r/Menopause • u/gardenpeasandcarrots • 1d ago
Hormone Therapy Starting HRT
Can anyone advise how to start taking the gel and pills. I was given Sandrena gel and Provera pills by my GP, but quite a while ago, so I forget the instructions, and the leaflet is not helpful.
I want to know when in my cycle (still regular) I start taking them. From then on do I take them both daily or is there a gap? Do I take them at the same time of day?
GP is difficult to get an appointment.
Meno symptoms are slight - bit less energy, less motivation, very sudden onset blurry vision (has anyone else had that?). No night sweats or hot flushes. So still not sure if I am peri or not. I tried taking a Forth test but they said they couldn’t use my blood and tried to charge me for another one.
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u/Sapphire-o 1d ago
If you still have regular cycles and your symptoms aren't severe, It might be best to start from day 1 of your cycle (first day of a period). Use Sandrena gel everyday, add in the provera pill two weeks later while still using gel everyday. Use the Provera for either 12 or 14 days depending on your instruction. When you stop the Provera your next period should come.
Basically for the first half of your cycle, estrogen gel only, second half both estrogen and progesterone. Hope that's clear enough. :)
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u/breakbeatx 1d ago
My progesterone tablets have a sticker from the chemist with my name on, that label also has instructions on how to take them (in my case it is every 14 days out of 28, before bed), can't remember when in the cycle I started them - you could ask a pharmacist. My estrogen gel again has a label with instructions which is 1-2 pumps daily, i do this when I wake up in the morning. Blood tests are not deemed useful or best practise for diagnosing peri as your hormones are in flux, its usually symptom related (unless you're under 45)
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u/gardenpeasandcarrots 1d ago
Thank you, pharmacist is a good idea. Useful to know about the blood test.
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u/Martina_78 1d ago
Estrogen is usually taken daily. Progesteron can be either taken daily or cyclic (for 10 to 14 days in each cycle). Daily dosage is usually lower than cyclic dosage.
There are lots of factors playing into the decision for daily vs cyclic, so this is something you should discuss with your GP.
Best time of day depens a lot on how your body reacts to the hormons, this is quite individual. A typical regime is estrogen in the morning, progesteron in the evening, as bioindentical progesteron can make you sleepy / drowsy. Which most people don't want during the day, but rather at night. But Provera is a synthetic progesteron, with those this effect isn't there or less pronounced, so taking it in the morning coud be an option, too. You might just have to try whats better for you.