Thanks everyone.
Re Utrogestan used vaginally - so 100mg every other day used this way would be sufficient, is that correct?
It does seem to imply that 100mg every other day used vaginally is OK on the Newson Health Progesterone Intolerance Factsheet which I found earlier today on their Balance by Newson Health pages.
Can you get some kind of applicator to use for this method? I have some problems with hand dexterity/fine tremor due to an autoimmune condition so an applicator would maybe be easier for me to do this more easily.
Re Newson Health - I'm seriously considering an appointment with one of their doctors if vaginal Utrogestan still causes significant problems for me. Are they likely to be able to sanction Norethisterone or Provera off label as an alternative to Utrogestan?
Really appreciate all your help so far, I'm finding it all quite confusing to be honest!
What Newson Health says about progesterone is very much off-licence regimes they might recommend to women under their care who will pay for the advice and follow up scans.
There is some evidence from small trials to suggest that for
low to medium doses of oestrogen, 100 mg Utrogestan on alternate days, is sufficient to protect the endometrium but would be used with cuation as only small trials.
Both the manufacturer (Besins) and the BMS, recommended based on a review of evidence, that if used vaginally, the same dose should be used as for oral intake, and in fact for higher doses of oestrogen when bleeding is not controlled, they suggest higher doses of Utrogestan eg 300 mg per day for 12-14 days rather than 200 mg for sequential cycles and 200 mg per day rather than 100 mg, for continuous regimes.
As stated Provera is licensed for HRT so you can just get this from your regular GP if you want to try it. I understand that it is quite well tolerated by some women. Personally would not want to take it continuously due to question marks over potential breast cancer risk ( and I said question marks! ie just wanting to be cautious).
Not sure if applicators would hold the 100 mg - they are tiny (pesky) balls! I now use the 200 mg vaginal capsules which come with applicators (terribly wasteful) which I don't use, as I have always just poked them up with my fingers. Not sure much dexterity is needed but the 100 mg balls are quite difficult to hold I would say as they are so small!
If you wanted to use Utrogestan cyclically and vaginally then you should ask to be prescribed the vaginal utrogestan but unfortunately as this is off-licence in UK - you might have an issue ie they might refuse. Again I get mine from regular GP but I had been referred to a specialist for hysterosocopy and biopsy due to unscheduled bleeding, so it was after that, when I asked for the vaginal Utro.
Hurdity x