Ah then hoping4best - I presume Crinone is more readily prescribed in US for HRT?
"Bio-identical" progesterone was initially only used for fertility here - and before utrogestan (Prometrium I think in US?) became available (at least for HRT) the two main types were Crinone (gel) and Cyclogest (pessaries/suppositories) and I suspect since the advent of a licensed product, the other two are not prescribed much any more here - apart from to those women who do not do well on Utrogestan. They used to be prescribed by gynaes or enlightened GPs off licence.
My GP used to prescribed Cyclogest and this is the first progesterone I used. I can only recall a couple of members or so in the past (6-7 years) mentioning that they've tried Crinone - one of whom is Night_Owl (I am sure she won't mind my saying), from Nick Panay - who still prescribes it I gather for women who are highly progesterone intolerant - to try. Most gynaes now seem to prescribe Utrogestan because it is licensed for HRT.
Interestingly Stellajane - you mention rubbing it in - I hadn't thought that here is a product which could be applied in the same way as Estrogel so led me to wonder why not? I presume the Crinone gel is not necessarily in a quick dry formulation but presumably could be made so? However I can see the same argument applying to this as to the stronger progesterone creams - application and absorption varies so much by individual that you can't be sure of the amount that would absorb - and while this does not matter for oestrogen (because it is symptom control we are talking about usually), for progesterone it is crucial - it is the protection of the womb which is the ultimate goal.
Re the bleeding hoping4best - fortunately I have never bled before finishing my course of utrogestan (which I take vaginally) so it is not an issue but I can see absorption through the cervix into the uterus could well be lessened if bleed is happening and the flow is the other way - and might carry out the progesterone with the blood.
The other thing is - the progesterone is designed to change the structure of the uterus from proliferative ( growing under the influence of oestrogen) to secretory (changes the structure of the lining to prepare for fertilisation) - so I am not sure whether in fact it can make the secretory changes once the lining has started to shed so the progesterone may well be wasted if you see what I mean. I did try to read about this but can't quite get an answer - ie does the lining start to proliferate underneath, even as the tip layer is shedding and would additional progesterone have an effect.
The good thing about Cyclogest ( the waxy capsules) is that it can be used as a pessary or a suppository so you can still insert it somewhere even if bleeding - but I was never keen on that route
![Roll Eyes ::)](https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/Smileys/extended/rolleyes.gif)
. That is the closest to non-vaginal transdermal progesterone we have..... (but not licensed for HRT).
Sorry that's a bit of a ramble out loud - but is something I've thought about on and off for a while!
I've probably got a paper on Crinone bookmarked somewhere too....
Hurdity x