Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Lisa_Oz]

I need help and please be gentle with your comments. I am very vulnerable right now. 52, peri menopausal, history of anxiety and depression, which I’m on medication for. The antidepressant was switched in April.

I tried HRT again after stopping because of Utrogestan intolerance (even tried vaginally and that caused major mood issues).  I originally went on because I had so many peri symptoms but it was my mood issues that I hoped would get better. Saw a private clinic and spoke with a hormonal and functional medicine GP and was given option of using Oestrogel for week to see how I felt then to add Utrogestan 100 vaginally to see how it made me feel. I started to feel better on Oestrogel (taking 1 pump).  I took my 4th Utrogestan last night and my mood has gotten progressively worse. I feel like I can’t go on. Have no hope.
The other option is to try an Oestrogel cream with 25 mg Progesterone twice a day and add testosterone cream later after bloods.  After I’m on that for 8 weeks, I will get a blood test at a certain point in my cycle to see how I am. Also will need pelvic scan to check lining of uterus. If this helps, I will pay for it.  I spend nothing on anything else because I find no joy in anything. I did find the doctor very kind, patient and knowledgeable. 

I am also waiting for my psychiatrist to be back from a 1 month holiday. I initially did well on my newer med but I was never this bad when I was on sertraline.  So I’m wondering if I should speak to my GP that I need to switch back and find the safest way to do that.

I have a wonderful husband and a daughter with special needs that is so wonderful.  If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t see a need to try to get better.

[Mary G]

Welcome to MM and sorry to hear about your problems with Utrogestan, you are definitely not alone.   I can't go anywhere near the stuff.   I thought I had suddenly become progesterone intolerant post menopause when I used it (100mg vaginally) but that was definitely not the case.   

My opinion is 100mg progesterone is too high a dose in one hit and the maximum I would take is 50mg every day which I can do with zero side effects.

I would most definitely go for option two and use the combination cream with 25mg progesterone twice daily.  I think you will find it far more tolerable.

[Lisa_Oz]

Thanks, Mary. I can’t believe how horribly it affects me. I just ordered the cream. I hope you are right and it helps. I’m also very interested in my blood test results that will be taken after I’m on it. More so for the more in depth analysis of my vitamin levels.  I was in the low normal NHS range for the few that were checked in July. I’ve been supplementing with magnesium, vitamin D, curcumin and omega fish oils. (Hormone specialist agreed with all of them, since my bloods showed highish CRP, an inflammation marker)

I have been doing so much research on progesterone intolerance and I really wish there were more studies on Utrogestan at lower doses for people who have this issue.

[Flossieteacake]

Hello Lisa and a warm welcome to the forum. I am sorry to hear things are so tough. I just want to say, you do not have to use ultrogestan if you cannot tolerate it. There are other progesterone options. For example, some people feel better taking two cerezette a day which is enough progesterone to protect the womb lining. I personally would use something else rather then to keep trying different ways of taking ultrogerstan.

I hope your GP is helpful and supportive when you have your appointment.

[Perinowpost]

Mollydolly

Can I ask did you get your hysterectomy for extreme progesterone intolerance on the nhs or did you have to go private?  I have been battling with this for 10 years now and coming to the conclusion hysterectomy might be the only way. Although my GP friend tells me I won’t get it on the nhs for prog intolerance.

Flossieteacake I couldn’t even tolerate 1 x cerazette pill, so for us extreme prog intolerants that may be out x

[Lisa_Oz]

Molly thanks for letting me know I’m not alone. So pleased that you found a solution that works for you! I’m wondering if maybe I should go for a different antidepressant, since my main complaint was increased mood and anxiety since entering peri. I definitely have other symptoms, like irregular periods and night sweats, but I feel like I could accept that if I could just get my head right. At least for now. But if my mood symptoms are due to hormone issues, I wonder if I could get relief from a different antidepressant or if I need to get the right balance…it’s just so hard trying to make big decisions when I’m feeling like this!

Flossie, thanks for the welcome and your advise. I just did a quick search on Cerezette.  Have you heard any success stories for people who couldn’t tolerate Utrogestan but did ok with Cerezette? I will keep looking.

[Flossieteacake]

Molly thanks for letting me know I’m not alone. So pleased that you found a solution that works for you! I’m wondering if maybe I should go for a different antidepressant, since my main complaint was increased mood and anxiety since entering peri. I definitely have other symptoms, like irregular periods and night sweats, but I feel like I could accept that if I could just get my head right. At least for now. But if my mood symptoms are due to hormone issues, I wonder if I could get relief from a different antidepressant or if I need to get the right balance…it’s just so hard trying to make big decisions when I’m feeling like this!

Flossie, thanks for the welcome and your advise. I just did a quick search on Cerezette.  Have you heard any success stories for people who couldn’t tolerate Utrogestan but did ok with Cerezette? I will keep looking.

There are members on here.  There are also members on different progesterone's that are able to tolerate them too.

[Perinowpost]

Yes, they’re the lucky ones 😀

[Lisa_Oz]

Thanks Molly. I had looked at Prof Studd but thought he recommended Utrogestan for 7 days. I barely made it 4.  I hope I can find a progesterone I can tolerate. I’m reconsidering the coil. Wish it were easier.

[Ches15]

Morning
I am reading this after 2 days of being on my utrogeston cycle and I feel rotten! Everything in my body just feels so heavy and tired. Boobs are swollen and sore. It’s my second month on this regime and I’m ok on the Lenzetto spray alone but 2 weeks of feeling like this makes me question if it’s worth it.
I changed from Evorel sequi as i felt I needed more oestrogen but i tolerated the norethisterone really well in the patch so it’s quite frustrating. The only other progesterone i was offered with the Lenzetto was a mirena coil and I’m worried if I don’t like that it’s a pain to get it removed again  .
People make out Utrogeston is a good choice as it’s bio-identical which sounds good but the reality is a bit grim for me!

[Lisa_Oz]

Morning Ches

Yes everyone talks about Utrogestan being the gold standard but certainly not for me! I’m sorry you have issues, too. I didn’t take it last night and already feel so much better. My mood was getting so low it scared me.

I went to a menopause support group in my town last night and Mirena coil was again recommended.  I am due to see my GP in 2 weeks and if he assures me he will remove the coil with no delay I will reconsider it. Will have to get it fitted at a sexual health clinic, since my surgery doesn’t do it anymore. 

The woman leading the group didn’t do well on Mirena after not tolerating Utrogestan.  She is now taking desogestrel two tablets a day, which is off license but has worked for her. I’m also looking into that but will require a specialist, I don’t think my GP would do that without someone else recommending it.

Not an easy path or decision for ladies who are Utrogestan intolerant!

[Mary G]

Ches and Lisa, I have been a member of MM for nearly 10 years now and I would say that problems with Utrogestan is the most frequently discussed topic on here.

I'm sure some women get on with Utrogestan but I think a lot of women are making the best of a bad job because there is no other form of body identical progesterone that is readily available.  Much of the problem (in my opinion) is the 100mg dose in one hit.

You could try Cyclogest progesterone which is a wax based, body identical, vaginal pessary that can be cut into 50mg doses.   I bought some here in Spain to have on standby but I have not tried it yet because I'm doing well with Darstin gel.

[Lisa_Oz]

Thanks Mary. I’m not sure my GP would prescribe Cyclogest. Do you have any advise as to what to say or where to go?

Yesterday morning I was desperate and ordered my BHRT that was prescribed by Marion Gluck clinic. It contains:

Estradiol 0.25mg/ Progesterone 25mg per 0.3mL dose cream in HH base x 50mL

which it says to take twice a day.

I am sooooo confused. I can’t figure out what to do. Mirena, prescribed cream, desogestrel, cyclogest…go to Spain and get your gel???

[Mary G]

Apologies Lisa, if I were you I would stick with the cream you have ordered.  The Cyclogest suggestion was more generic and to have as a back up if all else fails -  I think it's always helpful to have a contingency plan!

I happily used 50mg progesterone lozenges and latterly progesterone drops and had great success with them for well over 3 years.  Fortunately my experience with these products didn't resemble Utrogestan in any way, shape or form.   

I am currently and successfully (so far) trialling Darstin for two reasons.   Firstly, cost and secondly, Brexit - since you (UK) Brexited it is no longer viable for the specialist pharmacy to post to EU states and I was having to ask friends to receive it and forward it on to me.   

You might want to check out my compounded hormones thread in the Alternatives section on here.   I will bump it up for you!

[Wrensong]

Hi Lisa & Ches, sorry to know you are both struggling with progesterone  but I second what Mary G says about Utrogestan being very problematic for some of us - me included, so you are far from alone in that.  I share Mary G's sense that the minimum 100mg Utrogestan dose is way too high for some of us & wonder whether women of small frame/low BMI may have particular probs with it. 

There's also the issue that progesterone can potentiate thyroid hormone, so that can be an added complication for those of us on thyroid replacement.

Mary G, I have never seen a Cyclogest pessary, so are you saying they are of a size that the 200mg version can be quartered?
Wx