To think my HRT patches have led to weight gain?

[Lollingabout]

About 18 months ago I went on HRT patches; main symptoms that I was trying to address were anxiety, sudden mood swings and sleeplessness. Worked a treat on all the above. After about 6 months I felt the symptoms were returning so GP upped my dose so that I’m now on Estraderm MX 75 patches with progesterone pills every 2 weeks. My issue is that I’ve definitely put on what feels to me as substantial weight in that time - and usual measures to get it off are having zero impact. The weight is all boobs, tummy and hips - in fact my boobs are quite sore at times. The standard line when asking GP and googling is that studies show HRT does not make you gain weight and that’s just the menopause - however a few old threads on here from a couple of years ago show that there are women out there who also felt HRT made them gain weight. Just wanting to raise the subject here for traffic to see if there are others like me who felt they put on weight with HRT who then came off the patches and lost the weight. Am I being unreasonable to think the studies might be missing or omitting this side effect for some women? (I am 49 and still have periods)

53 still have periods. Have put on weight too… but I haven’t been as active recently. I do think appetite has increased. Not sure what do do, if anything.

(Also I realise my username might create the impression that I’m an inactive slob 🤣 but I’m reasonably active - walking 2/3 times a week as well as reformer Pilates twice a week)

That’s my dilemma - if it is causing weight gain do I just reduce the dose or come off them completely and deal with the peri symptoms again. It’s difficult to weigh up when the GP doesn’t believe it’s the HRT…

My mum absolutely piled weight on at 40 when she had a full hysterectomy and started HRT. Like you, she has been told it is nothing to do with the HRT, but she begs to differ. She hasn't been able to shift the weight in the intervening 25 years, and paid to have breast reduction surgery several years back as they grew so much and were causing her sleep loss and extreme back pain (not enough though for it to be available on the NHS - it was cosmetic according to them ...) So sorry you are going through this.

You are not the first person to have this side effect in the slightest. GPs always say no evidence same with SSRIs.

It’s bull and many people gain weight on them

You can try weights, eating clean and fresh air. These WILL help with symptoms

It absolutely, 100% makes me put on at least a stone. I know this because I have had to stop and start it several times over the years I’ve been on it due to testing for another condition where it affects the blood test results (cortisol - Addisons disease) and every single time I stop it l literally lose around a stone and then it goes back on again when I restart it. Every single time. Not changing anything else diet or exercise wise. I have now had to completely come off it for medical reasons relating to my autoimmune issues and I’m down a stone now already and still losing - which to be fair I need to do, I’m 14 stone 8 at 5ft 7. A lot of the narrative out there suggests HRT doesn’t cause weight gain etc but for many women like me it absolutely does.

Hrt makes you hungrier and makes you retain water. I lost weight while on hrt (was in the middle of weight loss when I started). Over 2 stones. I just count calories. I was hungrier for the first two weeks but eating more protein helped. A couple of boiled eggs on toast for lunch

I saw a GP last week to discuss stress/anxiety/peri symptoms, and whether to increase my HRT. I’ve struggled with my weight since childhood and never been slim but the weight distribution has changed for sure. My abdomen and upper hip area is massive and wobbly. GP says HRT causes weight gain so cautioned me on increasing the dose as this is causing me distress.

Back to Slimming World next week, I need the accountability of weekly weigh in.

Oh my goodness how awful for her - your poor mum!

I absolutely packed weight on, have gradually tapered down to around half the dose and have now started to lose weight. I don’t care how anecdotal the evidence is, it’s the hill I choose to die on!

I think this must vary quite a lot on the person. I am not in any way saying this to be smug (I have plenty of other problems/challenges!!) but I am on HRT (and in fact also citalopram) and have not experienced weight gain. I guess I'm posting this just in case someone needs both/either and is concerned - I really sympathise when this is an issue, it just hasn't been for me.

So a GP who said it did cause weight gain. Boom. Thank you - that’s helpful.

I haven't gained weight (
Been on hrt 10 years) but my weight distribution has definitely changed and I have much more abdominal fat than I used to.
If your breasts are sore that suggests your estrogen dose is too high. Estrogen also causes water retention so it could be that rather than body fat.
I'm now lifting weights and calorie counting and to try to shift the abdominal gain. It's working but it's very slow progress.

Gosh so sorry you’ve experienced all this - it’s pretty clear then in this case that it does affect you in this way. When you came off did you just stop right away or gradually come off them? How long have you been off them now?

It's the menopause that causes weight gain.

Even on HRT you have only a fraction of the oestrogen you had before perimenopause. Fat cells contain oestrogen- your body is craving oestrogen so finds a way to create it. Thst is also why it's hard to lose the fat.

I put on 3 stone in perimenopause ( not on HRT) despite exercising and eating the same as before.

According to my fit bit I burn 1600 calories per day even if I do 10000 steps. So anything over 1600 calories I put on weight. 1600 calories used to be the number I had to eat to lose 2lbs a week, now that is what I need to eat to stay the same.

It's depressing. I hate the fucking menopause.

PS try high dose Starflower Oil for your boobs.

PPS A menopause specialist told me HRT doesn't cause weight gain.

Mine causes weight gain, as does my under active thyroid.

I just adjust my diet and exercise accordingly, as I wouldn’t be without my HRT.

My GP won’t indefinitely represcribe HRT for me…because they want to do weight and blood pressure checks at regular intervals due to potential increases caused by…the HRT.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10759058/ No evidence it does ,I have lost weight on hrt but everyone is an individual and oestrogen / progesterone have important modulating effects on things like your thyroid hormones, cortisol and noradrenaline levels, serotonin so it could be via the impact on other hormone balance perhaps?

I have put on a stone in the 8 months I have been on HRT patches. I am 49 and still having periods.
Boobs and tummy are taking the weight here. Really sore breasts just before my period for the first 6 months, but this has subsided a bit now. GP said at my 3 and 6 monthly review this just happens.
I have seriously thought about discussing coming off HRT at my next review next month due to the weight gain. I am 5'6 and 12stone 6 now. My heaviest ever and officially in the overweight category for the first time in my life.

I have been doing 18:6 for 6 weeks and still put on a couple of pounds.

Reading everything on this thread with interest.

I think HRT definitely can make you put on weight. After all, the Pill can, too.

OP you mention you walk and do pilates. I think you probably need to do more. Do you have any sort of outdoor fitness class near you? The three things you need to build lean muscle and avoid weight gain are:

strength training - ideally with (heavy) weights but bodyweight will do to start

sprint training - this can be done on a bike or aerobics or anywhere where you have to do some hard effort - you could also do fast walks when you are out walking

plyometrics - skipping or doing things like jumping backs

An outdoor fitness class would give you all of this. You could also try a gym if it;s your thing (it's not mine :) )

I gained a bit initially but I think that was more to do with poor diet and lack of exercise (mainly as a result of the peri-menopause symptoms) than the HRT itself. I've been on the patches for about 16 months now and I am finding it near impossible to shift weight. I am watching what I eat (although admittedly not calorie counting but I know it's not ridiculous from when I have done that) and I am back to exercising like mad. This week I've lost a lb and that's the first time i've lost anything in months. it's soul destroying as 10 years ago the weight fell off me. My boobs have also grown and often ache or feel sort of full and almost bloated like they've felt before (they're not big enough to feel heavy!).
Walking 2/3 times a week and a couple of pilates sessions is not going to be a huge calorie burn unless you're spending a full day out stomping around the hills.

Another on HRT that has lost weight. You’ll get examples of both, so anecdotal evidence isn’t scientific unfortunately.

HRT may have made me hungrier, but if you realise that’s what is happening, you can make more informed choices ( just like the pill can make you feel hungrier)

It definitely can cause weight gain. I used it for 10 weeks, and gained over half a stone. I didn't have an increased appetite, and my diet and exercise were the same as before. I never normally put weight on at that rate. I stopped it due to the weight gain, and because it didn't make me feel any better. The additional weight gradually came off, without a change in diet or exercise.

My sister has been on it for years. She hasn't gained weight and feels better on it, so it's a very individual thing.