Progesterone

About progesterone

Progesterone is a naturally occurring female sex hormone which is essential for the function of the female reproductive system. It is produced in the ovaries during the second half of the menstrual cycle, and also by the placenta during pregnancy. The amount of progesterone a woman produces declines during the menopause.

You will have been prescribed progesterone to supplement your naturally produced progesterone for a reason which your doctor will have explained to you. It works by adjusting the balance of your body's own hormones.

Progesterone is available in a number of formulations that are the subject of this leaflet (gel, injection, capsules, and pessaries). Each formulation is prescribed for a different gynaecological reason.

Progesterone may also be included as an ingredient in a number of combination products used for a variety of medical reasons. These products are not covered by this leaflet and you should read the printed information provided by your doctor and the manufacturer.

Before taking progesterone

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking progesterone, it is important that your doctor knows:

• Se sei incinta o stai allattando.

• If you have migraines, asthma, epilepsy or high blood pressure.

• If you are having any vaginal bleeding other than your normal monthly period.

• Se hai mai avuto un coagulo di sangue nelle gambe o nei polmoni.

• Se hai una condizione cardiaca.

• If you have had any problems with the way your liver or kidneys work.

• Se hai mai avuto la depressione.

• Se hai troppo zucchero nel sangue (diabete mellito).

• Se hai il cancro.

• If during a pregnancy you had problems such as severe itching, yellowing of your skin or of the whites of your eyes (jaundice), or a skin condition called pemphigoid gestationis.

• Se hai un raro disturbo ereditario del sangue chiamato porfiria.

• Se hai mai avuto una reazione allergica a un medicinale.

• Se stai assumendo o utilizzando altri medicinali. Questo include qualsiasi medicinale che stai assumendo e che è disponibile per l'acquisto senza prescrizione, così come i medicinali a base di erbe e complementari.

How to take progesterone

• Before you start this treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside your pack. The leaflet will give you more information about the brand of progesterone you have been given. It will also provide a full list of side-effects which you may experience.

• Follow carefully the instructions your doctor has given you. Progesterone is usually only used on a number of specified days during a monthly cycle. This may range from 4 to 25 days of a month depending on the reason it has been prescribed for you. If you are unsure about what to do, check again with your doctor.

If you have been prescribed:

• Utrogestan® capsules as HRT: these should be taken at bedtime, on an empty stomach. This means that you should not take them with or soon after eating food. Just take them on the days of the month your doctor has told you to. You will also be prescribed an oestrogen-containing HRT medicine to take throughout the month.

• Utrogestan vaginal® capsules for fertility treatment: use the applicator and follow the manufacturer's instructions for inserting the capsule high into the vagina. Do not take the capsule by mouth, although if you do swallow it accidentally, it will not harm you. The capsules are usually prescribed during the first three months of pregnancy only.

• Lutigest® vaginal tablets for fertility treatment: put one tablet into the end of the applicator and use it to insert the tablet into the vagina following the manufacturer's instructions. Push the plunger to release the tablet. The usual dose is one tablet inserted three times daily starting on the day of egg retrieval. You will need to continue using Lutigest® for 30 days if pregnancy is confirmed. Follow the instructions of your doctor.

• Crinone® vaginal gel for fertility treatment: use one 'applicatorful' daily into the vagina. Just use it on the days of the month your doctor has told you to.

• Cyclogest® pessaries for menstrual problems: use twice daily on the days of the month your doctor has told you to. Pessaries are generally designed to be inserted into the vagina, but Cyclogest® pessaries are also suitable to be inserted into the back passage, as a suppository. If you are unsure which is the correct way for you to use them, check again with your doctor.

• Lubion® injection for fertility treatment: make sure you know how to use this injection. If you are unsure which days to use it, or how much to use, check again with your doctor or clinic.

Ottenere il massimo dal tuo trattamento

• Cerca di mantenere i tuoi appuntamenti regolari con il tuo medico. Questo è per permettere al tuo medico di controllare i tuoi progressi. Inoltre, ricorda di rispettare qualsiasi appuntamento di routine per lo screening del seno e i test del pap test.

• If you are having an operation or dental treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are on progesterone.

• If you have diabetes you may need to check your blood glucose more frequently, as progesterone can affect the levels of sugar in your blood. Your doctor will advise you about this.

• It is best to avoid smoking and drinking too much alcohol while on progesterone. If you are a smoker and you would like advice on how to quit, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.

• If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable to take with progesterone. This is because some herbal preparations (such as St John's wort) can interfere with the way it works.

Can progesterone cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, all medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below lists some of the most common ones associated with progesterone. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve over the first few days of taking or using a new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side-effects continue or become troublesome.

Se si verificano altri sintomi che ritieni possano essere dovuti a questo medicinale, parla con il tuo medico o farmacista.

How to store progesterone

• Tenere tutti i medicinali fuori dalla portata e dalla vista dei bambini.

• Conservare in un luogo fresco e asciutto, lontano da fonti di calore e luce diretta.

Informazioni importanti su tutti i medicinali