Print

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

[Booblet]

Hi everyone,
Hope you are all well.

I'm  taking Sandrina gel 0.5 mg daily.
I cannot take Ustrogestron due to horrendous side effects.
First question:
Is there an alternative to Ustrogestron?

Second question:
I've purchased natural Progesterone cream with yam but really not sure of the ratio level ? -  ingredients state: 1.3 grams = cream providing 20mg of bioidentical USP in one pump.

How much Progesterone should I take?
Thankyou.
Kind Regards

[Betsy123]

What are you symptoms with utragestron? I've currently stopped taking this also. Have an appointment at menapause clinic soon to look at options hopefully. What is the natural cream you have?

[HellsBells]

I have been prescribed low dose estrogen/testosterone 0.2/0.2 and was originally given 20mg of progesterone but this has been increased to 40mg. I would go for 40 on that basis.

[Booblet]

Hi Hellsbells ( brilliant name!),
Thankyou for your helpful reply.
Did you get this medication through NHS or Private?
The Ratio sounds good - is it working for you?
I'm trying to get Testosterone from my GP - quite reluctant atm.
I used to get a similar combination from a private clinic- but it was fat too expensive.
Xxx

[Booblet]

Hi Bettsy123,
Thks for your reply.
Ustrogestron side effects:
Severe Anxiety and increased depression. Sleepless nights with ongoing Palpatations.
Stomach upsets.
Increased painful swollen breasts.
Fluid retention.
I have always had a high intolerance to many drugs. My allergen levels have always been very, very high.
Are you taking Sandrina gel? If so what Progesterone are you taking atm?
The Progesterone cream I get from USA. Its natural with natural Yam.
I can't say the name of this product for obvious reasons.
Hope you feel better soon.
Xxx

[HellsBells]

Hi Booblet...I had to go private - took a chunk out of my savings. I felt like it was more urgent as I've just been diagnosed with osteoporosis. The minimum standard dose of estrogen seems to be quite high at 0.75 too. I have had non-hormonal breast cancer so I need it to be as low as poss. It works out at about £45 per month. I don't drink or smoke and eat out rarely so it seems like good value to me!

It's too early to say whether it is working...not sure how long it should take?

[Furyan]

I have been prescribed low dose estrogen/testosterone 0.2/0.2 and was originally given 20mg of progesterone but this has been increased to 40mg. I would go for 40 on that basis.

HellsBells, that’s really helpful, thanks for sharing your prescribed ratio. I have an upcoming appointment with a specialist and was worried that I’ll be spending my cash on advice that might get me in the same boat as the conventional proportions advocated for on the NHS. I must remember to keep an open mind….

[Hurdity]

Hi Booblet

Sorry to hear about your prog woes.

However there is no ratio at all that can be used to determine the dose of progesterone needed to protect the womb. It all depends on the type of product and mode of delivery and the dosage is based on strictly controlled trials.

OTC progesterone cream IS NOT  SUFFICIENT TO PROTECT THE WOMB! it is far too weak. The amount of prog in the cream is no indication of the amount that will be absorbed through the skin and in fact transdermal progesterone is not recommended for womb protection because it is so variable and there is no licensed standardised such product available. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

I don't want to alarm you, but over time you could be putting yourself in danger by not taking proper progesterone. Having said that you are on a lowish dose of oestrogen and therefore you could probably be protected from a lower dose of progesterone.

How did you take the utrogestan? Vaginal use lessens some of the side effects and you might be able to take it alternate nights though you would need a scan to ensure the lining remains thin.

There are other alternatives too such as Cyclogest but I don't think that comes in a low enough dose. Also lutigest. These are both off licence for HRT but licensed for fertility so at least studies have been done showing that they are absorbed. Or a Mirena coil (synthetic progestogen).

OTC prog cream is harmless enough if women fancy rubbing it on for therapeutic purposes - but other than that, no....

You really must use a proprietary licensed progesterone preparation for the sake of your health, if you are using HRT in the form oestrogen.

All the best

Hurdity x

[Hurdity]

I have been prescribed low dose estrogen/testosterone 0.2/0.2 and was originally given 20mg of progesterone but this has been increased to 40mg. I would go for 40 on that basis.

HellsBells, that’s really helpful, thanks for sharing your prescribed ratio. I have an upcoming appointment with a specialist and was worried that I’ll be spending my cash on advice that might get me in the same boat as the conventional proportions advocated for on the NHS. I must remember to keep an open mind….

Hi Furyan

What are you seeing the specialist for and is this a BMS recommended clinic/specialist? See my post below about the ratio. I've no idea what Hellsbells has been prescribed but sounds like a private compounding pharmacy dose - and none of this is recommended by the British Menopause Society. All the products - bioidentical oestrogen and prgoesterone are available on NHS and no-one needs to spend lots of money they don't really have or can't really afford to go to one of these overpriced unregulated clinics!

Dosage can be tweaked to suit and nowadays there is a plethora of different products available -  eg oestrogen in the form of gel, spray, patch or tablet, and progesterone as oral or vaginal capsules (though some is  off-licence for HRT as I mentioned below).

Obviously everyone is free to do what they like -  but just trying to correct some misconceptions here, and don't want the regular visitor to the forum to feel that this "specialist" (= expensive) treatment is necessary for them to feel well.

As always I wish everyone well!

Hurdity x

[HellsBells]

My practitioner was trained at Kings and is a registered doctor with the GMC and also a GP.  She has 24 yrs experience and is very responsible. I take the lowest dose of estrogen and testosterone I can because I had triple negative BC 15 yrs ago and I am being monitored carefully with regular bloods and TV ultrasound. I also monitor my breast health. She is in regular contact with my GP and breast surgeon.

I feel attacked and undermined by some comments. I have just been diagnosed with osteoporosis and I am trying to do the best for myself. If anyone would like the research and stats on just how bad the first line bone drugs are they can be found in NHS information. I have therefore cautiously chosen low dose BHRT.

The doctors at the Louise Newson clinic would not start me on a lower dose than 0.75 estrogel.

[Losingtheplot]

Hi everyone,
Hope you are all well.

I'm  taking Sandrina gel 0.5 mg daily.
I cannot take Ustrogestron due to horrendous side effects.
First question:
Is there an alternative to Ustrogestron?

Second question:
I've purchased natural Progesterone cream with yam but really not sure of the ratio level ? -  ingredients state: 1.3 grams = cream providing 20mg of bioidentical USP in one pump.

How much Progesterone should I take?
Thankyou.
Kind Regards

Hi hunni
I have just started Sandrena gel 0.5 mg per day a week ago and suffering pelvic pain and bloating.  Did you get any of these side effects? I have Utrogestan to take for last 14 days too and am very apprehensive as I had bad side effects to Evorel sequi for progesterone.  I hope you get sorted with your progesterone xxxx

[HelloSam666]

Hurdity, as I have mentioned countless times, along with a plethora of others, the BMS only prescribe standardised doses of HRT. Consequently, for those of us who need very, very small amounts of oestrogen and progesterone it is of no use - as my doctor announced a couple of weeks ago.

HellsBells and others like us have to find other solutions that will work. I find it so frustrating (once again) that alternatives are dismissed by you on this forum. Are you a qualified doctor?

Hi Booblet

Sorry to hear about your prog woes.

However there is no ratio at all that can be used to determine the dose of progesterone needed to protect the womb. It all depends on the type of product and mode of delivery and the dosage is based on strictly controlled trials.

OTC progesterone cream IS NOT  SUFFICIENT TO PROTECT THE WOMB! it is far too weak. The amount of prog in the cream is no indication of the amount that will be absorbed through the skin and in fact transdermal progesterone is not recommended for womb protection because it is so variable and there is no licensed standardised such product available. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

I don't want to alarm you, but over time you could be putting yourself in danger by not taking proper progesterone. Having said that you are on a lowish dose of oestrogen and therefore you could probably be protected from a lower dose of progesterone.

How did you take the utrogestan? Vaginal use lessens some of the side effects and you might be able to take it alternate nights though you would need a scan to ensure the lining remains thin.

There are other alternatives too such as Cyclogest but I don't think that comes in a low enough dose. Also lutigest. These are both off licence for HRT but licensed for fertility so at least studies have been done showing that they are absorbed. Or a Mirena coil (synthetic progestogen).

OTC prog cream is harmless enough if women fancy rubbing it on for therapeutic purposes - but other than that, no....

You really must use a proprietary licensed progesterone preparation for the sake of your health, if you are using HRT in the form oestrogen.

All the best

Hurdity x

[CrispyChick]

I agree Sam.

I am sorry Hellsbells feels attacked. We all know Hurdity's view. She gives it often enough.

By all means there's a place to explain that online hormonal products should not be taken on a whim. But come on, Hellsbells is using prepared bhrt products overseen by a clinic with plenty of testing.

In my own experience, suffering from estrogen spikes in peri, I feel very strongly that the additional estrogen thrown at me by the NHS would cause me a lot more harm than any progesterone product I have ever tried. But that's OK, right? Because the BMS agree with chucking estrogen at everyone.

So, let's ignore the negativity towards bhrt ladies and continue to discuss.

Booblet - in my experience of trying progesterone products, I found compounded (via a bhrt clinic) to be far superior in strength (or absorbancy) to a well known brand I purchased online. Possibly worth a thought.

Xx

[sheila99]

IMO the problem isn't telling people what works for you, it's doing so without explaining that if they do the same they are putting themselves at increased risk of cancer. I absolutely agree that bhrt has a place for some people with intolerances but ONLY if you have scans to make sure your lining isn't building up. Someone reading the forum may not be aware of this so it needs to be pointed out.
I think the nhs are against it for two reasons, firstly that the strength is more likely to be insufficient to protect the womb (and they are the ones who see the fallout from it not the private clinic) and secondly that it hasn't been through rigorous licensing and potentially could contain anything, for this reason it's important to get it from a trusted source.
There is a long thread on compounded hormones for anyone who is interested in it.

[HelloSam666]

My issue, and this probably doesn't entirely address Booblet's query, is that the BMS offerings here in the UK cannot provide a solution to women in the UK requiring a very tailored approach for micro dosing. And Hurdity could not provide a answer for that but is quick to denounce progesterone cream   "prog cream is harmless enough if women fancy rubbing it on for therapeutic purposes" or women using BHRT clinics. It has made a huge difference to my quality of life and I wouldn't be without it.

To be honest, I am tired of Hurdity's censuring of other peoples suggestions and regimes. I finally found a solution that works when HRT didn't and happy to let others know. And yes of course, if you are taking estrogen then it has to be balanced correctly with progesterone.