Your Utrogestan questions answered by Dr Sarah Ball 

This is exactly what I needed to hear, having side effects but not wanting to give up! And no confidence in my GP's! So,Thank You.

Brilliant video. I’ve been nearly 3 weeks on Everol 50 patches and day 5 of Progesterone. This morning the side effect were awful and i could barely function/think on the school run. I phoned surgery and got a call from the duty doctor who really didn’t have a clue. I asked if i could take it vaginally, and he said he’d never heard of that, and gave me something synthetic. Needless to say i’m going to start it vaginally tonight instead of orally and get a second opinion. Its never good when you know more about what you are asking for than the gp does! Its so frustrating.

I'd not had periods for a year but my symptoms were horrendous, my male GP put me on Femostan - after 5 years I finally saw a lovely GP who said as I'm overweight and 52 that I shouldn't be on Femostan, and that I'd had my fair share of periods so put on on the continuous regime with oestrogel - oh my goodness, the difference is incredible! I absolutely love this new HRT and feel like a new woman again

You can use Utrogestan vaginally to help avoid side effects?

I was taking 2x100mg cyclical orally in the evening,this literally tranquillised me,which is obviously good for knocking you out to sleep but I felt bit foggy in the morning and it caused PMT and headaches..so my specialist recommended 1x100mg vaginally at night cyclically,so no sedation and closer to womb as I take Estrogel also,this helped reduce pmt and headaches.Thank you for this detailed video it’s a massive help as not all GPs are trained in HRT menopause and for people who can’t afford private care.

I guess I'm lucky I haven't had any of those side effects 2 months in! It's been working really well for me. Newson Health has been a godsend :)

Thank you very much for this. I've been on a regime of oestrogel and Utrogestan for around six months following early menopause due to chemotherapy. I'm very sensitive to progesterone emotionally and wish I didn't have to take it but your video was reassuring that in time it may become more tolerable. It's good to hear that dropping the dose cyclically is also an option. You do great work - early menopause was feeling so lonely!

I have struggled with HRT for a year snd this video has been an absolute godsend in explaining types of dosage and when. Thank you!

I tried utrogestan and it really did not agree with me in any way at all and def didn't help me sleep and hurt my stomach. So I got a progesterone cream instead and it's brill.. I'm on that and oestrogen gel and all good and you can control it. If oestrogen can be absorbed through a gel so can progesterone. Deffo works for me.

Hi there, I have been on HRT for three months now - Evorel 25 and 200 mg Utrogestan capsules. I put a patch on each Friday night, then change to a new patch each Monday night. I was told by my GP to take the Utrogestan for 12 days, day 1 to 12 of each month, as easier to remember. When I first started this treatment I didn't have a period at all, even though I had had regular short periods before. I did have a period in the second month but I am now awaiting my third period which is very late. Is this normal? I must also add that I now suffer with back pain and cramping leading up to a period whether it happens or not. This is something new to me as I didn’t suffer with any period pain previously. In addition, I do suffer with very sensitive breasts, I actually wince if I brush them accidentally. On a more positive note, my sleeping has improved greatly and the majority of my aches and pains have gone away, meaning that I have a new found confidence in joining a gym. I am just concerned about the frequency of my periods plus breast tenderness.

Has anyone found puffy eyes and kind of head congestion/allergy feeling? I've been on progesterone since last fall and have had it all along. It's worth it, but not nice looking!

A video on the alternatives would be fantastic! Finding a GP that knows about HRT is hard enough finding one that knows about alternatives (other than a coil) is impossible! Like me, I'm sure there are lots of women that want cruelty free medicines and not just homeopathic remedies as alternatives but don't know where to find the information when the GP doesn't even know :(

Thank you so much for this very informative video! All my questions answered and information I didn’t know I needed! I wanted to change how I was taking my HRT but my GP didn’t know any other variation snd so referred me to a Gynaecology Clinic with a minimum 4 month waiting list. I was honestly at the end of my chain with constant migraines - now I know there is some variation I can try - thank you for giving me hope

Thank you so much for this video, my GP (a trainee) was so confused about what to do with me. She gave me so many mixed messages. Thanks for clarifying! My periods are so irregular now and causes my PMT to just drag out and agonise, I will try the two weeks on and two weeks off method.

Thank you, I started this nearly three weeks ago and have had all the side effects mentioned including feeling groggy in the morning, but they are just starting to ease in the last couple of days so don't give up .

Can this be dissolved under your tongue to help prevent elevated liver enzymes? Thank you.

Woman to Woman~Thank you for sharing your wisdom as it made a BIG different in my treatment. Patience is a key factor you expressed which helped me tremendously. Thank You!

Is 100 mg of vaginal Utrogestan every other day enough to suppress the lining of uterus and not cause early breakthrough bleeding . It sounds ideal 100 mg every other dayl because I'm quite intolerable to progesterone. Thanks

I found that Utrogestan taken orally keeps me awake! I was expecting a sedative effect, but instead I wake up at 2 am and cannot get back to sleep. I feel totally wired on this drug.

Please prescribe more than 5 years HRT. Meanwhile there is more knowledge about bio identic hormones. Ones you are in post meno pause our hormones are definitely gone. North American Menopause Society works with these new guideline.

Thank you for this, new to HRT and have noticed bloating & grogginess in the morning, my sleep has improved so that’s a plus!

Hello, thank you for such an informative video. I have just been prescribed Oestrogel 2 pumps per day and Utrogestan 2 x 100mg for 14 days. I have not had a period since June. I am planning to start the Utrogestan this evening. So would I take it for 14 days, then 14 days without, then 14 days on again? Is it a continuous cycle of 14 days, even if a calendar month is 31? I hope this makes sense? Thank you

Iv been on a merry go round for 18 months now with all the different combinations and I’m still on fire at night . It’s so annoying and all those side affects. Some of them literally put me to bed with the sickness

Bio-identical progesterone does so much more than is explained in this video. It helps protect the brain, the heart, the breasts, the skin and helps the body use fuel for energy instead of laying it down as fat, and the list goes on. Though oestrogen helps slow down resorption of bone minerals, progesterone helps build new bone helping prevent osteoporosis and its associated fractures. Long before menopause the production of oestrogen drops by 40-60% but progesterone production drops to almost zero. With a normal menopause the adrenal glands take over production of oestrogen and our fat cells produce it as well creating an imbalance. There are also what are called xenoestrogens in the environment that add to the imbalance. With a surgical menopause, which happens after a hysterectomy, hormones are lost immediately and progesterone is needed just as much as for those going through a natural menopause.

Why wouldn't pv utrogestan be the primary choice? It's getting the drug directly to where it is needed, without the guesswork of how each individual will digest and metabolise the drug? We all have different gut biomes and different versions of liver enzymes.....seems to me this approach could take some of that guesswork out of the equation. I don't need anything to zap my energy, as I don't have enough to go around, I also dont need sonething that makes me moodier than I already am. I'm hoping PV Utrogestan will protect my uterus and stay out of my wider system. Thank you for the clear guidance in the video.

I had awful side effects of taking this daily I was so tired even after having 8hrs sleep 🙁 I tried it internally and had a period for the first time in 6 years 🙁 is there an alternative to try.

I started HRT Estrogen two weeks ago and Progesterone I week ago vaginally but got Trush my taking it that way so now have started taking it orally I hope I don't get side effects. Also I was prescribed only two weeks of it even though I have had no periods for a few years I think I should be on continues

can you take these vaginally? im getting severe blaoting and back pain? ty

My GP has been infuriatingly useless and non committal to the point of ignoring my HRT needs. When I asked the NHS gynaecologist why the uterus was thicker - she said she couldn’t answer that. The NHS continues to follow outdated procedures re addressing patient concerns and mark their own homework - this siloed working does not suit the patient. It is like speaking to an alien about MY BODY which makes me feel really uncomfortable. I paid privately to have an adult conversation about my post menopausal problems and options. I came on here and the answers are all here. Thank you….I am going to try every other night and hope the 12 week bleed I had from a polyp has gone as they removed it yesterday!

Would Utrogestan be ok to take vaginally if there have been previous episodes of a thickened womb lining. Thankyou

Hi its says to take utrogestan on a empty stomach but I've not really been doing that as I eat quite late and ive been on it for about 4 months. I don't think I've had any side effects from taking with food but am I putting myself at risk having them with food or reducing the effectiveness of these tablets?

Thank you so much for this! That is such a clear and thorough explanation.

Thank you. It's all so confusing. I've just switched from patches to oestrogel and utrogestan. I messed the first month of my patches up due to confusing instructions. Then I get utrogestan and it says day 15 to day 27. It's bad enough having a perimenopause brain let alone confusing instructions 😂

Has anyone actually managed to struggle through several months of side effects and come through the other side without giving up?

I am on the gel pump as well with these and I have to up the pump to 5/6 pumps should I take 2 100 mg of these instead of one . Doctors is shut for Easter

I am now changing from Evorel Sequi back to the gel and Utrogestan. Information from various GPs has been hit and miss. I have an appointment with HRT specialist in August but need to know now how to transtion. I have one patch left which should be put on tonight. side effects have been so bad I don't think I can face it. Do I stop now and go straight in with gel and then wait for a bleed to start Utrogestan (vaginally) or take a Utrogestan to REPLACE the progestrogen in the patch (up until I would normally start a new pack of patches? there is literally no adivce, no one at surgery seems to know and he Menopause Matters website seems to be down...

Women with PMDD can also take it and it does wonders!!!

Oh good grief- I'm so confused. My GP (UK) has prescribed it for days 1 - 25, a beak of 5 days then starting it again?

Unfortunately had to stop HRT because I'm just a psycho moody mess on utrogestan, orally or pv, cyclic or continuous and have also tried an alternative brand of progesterone with same effect. It seems to trigger PMDD sx in me. I'm lucky I recognised it in time to save my life and my marriage.

I'm 32 weeks pregnant, and was diagnosed with a shortened cervix at 27 weeks. Dr put me on utrogestan twice daily to help prevent preterm labor. I was leaking colostrum and it has now stopped. Can progesterone in Hugh doses effect my milk supply when my babies are born? I'm having twins and really want to be able to EBF for atleast the first 6 months!

I always believed that Oestrogen was the tranquilising hormone however Dr Ball says that progesterone can be calming.

This was so well explained. Thank you so much. I’m having difficulties swallowing them even with gallons of water and then feel as if they are stuck in my throat and cause a heartburn like situation. I wonder if I could use vaginally as I don’t need the sedative or anti depressant effect. I need them purely for womb protection as mirena coil has passed the four year mark where it releases the hormone. It’s really horrible to take. Can I be sure that inserting vaginally will be effective? Any comments or suggestions very helpful. Thank you again.

Thank you very much for this info. I am glad i found you. I can only get the round white Prometrium gelatin caps where I live, but i have a big problem with them. I have taken them for 2 months now, orally, but after one hour i feel totally drugged and dizzy unable to even walk, and i get nightmares during the night and cannot get back to sleep, once i wake up. I cannot continue like that. My MD or pharmacist have no clue what to do. I tried the vaginal route, but i think they did not absorb, because the next day there was a white creamy discharge on my panty. I read somewhere that these round hard shelled caps can also be used rectally. Do you suggest that? Would it help to pierce the round capsule open before inserting, so it gets absorbed better. Thank for any reply.

I have taken this alongside Oestrogel for around 8 months now. I think I have thrush, is it safe to take a Fluconazole tablet while taking Utrogestan and Oestrogel? I used internal Canesten but still feel sore and uncomfortable. Thank you

Thank you so much for this. I was a bit bemused and overwhelmed when I got my medication, but this has answered all the questions I had.

Does it cause diarrhoea?

Perfect 👍🏽 thanks so much! I am unable to digest gelatin so I’ve been taking the capsules orally but not ingesting the gelatin caps. Any thoughts about this?

Thanks so much for this. I started feeling low again but I didn't associate that with this medication. I'll stick with it, easier knowing it's a known side-effect.

is this right if you have utrogestan vaginally you take one tablet 100mg every other night?

The 100 mg Utrogestan did not seem to work anymore when I tried a higher dose estradiol patch. I got breakthrough bleeding. Do I need a higher progesterone dose or would the vaginal route stop the bleeding?

Hi Dr. Sarah Ball, I ' ve been watching your video about Utrogestan, at this point I am a bit confused about this ! apparently it is said that Utrogestan (progesterone)is derived from Yams root , after watching Dr. Barbara Taylor 's (she is a doctor and also expert in menopause in USA)tutorial about different types of progesterone I need to say that i am totally confused She said YAM doesn't contain progesterone only oestrogen!! Could you please enlighten me regarding this! Thank you very much!

Hi, thanks for your informative video. I am just about to start HRT for the first time (am 57) and have been given Utrogeston 100 and Lenzetto transdermal spray. It looks like I should be taking the Utrogestan in the evening - can I use the Lenzetto in the morning or should both be taken together in the evening?

My gp has put me on utrogeston and oestrogel, however after watching your video I’m confused, my gp has told me to take 1 utrogeston daily for 25 days then have a 3 day break, plus 2 pumps of oestrogel daily. I still have periods that are mostly regular, so should I have been put on cyclical rather than continuous? I’d really appreciate any advice. :)

Hello. Thank you for this useful video. I have a strange question and wondered if anyone has found the same thing; I am taking Utrogestran orally, but because the tablets are so hard and round I find that they get stuck in my throat, for ages! Has anyone else experienced this and have any advice? Thank you!

Since I started taking progesterone i have been having nightmares and difficulties sleeping at night is that normal?

Thank you for the video - I have beside me now a pack of utrogestan and evorel 50 patches - and I don't know what to do with either really - I have irregular periods, maybe one every two or three months....so do I just slap on the hrt patch and then in fifteen days take the utrogestan? Or do I put the patch on and then take the tablets tonight - my last day of bleeding was about a week ago!

Picked up my HRT prescription today , Evorel patches and Utrogestan to take for 12 days. Question - is I’m on day 1 of my cycle so will need to wait to start Utrogestan until day 15 but should I start straight away with the patches or wait to start them both together ? Thanks

Are Utrogestan pessaries available in the UK?

Great information I’m 3 months in no side effects. And sleeping great x

This is just what I was waiting for after experiencing side effects with Utrogestan but not wanting to give up, thank you very much 👍🏻

I found the video very helpful but a little confusing. My GP has told me to take two tables on an evening (I take 4 pumps of gel) but I am feeling like a zombie the next day. In the video Dr Bell said to take 1 tablet which I was previously (when only taking 2 pumps) and although a little tired the next day I would function. May I ask which is correct - is it one tablet over the 28 days or two tablets? thank you for any advice/guidance you can give me

Dr Ball thank for this enlighting video! You mentioned that application vaginally is one of other days. Coul you please clarify how is it exactly? For 7 days in two weeks or should be continuing up to 10 days, even though it would take more than 2 weeks? Thank you 😊

I was prescribed this medication by my GP, is it safe for someone who has fibroids and has had a polyp removed from my whom? I read the leaflet inside and it made me so scared.😔

I'm 30 and take Utrogestan and Sandrena for PMDD. It really doesn't work that well for me; I have extreme tiredness during the day and often have to sleep for much longer, as I can't bear how exhausted I am.

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Does the progesterone in patch form give same side effects?( sleepy in a morning) I'm thinking of changing to tablet form as it's a natural progesterone. I havent had any problems with the patch.Any advice??

I took utrogestan for 8 months alongside estrogel. I took it at night 3-4 hours after eating. I was like a zombie in the mornings. I started taking in the morning, and that was better for about 5 weeks then I started getting anxiety. I carried on a few months. Tried it vaginally, continuously. Nothing took the anxiety away. .I'm now on patches which seem to suit me better so far

Thank you for this Dr. Ball. I am currently on your waiting list for a consultation but I am living in Scotland at the moment. Would it be possible for you to prescribe me the Utrogestan so that I could take it here when I have my consultation? Last I heard it is unbelievably! not available in the whole of Scotland. This must change! Thank you!

What no one says is that progesterone counters oestrogen dominance which can cause all kinds of chaos . Get your levels measure to see which stage of menopause you’re in , in perimenopause your progesterone drops dramatically compared to oestrogen- you might not need a lot of oestrogen if any

The app is really good. Can you add blood pressure and where can we add our types of HRT we are taking

Thank you Sarah, your information on this video is amazing!

I have an irregular period, and I have been on my period for about 3 months now. When im off my period im off for about 5 months or so. I wanna get my period regular but not with birth control. I was told to take Utrogestan but im not sure how to use it.. im currently still bleeding and wondering if i can start it now?

Wow , thank you so much, this has expalined in detail and i feel happier to proceed with this , x

Go find a real bioidetical hormones.

Thank you so much, this has been very helpful. Started Utrogestan a week ago and only side effect so far is being very groggy first thing on a morning, but enjoying sleeping better through the night than I did before HRT.

Brilliant video. Thank you so much for the information. I nearly gave up on this. No trust in doctors anymore!! I read the leaflet inside and was totally baffled. Fingers crossed it really helps me 🎉🎉

hi there I'm a week into Utrogestan and I feel low and a bit groggy/hungover the next day. Will this pass?!

I’ve been using the utrogestan x 2, vaginally for 8 months on days 15-26. When I started taking it counting the days on my cycle, that was fine. Since then I keep getting intermittent bleeding/spotting and my period arrived whilst I was on the utrogestan. I’m in a complete muddle as to what I should do! My oestrogel dose has just increased to 3 pumps a month ago. Is there anything else I should do?

I’m new to HRT and plan to start it on Sunday. I’m sure my doctor said to start utrogestan straightway but my prescription says days 14-28 of cycle. I think my doctor said this as I don’t know when my last period was. As I can’t speak to the doctor now until Monday. Can anyone help?

Just been told that I need to take 2 utrogestan tablets ever night now without a break and 6pumps of gel as I’m not absorbing very well and I feel absolutely terrible and hopeless 😢

Do i need to apply the gel every day without a break or do i only apply it from day 15 to day 28 then have a break

Thank you so much for this very informative video! All my questions answered and information I didn’t know I needed! I wanted to change how I was taking my HRT but my GP didn’t know any other variation snd so referred me to a Gynaecology Clinic with a minimum 4 month waiting list. I was honestly at the end of my chain with constant migraines - now I know there is some variation I can try - thank you for giving me hope

Excellent video and my GP virtually explained the same way which is comforting, I agree about the leaflet inside you can tell pharmaceuticals are covering their butts for all side affects known to man 😀 . I agree with your 4 x B side affects amd mine are mild, I am a continual HRT taker and it’s been a life saver, getting sleep has mended other issues like anxiety, interesting that people said groggy in the morning glad I am not alone I feel this but having sleep out ways this, love the support this Chanel gives , people can cherry pick ❤️🙏

In addition to the previous comment, the section of the video that states the pessary should not be used for HRT, is at 7 minutes, 19 seconds into the video, ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-aT3aSVfjb20.html. Would you agree with the comment about the pessary shouldn't be used for HRT?

I'm spotting and bleeding on the mireena coil and 100mg estadot, menopause clinic suggested a scan a d if all normal then said I should take utragetran to help with my bleeding and sleep anxiety

Thank you very much for this specific information! It really helped me answer some questions that I had.

Hi if i need to take ustrogen for 14 days i missed a day should I continue the pill on day 15 to make it 14 days or should i make it 13 days of it instead?

Where I can find ?

How come I don't see any answers to questions here

Excellent information. Thank you so much.

I seem to only sleep well when I'm on the days where I am taking both hormones and unfortunately that's the symptom I struggle with the most. With that improve with time? I only started HRT a couple of months ago.

Thank you ,I will try to insert it vaginally as it s really giving me bad mood swings ❤

This is very useful. I'm struggling with Utrogestan, in fact any progesterone I've had over the years. I've tried taking it orally 200mg for 14 days, vaginally for 14 days. Now taking 100mg for 25 days....2 weeks in and I still feel dreadful. After watching this I will see a specialist to ask if I can take it every other night.

4636 Sonia Spur

Thank you for this video. I have been on the Depo-Provera injection for around 20 years, and the last two months have been on 2 pumps Oeastrogel and two Utrogestan tablets on days 15 to 26. As I have not had a period during my time on the Depo injection, would I really begin to have a cycle and start having periods? I’m now 49.

I’m worried about memory loss due to sedative effect. Meds that make you drowsy are not brain friendly. If anyone has information to offset this I would really appreciate having this worry resolved.

What are other body identical options as I'm currently experiencing a sourcing issue locally as its not available. These tablets work really well for me and I'm feeling anxious about it not being available.

I have been asked to change from Femoston to Evorel 50 and Utrogestan. My issue is the gelatin in the Utrogestan. Does anyone know of a UK permitted vegan version of body identical progesterone?

Hi I'm on this post Menopause one can help with sleep I been on it 9 months but was taking wrong I'm now taking 2 capsules at night so hoping it will kick in 🙏

If male takes this medicine what would happen ? Im male and im taking this one