If you tried HRT, what was your experience? Any negative effects?

[porridgeisbae]

Hi all, I'm going to try HRT.
There seem to be a fair few potential side effects listed.
What was your experience?

I don't want to get more bleeding, that would be annoying.

I'm 3 weeks into oestrogen (and I have coil anyway) and it's been amazing. Almost instantly regained my lost marbles.
No side effects yet that I can tell.

Mirena coil and oestrogel, no bleeding.
its been great for sleep, stopped all my nightmares/ anxiety dreams, and palpitations. Mood better. Aches and pains massively reduced.

No side effects but I have the coil so that controls bleeding.

Thanks all. Anyone else?

Sorted all my menopausal symptoms but I did gain a lot of weight. This may be just me ...

I hope I don't get that. Did you stay on it long?

Amazing. I lost weight because I was able to get my emotional eating under control and I had energy for strength training.

I highly recommend testosterone. The oestrogen is great, but the testosterone made a huge difference.

@porridgeisbae five years, came off slowly, tapering the dose gradually and finishing completely in around six months so no issues from coming off it.

It helped my anxiety and insomnia. Had trouble with bleeding initially, but they changed things so that improved.
What does testosterone do, @Waitingfortulips ?

Yeah me too. I'm the same on anything hormonal, put on weight with first coil (which was for contraception not HRT), pill, whatever - just need to look at a hormone and I put on weight. I'd rather be fat than suicidal though. (Not even joking) but I do miss the days when I could just think the weight away.

People aready think I'm secretly a man, and I have some facial hair (no reason, just one of those things) so I wouldn't want to risk getting more.

Which one is best for hair? I really need HRT I think but I have v poor hair and lost so much after kids which never grew back that I'm reluctant to start HRT as Ive heard some people had hair issues after it

All good, nothing negative, great hair. Key difference is mood and sleep and feeling like ‘me’ again.

I'm starting it precisely to try and improve my hair/stop it getting worse. Peri/menopause can cause hair thinning. I've heard that some people get negative hair issues from HRT, but hopefully it's usually the other way around.

I suppose with any treatment, we don't know what our own personal experience will be with it as everyone reacts differently.

If we have any issues we can always stop taking it.

Took 1 tablet and within an hour had the worst migraine of my life. GP refused to investigate any different forms of HRT.

Tried about 6 different ones but all turned me into psychobitch! I was late 30's so an extremely early menopause. My doc gave me a very low dose of citalopram to stop the flushes. Having read the leaflets that came with the various HRT's, I was more than happy to switch. I used to take one half of citalopram per week. I also have to take calcium for life!

Took 1 tablet and within an hour had the worst migraine of my life. GP refused to investigate any different forms of HRT.

That is really crappy treatment from them as the transdermal methods have much lower side effects and risks. Is there any way you can see a different GP or go private? Even Superdrug offer a paid but not massively expensive consultation, and then have a range of HRT products although obviously more expensive than an NHS prescription.

I went on Femoston Conti 1/5, it was a terrible experience, I gained 14lbs in a month and my breasts were so huge and painful, wearing a bra was torture. Coming off them again was horrible, I was forgetful and literally coukd t remember the names of things. I'm now in the mini pill and I'm back to 'normal'. I'm dreading turning 50 where I'll have to rethink what to do.

I’m on Evorel Conti and have been for 4 years. Hair is thick and healthy. If I feel a bit low or irritable now it’s usually because it’s time to change the patch (used be due to PMT!). Had a horrible week during Covid when there was a HRT drought so I know how I feel without it, and it was awful (for me).

I haven’t tried testosterone- asked GP, she didn’t really recommend as I’m on medication that can sometimes elevate my BP. Since going on HRT (within a month of peri symptoms) I get a manual breast exam every 6 months, mammogram and full bloods annually, and a bone density scan every 2 years. I pay for some of that - my sister died of breast cancer a few years ago so I try to keep an eye on things as much as I can

I've been taking Femoston for 10 years, no side-effects, it has all been positive. Seems to vary so much for different women, even with the same brand.

Tried about 6 different ones but all turned me into psychobitch!

@MaxandMinniesMummy Sorry to hear that. :( What sort of thing?

I'm going through Boots online doctor. £25 for 3 months' supply of Kliofem, I just chose that because it was cheap lol. After that I'll probably approach the NHS. I just didn't this time because I spoke to them about something else recently and didn't mention any menopause symptoms.

They have all the patches and stuff on there. I do like Superdrug though as a PP mentioned. I think shopping there is supporting the underdog and I'm sure they're just as good, maybe cheaper.
I got a BV antibiotic from them once.

@Isthisreasonable I'd definitely recommend approaching a different NHS doctor too and see what they'll do, if you still want to try it. It seems mean of (him?) not to let you try something else.

I put on a lot of weight and my GP made me come off of it.

Menopause can cause weight gain anyway I suppose. All we can do is pray that we have a good result to a treatment. Any med we try for anything is trial and error.