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Is Duphaston Better Than Progesterone To Overcome Terrible Perimenopause Symptoms?
Question: I am 49 years old and have been suffering from terrible perimenopausal symptoms lately, the worst being frequent hot flashes and intense sweating, especially at night. I wake up several times a night, drenched in sweat, and rarely sleep for more than two hours before waking up. This is making me tired and irritable.
My GP put me on natural estrogen cream (estradiol) to be applied from day 5-25 of cycle, along with natural progesterone (Utrogestan, 200 mg, to be used from day 15-25 of cycle). I have not had much success using them. My periods are also starting to get irregular. A menstrual cycle can now be anything between 21 and 42 days for me.
Having discovered an ovarian cyst, my OB-GYN put me on Duphaston 10 mg, to be taken twice a day for twelve days. Already on the first day of taking Duphaston, my symptoms subsided, and I was able to sleep through the night for the first time in a long time. I woke up refreshed and not drenched in sweat.
Is it possible that Duphaston might work better than natural progesterone, and can it be used long-term for peri- and menopausal problems? I have read a lot about the risks associated with synthetic progesterone, so I'd hesitate to use it long-term...but it really seems to be working well, and has relieved me of my most debilitating symptoms.
Thank you very much in advance.
My GP put me on natural estrogen cream (estradiol) to be applied from day 5-25 of cycle, along with natural progesterone (Utrogestan, 200 mg, to be used from day 15-25 of cycle). I have not had much success using them. My periods are also starting to get irregular. A menstrual cycle can now be anything between 21 and 42 days for me.
Having discovered an ovarian cyst, my OB-GYN put me on Duphaston 10 mg, to be taken twice a day for twelve days. Already on the first day of taking Duphaston, my symptoms subsided, and I was able to sleep through the night for the first time in a long time. I woke up refreshed and not drenched in sweat.
Is it possible that Duphaston might work better than natural progesterone, and can it be used long-term for peri- and menopausal problems? I have read a lot about the risks associated with synthetic progesterone, so I'd hesitate to use it long-term...but it really seems to be working well, and has relieved me of my most debilitating symptoms.
Thank you very much in advance.
Brief Answer:
Duphastone as HRT:
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for asking!
I have gone carefully through your concern.
Yes, Duphastone (dydrogesterone) can be used as a progesterone to treat menopausal symptoms.
Duphaston tablets 10mg contain dydrogesterone, a synthetic derivative of the female sex hormone progesterone, which means that its chemical structure closely resembles that of naturally produced progesterone and it therefore works in a similar way.
However, unlike natural progesterone it is easily absorbed and can be taken in tablet form at relatively low concentrations, whereas natural progesterone is not well absorbed by the gastrointestinal system .
However, unlike other synthetic progestogen, dydrogesterone does not interfere with the beneficial effects of oestrogen, such as preventing bone loss and regulating cholesterol and it is not chemically related to testosterone, and therefore has no virilising effects (inducing male characteristics), like, hirsutism or acne.
There are tablets containing estradiol 1-2 mg and dydrogesterone 10 mg (femoston) used as HRT.
You may discuss with your treating physician to change uterogestane to duphastone as the symptoms are relieved with duphastone.
Hope i have answered your query.
Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
Duphastone as HRT:
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for asking!
I have gone carefully through your concern.
Yes, Duphastone (dydrogesterone) can be used as a progesterone to treat menopausal symptoms.
Duphaston tablets 10mg contain dydrogesterone, a synthetic derivative of the female sex hormone progesterone, which means that its chemical structure closely resembles that of naturally produced progesterone and it therefore works in a similar way.
However, unlike natural progesterone it is easily absorbed and can be taken in tablet form at relatively low concentrations, whereas natural progesterone is not well absorbed by the gastrointestinal system .
However, unlike other synthetic progestogen, dydrogesterone does not interfere with the beneficial effects of oestrogen, such as preventing bone loss and regulating cholesterol and it is not chemically related to testosterone, and therefore has no virilising effects (inducing male characteristics), like, hirsutism or acne.
There are tablets containing estradiol 1-2 mg and dydrogesterone 10 mg (femoston) used as HRT.
You may discuss with your treating physician to change uterogestane to duphastone as the symptoms are relieved with duphastone.
Hope i have answered your query.
Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Answered by
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