Progesterone

Utrogestan is a type of micronised progesterone that comes in a soft capsule you swallow. It's used together with oestrogen to help ease menopause symptoms and replace hormones. Progesterone is a hormone that helps manage your menstrual cycle and usually gets your uterus ready for pregnancy.

Micronised progesterone is made from plants and is biochemically the same as the progesterone your body naturally produces. This is referred to as 'body identical'. Unlike synthetic progestins, Utrogestan is considered to be more effective at lowering the risk of breast cancer.

Utrogestan is taken during 'post-menopause', which is when it's been over a year since your last menstrual period. In the UK, women typically experience menopause between the ages of 45 and 55.

It's typically used by women who haven't had a hysterectomy. If you've had a hysterectomy, you'd only need to use oestrogen, not a combined therapy that includes Utrogestan.

Avoid taking Utrogestan if you've ever experienced unusual vaginal bleeding, or if you've had breast cancer or womb cancer.

During menopause, the levels of the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone in your body decrease, which can lead to symptoms. Taking Utrogestan alongside oestrogen is known as combined HRT, and it helps to replenish these hormones and ease the symptoms.

When you take oestrogen, it causes the lining of your womb to thicken, which can lead to problems such as womb cancer. Utrogestan contains progesterone, which helps shed the womb lining, similar to having a period, and this reduces the risk.

Based on your medical history, which your clinician will discuss with you, Treated provides a variety of HRT treatments.

Typically, you'll take progesterone alongside oestrogen to help ease menopause symptoms. There are various combined continuous HRT options available, including gels, patches, and different branded tablets.

Our doctors will support you throughout the process to help you choose the right therapy.

Utrogestan Vaginal is a pessary, which is a tablet you place inside the vagina, and it can help support pregnancy during in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

It functions just like Utrogestan oral by supplying progesterone to support women's fertility treatment. Women undergoing IVF take medication to manage ovulation and the embryo transfer process, which reduces progesterone levels. The pessary helps to replenish these hormones and thicken the uterine lining, aiding in the implantation of an egg.

At the moment, we only provide Utrogestan for menopause relief, not for IVF support.

You might notice irregular bleeding or something similar to a period when you begin HRT, but this is normal and should settle down within four to six months. If it continues beyond that, have a chat with your prescriber.

Other common side effects are headaches and cramps, though not everyone will have them.

You might notice feeling a bit down when taking progesterone, but Utrogestan is less likely to cause this compared to synthetic progesterones. Plus, it has the added advantage of reducing the risk of breast cancer.

Alcohol doesn't interfere with HRT medication, but it can raise the risk of side effects such as blood clots.

It's best to steer clear of alcohol or cut down on it if possible.

Oestrogel is a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) that contains only oestrogen and is used for menopause. You apply it to your skin like a cream, which can be a more comfortable option if you find swallowing tablets difficult.

If you've had a hysterectomy, you can use it on its own. However, if your womb is still intact, you'll need to take a progesterone, such as Utrogestan, alongside it. This is known as combined HRT.

You can chat with our expert clinicians to find out which treatment or combination of treatments will suit you best.

Utrogestan can be used for both continuous and sequential HRT.

If it's been 6-12 months since your last period, you might consider a sequential regime to have a monthly bleed. This can lead to irregular period-like bleeding at first, but it should stabilise. If you're worried about heavy bleeding or anything unusual, please consult your doctor.

A continuous regime is suitable if your last period was over 6-12 months ago. You won't have a monthly bleed, but you might notice some bleeding or light spotting. If this persists for more than 3-6 months, please consult your doctor.

Following your initial consultation, our clinicians will suggest the best treatment plan to help manage your menopause symptoms.

Body identical hormones are derived from plants and closely resemble the hormones found in humans. They are sometimes called 'regulated bioidentical' because they have undergone strict regulation, thorough research, and are considered safe for use.

The term "bioidentical" is mainly used for marketing when referring to custom-made hormone treatments. These are personalised HRT preparations based on hormone levels found in your saliva. However, this treatment isn't regulated, and there's no evidence showing a connection between saliva and hormone levels.

Both come from natural sources, but it's preferable to use body identical options, like micronised progesterone, for treating menopause symptoms.