Please help me decide about HRT

[LLJETO]

I’m posting in here for traffic as the meno forum is often quiet.

I’m toying with trying HRT as I think it would be helpful but I have some reservations. I know a lot of people love it but I have also read some people struggle. I thought I’d list my concerns and if anyone has any experiences related to any aspect of it to share, I would be most grateful.

I could never tolerate hormonal birth control as it used to make me projectile vomit. I did manage the mini pill but stopped after a while as I was bleeding more often than not (though not heavily). I wonder if this would make a difference at all.

I have suffered with OCD and significant general and health anxiety on and off since I was 20 (I’m 50 soon) and I worry that it will be worsened. It’s currently stable but I’m on the highest dose of Citalopram after a major anxiety increase a couple of years ago (which I think was peri related). I would ideally like to reduce or come off the Citalopram eventually and was hoping if I did try HRT it might ‘support’ that because I do believe that the increase in anxiety I had a couple of years ago was hormone related.

I have recently lost 3.5 stone through diet (no exercise as I have M.E.) and I’m worried that it might make me regain.

Obviously I’ll only know if I try but if anyone does have any experience to share that might be relevant, I really would appreciate it.

Thank you.

Please go on HRT, you have nothing to lose and the potential upside is too good to miss. Good luck!

HRT doesn’t cause gain weight. Become less active and eating in a calorie surplus makes a person gain weight.
At a minimum get the vaginal estrogen cream - every menopausal woman suffers from some degree of atrophy and this cream prevents that. It can also improve orgasms with regular use if they have got weaker during peri and menopause.
Personally progesterone and estrogen gel have improved my mood, periods are less heavy, no more aches and pains and I’ve got my energy levels back. It’s all been positive.

Why would you need to go private? Just ask your GP!

I went private. It did cost a fair amount but all notes and prescriptions have been sent over to the GP.

Initial consultation £200
Bloods - £160
Prescription - £80
Follow-up appointment (after 3 months) - £200
Bloods - £160
Adjusted Prescription - £80

I now have to register for a HRT prepayment cert which costs £20 per year which covers all further HRT prescriptions, and I will only see my NHS GP going forward.

The private nurse has asked that I return to her for a check-up annually but we’ll see.

I was absolutely mad on normal birth control pills. I've been more than fine on HRT. Honestly it saved me.

I couldn't think, I was upset all the time.

I went on a very low pill only dose initially and when that wasn't enough (because I'd wake up completely wet through, I was bad tempered and had brain fog) I went on the gel and capsules. I haven't gained any weight.

It's reviewed once a year.

I did go to private after my initial NHS GP appointment. With the NHS, I got a 10 minute appointment. I can’t criticise that initial appointment. But when, I felt that I needed to go deeper, I needed more time and a more personalised approach I did and in
my opinion it was money well spent. I can continue with the private service or not, I have four online appointments over the 1 years subscription. It is a choice!

Like you OP , the pill made me vomit or gave me severe nausea.

HRT patches (femseven sequi) worked brilliantly and I had no side effects. I was calm, confident, happy and sleeping well. And I lost weight rather than gaining any.

Best of luck, do give it a try. You can always stop or change medication to find something to suit.

It's worth a couple of extra pounds (which is not guaranteed or conclusively proven, in any case - I believe it's true, but YMMV) to not have the burning, itching, paper-thin vulval skin keeping you awake at night, a complete absence of sexual response and ultimately knowing that the atrophy is irreversible and this is the most comfortable you will ever feel.

Never mind all the other important stuff, relief from that makes HRT worth it.

Thank you everyone. I’m going to give it a go!

Got an appointment booked for Monday! I’m a little nervous but also excited to try. Thanks again all.x

The weight gain is not HRT related. Just age related. HRT cannot solve all ills. It's not really helped my anxiety, but then again, I have always been anxious, even as a child. But it has helped my sleep, and that has in turn helped my energy levels, and lifted my mood. It has not increased my long-lost libido - I think you need testosterone for that.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I haven’t lost my libido (yet 😬) but my orgasms take a lot more work, so I’m hoping the HRT might help that a bit, alongside the vaginal oestrogen. We’ll see!

And any boost in sleep would be a bonus!

I could never tolerate oral contraceptives but HRT is nothing like that.
Helped my sleep, stopped weight gain that began perimenipausally, helped my mood and libido. It has been wonderful.