Hormone replacement therapy

[babineau]

I have been on bioidentical hormone therapy for several years: estrogel 0.06% 2 pumps once daily and prometrium 200 mg. daily.
My main symptoms for seeking treatment were severe hot flashes, night sweats and insomnia.
These symptoms have subsided since being on hormone replacement therapy.
I do not have access to individual dosage evaluation and preparation of these hormones.
I know that it is best to take the lowest dosage that gives me relief of my symptoms to decrease my risks of cancer. For the past 6 months, I have been taking half the dosage prescribed initially. I am taking estrogel 0.06% 1 pump daily and prometrium 200 mg. every second day, since my pharmacy only supplies the prometrium in 200 mg gel capsules which I cannot cut in half.
I have remained symptom free.

My question is: Is it okay to take the prometrium only every second day with regards to the risk of uterine cancer?

[Sandra Y, RPh]

If you're taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) only for hot flashes, night sweats and insomnia, you may want to consider stopping the HRT. The symptoms you listed occur at the onset of menopause and go away over time. Long-term use of HRT is often used if you have or are at risk for osteoporosis. Discuss this option with your physician, if you have osteoporosis there are other medications to treat it.

[babineau]

I had every symptom in the book and that is why I chose to take the bioidentical hormones so that I could function at my work and be tolerable with my family. I have tried to stop them completely at one time but the symptoms came back. I am functioning well on half the dosage and do plan to try again to stop them completely, now that I am retired.
My question is still the same. Am I increasing my risk for uterine cancer by taking the prometrium only every second day? Although I am able to take only one pump of the estrogel on a daily basis, would it be safer to take the prometrium on a daily basis also.
I am symptom free by taking them in half dosage.
Thank you for your response.
  

[Sandra Y, RPh]

Unfortunately, the major clinical studies conducted compare estrogen-only to estrogen + progesterone. There haven't been any studies comparing daily vs every other day dosing of prometrium.