Hi everyone
Just reading this post - I hadn't heard of Darstin which was first mentioned on this forum by someone else in Spain about 10 years ago.
I think most of us are agreed - and have said so for many years, that there should be lower doses of utrogestan (specifically a 50 mg dose) for those on low oestrogen doses, as well as more research and licensing into the safety and efficacy of vaginal methods of delivery.
I looked up Darstin, and I see why I haven't heard of it. It is a very weak gel ( as Mary G says re quantities needed) and designed to be applied to the breasts only to treat breast tenderness. It was first manufactured in 1983 so has been around for a long time.
The data say that when applied to the breasts - 80% of the gel is metabolised by the breasts and 20 % is absrobed systemically.
As far as I can see there is no information nor research on its use in protecting the endometrium.
Your quest to find a suitable alternative progesterone Mary G is highly commendable and your own experience interesting to read, but I would strongly caution against others to try this experiment themselves even if they could get hold of the product - simply because there are no data at all.
The problem with any transdermal progesterone is that it needs to be absorbed systemically and then transported via the bloodstream to the uterus, with all the potential side effects that this involves, if sufficient is to be delivered. Contrast this with vaginal delivery where theoretically a lower dose of progesterone is needed compared with other methods, because it is delivered directly to the womb. Yes there is systemic absoprtion and why we desperately need more research into this - as there are plenty of progesterone products out there used for fertility. We just need the research into lower doses of these formulations.
For example there is Crinone gel - which has been researched for endometrial protection but is 8 x more concentrated ( 90 mg prog/1.125g gel) than Darstin, and is delivered vaginally. The recent BMS paper on progestogens and endometrial protection, from memory quotes research to say that a 45 g dose of Crinone (alternate day dosing?) provided sufficient endometrial protection I think for low/medium oestrogen doses (correct me if I'm wrong here). However again frustratingly - this is off-licence, and probably only prescribed by private specialists ( though there isn't that much written on this forum about experiences of it, so probably not often prescribed) and I can understand why women are trying to find better alternatives.
The difficulty with Crinone gel is that it comes in pre-measured doses delivered by applicator and therefore I imagine very difficult to apply lower doses vaginally in the way it is designed.
The problem is also of course - that private consultation and regular scans are expensive, and beyond the reach of most women so it is doubly frustrating that there doesn't seem to be research going on - no doubt commercial reasons will be cited. Great for those who can afford it and good luck to you...
Re the comments about compounded products - the issue with these is not a blanket ruling that they dont work - it's just that each clinic will produce its own product ( so I understand) in its own way and that these individual products are not produced to the same standard, will vary, and have not been tested for their efficacy in protecting the endometrium - so women using these clinics not only have to pay the very high cost of using them, but also the ongoing monitoring that is essential in ensuring the womb is protected. It is all explained very clearly here:
https://thebms.org.uk/publications/consensus-statements/bioidentical-hrt/We are all on the same journey - to better health and well-being now and on into our older age.
Glad you are feeling well Mary G and will be interesting to read how the situation develops for you personally in terms of the endometrium, as time progresses.
Hurdity x
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Topic: My Darstin progesterone gel trial (Read 3095 times)