How Long Does Utrogestan Take To Work?

This article will give you a better understanding of Utrogestan timing, duration, efficacy, long-term use, and factors that could influence Utrogestan's effectiveness. So, keep reading to find out the answer to ‘How quickly can Utrogestan help treat Menopause?’

Speed of Action

Utrogestan is a form of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) that contains the active ingredient progesterone.

Utrogesan, like other HRTs, can take up to 3 months to fully improve symptoms, although you may start noticing a difference within a few days to a few weeks.

Utrogestan absorption time is approximately one hour, but this may be affected by the amount of food you’ve eaten. As it’s taken at bedtime, it’ll absorb while you sleep.

Utrogestan will start to work straight away, but it can take several weeks to build up in your system.

Treatment Duration

Utrogestan can be taken for as long as needed if you’re still getting menopause symptoms.

Utrogestan has a half-life of around 14 to 16 hours. This is how long it takes for half of the active ingredient to be eliminated from your body.

Treatment Duration for Different Groups

Utrogestan:

• Will always be prescribed at the lowest dose possible to alleviate your symptoms.
• Can only be taken if you’ve been through menopause.
• Shouldn’t be taken if you are or might become pregnant.

Your Utrogestan dose may be adjusted if you have problems with your withdrawal bleed.

Long-term Use

Utrogestan is a long-term HRT.

You can take Utrogestan for as long as needed, which is typically around 2 to 5 years, but in some cases, it may be longer.

Risks and Benefits of Long-term Use

The risks of using Utrogestan long-term include:

• A slightly increased risk of breast cancer and blood clots (which reduces after you stop taking it)

The benefits of using Utrogestan long-term include:

• improved menopause symptoms
• better quality of life
• helps to prevent osteoporosis (weakened bones)

Dosage and Factors Affecting Efficacy

The recommended daily dose of Utrogestan is 200mg at bedtime for 12 days in the last half of your HRT cycle. Alternatively, you can take 100mg from day 1 to 25 of your HRT cycle. You and your doctor will determine which treatment regime is best.

Utrogestan may be less effective if you:

• miss a dose
• take it with food.

You should also take your oestrogen HRT at the same time.

What to Do If You Find the Dose Ineffective

If you don’t think your current dose of Utrogestan is working, wait until you’ve been taking it for around 3 months. If your symptoms haven’t improved, speak to your doctor.

Conclusion

Utrogestan's efficacy is high, making it a well-tolerated form of HRT. It will either be taken daily or for the first 12 days of your HRT cycle. It can take around 3 months to get the best effect from your treatment. Utrogestan can be taken long-term; however, if you have further questions, consult a healthcare provider.

You can also speak with one of our prescribers about a tailored HRT treatment plan, or find more help and support on HRT on our website.

Authored By

Hannah Aitken

Medical Content Writer

Hannah is a medical content writer who utilises her nursing expertise alongside her passion for writing healthcare content.

Published on: 29/11/2023

Reviewed By

Mohamed Imran Lakhi

MPharm - Lead Pharmacist

Imran Lakhi is the superintendent pharmacist and founder at Prescription Doctor. He has been at the core of our team.

Reviewed on: 05/06/2025