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[Joeyjo1976]

Hi! I’ve been on Conti now for around 3 months (also taking the mini pill) unfortunately over the past month hot flushes and sleeping issues have came back. It seemed to be helping so much to start with 😩. Apparently my options now are to add an extra half Conti patch (have tried and didn’t feel great but didn’t try for longer than a few weeks) try norethisterone with a seperate estrogen or try something completely different. I’m
So upset as it seemed to be working so well! Utrogestan and the coil aren’t options. Should I try adding half a patch again? Or just the norethisterone? I was put on the mini pill for PMDD and it stopped my cycle so I didn’t get fluctuations so I’m worried about stopping it now

[sheila99]

You need more oestrogen but perhaps not more progesterone as you're already taking more than would normally be prescribed for hrt. Perhaps look at the dose in the bcp and if you already have enough you could just add a 25 patch or a pump of gel.

[Joeyjo1976]

This is exactly what I thought but my gp or my hrt specialist won’t prescribe anymore estrogen even though I would probably have enough to cover me with the desogestrol too 🙄

[Dotty]

You could have a separate oestrogen patch and take two desogestrol for the progesterone part.

[Joeyjo1976]

They won’t let me do that either! I’m just wondering if I should come off the mini pill altogether and just try norethisterone. It took me ages to settle on desogestrol and I’m sure it made me slightly depressed. I just worry that taking norethisterone in tablet form could give side effects that I don’t get taking it in Evorel Conti

[sheila99]

If you come off the bcp you may find you're OK with 1.5 patches. If you need contraception too you could use a mirena which does both. Many people (not all) find utrogeston better than norethisterone. But if they refuse to prescribe more than a 50 patch you need a new gp or a referral to an NHS meno clinic (expect a long wait).

[CLKD]

If 'they won't let you' then ask for a referral to a dedicated NHS Menopause clinic?

[Joeyjo1976]

I’m already seeing a HRT specialist and she won’t add any more estrogen without adding more progesterone

[sheila99]

Find a different one? How does she justify it as you're already on more than than anyone else for the oestrogen dose?

[Joeyjo1976]

Apparently desogestrol isn’t licensed to be used as HRT although I have read on one of the menopause guidance sites (think it’s the NICE one?) that 2 desogestrol should be able to cover the progesterone side of HRT. I’m in the Highlands and we don’t seem to have much options here regarding specialists so it’s not that easy to find another one. I’ve spoken to a private specialist but she says again that my only options are to add an extra half Conti or change altogether 😩

[sheila99]

Would an email to Dr Currie who runs this site help? It's £30 which is the cheapest specialist advice you'll get if your gp will follow her recommendations.

[Joeyjo1976]

Didn’t realise that was an option! How would I go about doing that?

[sheila99]

From the Contact tab above.