Thank you for the replies
Penguin, you sound just like me, I'm sorry you are suffering the same, I find one of the worst parts of this is how they say utrogestan doesn't cause these side effects, it's so demoralising to be told it's basically all in your head when I've seriously tried everything I can think of to help myself and they don't even see a problem!
Sorry I ramble so much, I think my meaning got lost in too many words, I should learn to edit
Is there is a herbal remedy (or Anything!) that helps the progesterone phase? I don't think I had PMT much when I had periods, so I never took notice of what helps ease us through it more gently.
I already take only 100mg utrogestan because Boots had them and not the 200s this month. I don't think it's possible to cut utrogestan in half because it's a soft capsule pessary and the contents would run out, but it's a good suggestion, I could adjust the capsules so they have less in them, a sharp pin and pressure should partly empty it, so yes, I'll do that if I can only get 200s next time. I prefer the utrogestan 200s because they come with applicators, but I don't like the higher dose of course.
Stopping before the 12 days is a yes then? It should work to make me bleed? At six days, or ten, what do you think? Two more days is a full week, maybe that would be enough for this month? More trial and error. I just inserted a 100 utrogestan and set my 30 minute timer, that's when I will have my very thorough shower. (note, ten minutes later I'm struggling not to throw up)
I tried Biovea progesterone cream too, it's 20mg or mcg compared to 100mg or mcg utrogestan, such a low dose didn't work even though I used it the full 12 days, I didn't bleed that month. It might not even be the same type of progesterone, I wouldn't know, I'm no chemist, they both claim to be identical to the body's progesterone, so wouldn't that mean they are identical to each other?
I don't mind missing some months of bleeding, I wouldn't tell my GP though, she thinks HRT works but is a huge cancer risk, that is another long tale on its own, getting HRT isn't easy. I've found they treat these medicines like the holy grail, don't let you try them, until the appointed time, then suddenly we can try them. If at that point we say, "I don't like this HRT, it makes me feel worse not better", we are not believed. I'd been asking for a long time, so it looked churlish of me to not want what they gave me. It's frustrating.
My GP told me they won't normally prescribe what I'm getting now after a long fight because, get this quote from my GP, its because, "We can't know if a woman is taking the progesterone if we prescribe them in two separate products, so we only prescribe combined products, then we know she's taking both."
Because women can't be trusted, right? That's why it took over a year to get it prescribed?
I am prescribed 24 vagirux a month, so that would be instead of vagifem, I think they are the same and it's just a cheaper brand for the NHS and while it doesn't work well, it's even worse if I stop taking them. I had my womb lining measured quite recently, declared nice and thin, 2.6mm I think and it was soon before a bleed.
I tried continuous HRT with the every day dose and it wasn't for me. I was depressed all the time and bled each month even though it was continuous. My mother was the same way with HRT, she finally gave up on it when the controversy hit, 25 years later it's my turn!
Ok, 12 minutes until I shower, thanks again for the responses, it's good to know I'm not the only one finds HRT problematic. I'm so sick of hearing how wonderfully well it works!