See a specialist?  Did he offer to refer you?  He's probably being honest in that he knows nothing about menopause! despite GPs being sent recent information.

Change your GP?

[Clovie]

Some Drs know it as 'micronized progesterone.'

My old GP didn't know utrogestan but knew micronized progesterone. 
I still ended up seeing a gynae specialist though.

[walking the dog]

def change gp and see a specialist is ironic when Dr Curry is a specialist !

when i seen nhs menop specialist in feb she put me on pretty much the regime Dr Curry recommendef for you except 50 esteadoit she wrote it on a piece of paper for my gp wgo gave me a prescripton no bother.


my blood boils at these gps who effectively hold our health in their hands

I hope you can get what you need

[ruthae]

Hi
This makes me so cross.  Definitely change your doctor or change surgery.  I have been told i have to wait 3 months  to see a specialist on the NHS and my previous Dr made me try 3 different synthetic progesterones previous to refering me because I didnt know about HRT.  So I changed surgery and this morning I got my gel and utrogestan prescription with info printed off here, no problem.  I couldnt wait another 2 months. It will probably be about cost.  Tell them it is seriously affecting your quality of life.

Rx

[Suecee1958]

Seriously considering changing surgery - not impressed at all with my GP - all he prescribes is standard HRT and he admitted he knew nothing about utrogestan so couldn't /wouldn't prescribe it......

[lisa789]

I'd print off some information about Utrogestan and I'd send it to the Practice Manager along with an explanation as to what happened. I'd suggest that as the Doctor said he knew nothing about the medication he researches it so he can make an informed decision not one based on lack of knowledge. Might be worth a try xx

[Mary G]

Absolutely dreadful, what can one say.  It makes me laugh when I read in the media that people need to be supervised by their GP while taking HRT.  My GP knows nothing about the menopause or HRT, I know more than she does so how on earth can she possibly advise me!  I am so glad I managed to sort it out for myself and bought it OTC.

If doctors don't know anything about HRT then they really shouldn't be prescribing it.  All women should be sent to Menopause Clinics which should have a specialist gynaecologist. 

I also think that Family Planning Clinics and Menopause Clinics should merge because there is an overlap with BCP and Mirena coils and it would provide women with a joined up service and the expertise they so desperately need.

I despair.

[Meeka]

When I asked my GP for a prescription he looked it up in his book and confirmed it was available on the NHS.  Its easy for him to just check what it is.

[Hurdity]

This is absolutely appalling Suecee! I  think it was me that recommended you e-mail Dr Currie as I thought this would be a fail-safe way of ensuring you got whatever she recommended - as she is the specialist. I thought anyway - that when patients consulted a private gynae ( which is in effect what you have done), they sent their prescription to the patient's local GP, who then prescribes whatever has been recommended on NHS?

That GP should not have just refused even though he doesn't know about it! He should have made it his business to do so if Dr Currie had recommended it! At worst he should have said - I'm sorry I am not familiar with this prescription so to save time, I suggest you make another appointment so that I can find out for you. How hard is that? Did you print off the information on this website? All he has to do is either read the info on here http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/to_progestogens.php or go to the web and read the SPC here: http://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/19895/SPC

Ignorance is no excuse.

I would definitely phone up and speak to whoever is higher up, or make another appointment with a different doctor, if you don't want a confrontation, take the information along - Dr Currie's letter, the print-out of progestogens, and the SPC and insist you are given a prescription. All he has to write is "Take as prescribed" or the actual 100 mg continuous dose eg 100 mg at bedtime on Days 1 -25 of each 28 day cycle.

Please try again and good luck - we are behind you

Hurdity x

[CLKD]

Let us know!

[Trufflecat]

Another vote for seeing another doc. Mine had never heard of Utrogestan but looked up micronised progesterone and was happy to prescribe it.