Hi Cocopops, Evorel Conti was my first HRT and it brought back the migraines that went away with menopause.
I also had terrible mood swings on it but the GP didn't think either was possibly due to the HRT. I always had progesterone intolerance but she said that doesn't happen in HRT. She was wrong, but you can't argue, it's their decision.
She insisted I had to take it for three months, I suffered on for 11 weeks before giving up, the cure is sometimes worse than the illness.
After I gave up I phoned my GP for an alternative and was told if I couldn't tolerate Evorel Conti then I wouldn't be ok with any other HRT because Evorel Conti is all body identical.
Now here's the truth. Evorel Conti is the cheapest. It contains northisterone which our grandmothers might have been given it's so old, it's not body identical, bioidentical or gentle in any way.
If you are intolerant to progesterone they will gaslight you all the way, it is dangerous stuff, be careful.
I'm happily taking tibolone now.
It's an HRT (it's not hormonal at all the GP says, not true). It contains the building blocks of oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone and your body takes and makes what it needs.
Tibolone sorts out all anxiety symptoms very quickly, it seems to be antidepressant as well as making me feel physically stronger and more confident. It helps with hot flashes or flushes, but won't take away night sweats, I'm soaked most nights, I take black cohosh too for that, my GP recommends red clover, but says any herbal that works is good to take. It works a bit.
If I was starting again (I've been on HRT or tibolone since 1 year post meno, two years ago) then instead of believing the GP, I'd go straight to a specialist and skip the part where you say you are progesterone intolerant and they force you to try every cheap and nasty progestin they can find for you to show how wrong you are, while I try not to kill myself from the horrific mood crashes that show I'm still intolerant.
You can insist on an alternative, I did even though I was refused on repeat, I kept bugging them until they gave me something that I could tolerate, even though they say it's not HRT (it is).
PS, while I agree in general with Mary G, I found I couldn't sleep at all on utrogestan, I was completely wired with it (and bad indigestion) so I took it mornings but still couldn't sleep. Vaginally it was a bit messy and I wouldn't want it all over my husband's skin, what's it going to do to him? Rectally is an equally effective ROA that leaves the vagina free, lol.
