WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for August, 2002: Re: Aygestin, Testosterone, Bleeding

Re: Aygestin, Testosterone, Bleeding

From: BJ (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri, 30 Aug 2002 14:54:33 -0500 (CDT)

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At Fri, 30 Aug 2002, Janise wrote: >
>I am 52 years old. I have been taking compounded estrogen and
>testosterone for 2 years, along with 200 mg Prometrium daily. Recently
>(over the last 6 months), I have been bleeding about every two weeks. I
>had an endometrial biopsy several months ago and everything was fine.
>Now, my gyno (who prescribes the compounded medications at my
>instruction, rather than because he has great knowledge or interest in
>them) has suggested stopping Prometrium and taking Aygestin (5 mg)
>instead.
>
>(a) Since I understand that Aygestin is derived from testosterone,should
>I adjust the amount of testosterone I am taking and (b)will it oppose
>the estrogen in the way that Prometrium does to prevent uterine cancer?
>Is there any other avenue I can try so that I can continue on a more
>natural, bio-identical hormone path? I have taken as much as 400 mg of
>Prometrium/day and still bled.
>
>By the way, my period has never stopped. I started HRT when I had
>bothersome menopausal symptoms but my period was still fairly regular.
>
>Thanks...

Hi Janise, I am 53 and doing this "dance" myself. I have a couple of comments for you. The Aygestin is a synthetic progestin and in my opinion will not work the same as the real progesterone. I see no reason to take a synthetic when the real thing is available. You don't say how much estrogen you are taking but you may want to cut back on that some. Most women don't really need additional estrogen after menopause and their bodies adjust to the lower levels being produced. Although Prometrium is natural progesterone, you may want to consider switching to a topical cream instead of the oral. Oral hormones require a much higher dose to get enough past the liver to do the job. Topical creams bypass the liver and thus stress it less. And last but not least, you have to take a break of at least 3 days (preferably a week) each month from the progesterone to give the receptor sites a chance to recover. I think just doing the break will help your bleeding problem. Good luck! BJ

Next message: clare: "Re: pain caused by scar tissue after laprotomy?"
Previous message: Amber: "Splenomegaly"
In reply to: Janise: "Aygestin, Testosterone, Bleeding"
Next in thread: Victoria: "Re: Aygestin, Testosterone, Bleeding"

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