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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think my HRT patches have led to weight gain?

117 replies

Lollingabout · 05/04/2024 13:00

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)

OP posts:
fisherking1 · 05/04/2024 16:44

Evorel patches definitely cause me to gain weight as I have been doing my own experiments. I switched to gel and back again. The patches cause a lot more water weight gain and bloat.

I use two pumps of gel now and my weight is a lot better. I know if I came off HRT completely I would lose weight as if I forget to put it on, I feel lighter.

TheDogsMother · 05/04/2024 16:52

I used Oestrogel and definitely gained weight. I slowly managed to shift some of it then had to stop using HRT altogether. This was followed by a hysterectomy and since then have lost 5 lbs in 10 weeks without changing my eating at all. To me it was much like the weight gain went I went on the pull.

Pigeonqueen · 05/04/2024 17:39

Lollingabout · 05/04/2024 14:33

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?

I had to just stop cold turkey, immediately. I think I’ve been lucky though as despite being off HRT for nearly 2 months now ish I haven’t had any symptoms come back. Just the weight loss…! I know it takes about 6 weeks to completely leave your system so if I would have had any peri menopausal stuff come back I think it would have done by now.

Lollingabout · 05/04/2024 17:40

enchantedsquirrelwood · 05/04/2024 16:05

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 :) )

Thank you. It’s reformer Pilates with weights so it is considered strength training but I could certainly do that more than twice a week. I was warned off high impact training because I was told it raises cortisol levels in women during the menopause and can contribute to further hormone in-balance and was actually told that regular walking is the best thing to do for sustained fitness - I live by the countryside so it’s walking in fields/lanes/hills. So much contradictory advice on everything! So confusing! Think I’m going to cut my patches in half and see what happens!

OP posts:
Lollingabout · 05/04/2024 17:45

Pigeonqueen · 05/04/2024 17:39

I had to just stop cold turkey, immediately. I think I’ve been lucky though as despite being off HRT for nearly 2 months now ish I haven’t had any symptoms come back. Just the weight loss…! I know it takes about 6 weeks to completely leave your system so if I would have had any peri menopausal stuff come back I think it would have done by now.

Interesting- was thinking about cutting the patches in half to come off gradually but I’m so tempted to just stop all together and see what happens…

OP posts:
EauNeu · 05/04/2024 18:14

I think it's important to be clear that HRT on it's own cannot make you gain fat. It just can't.

It could make you gain weight in the form of water. What it can't do is create energy from nowhere for you to turn into fat. This can only happen if you eat more calories than you need (which can definitely happen with the additional hunger that you get from HRT).

If you don't eat more than you need (check a TDEE calculator) you cannot gain fat. It's impossible under the laws of thermodynamics.

I'm worried people will read this thread and not try HRT because they've been misinformed.

Lollingabout · 05/04/2024 19:38

EauNeu · 05/04/2024 18:14

I think it's important to be clear that HRT on it's own cannot make you gain fat. It just can't.

It could make you gain weight in the form of water. What it can't do is create energy from nowhere for you to turn into fat. This can only happen if you eat more calories than you need (which can definitely happen with the additional hunger that you get from HRT).

If you don't eat more than you need (check a TDEE calculator) you cannot gain fat. It's impossible under the laws of thermodynamics.

I'm worried people will read this thread and not try HRT because they've been misinformed.

But nobody is coming on here and pretending to be a scientist - they’re just giving their personal experiences of being on HRT - which I think is important and what I was asking for. You may well be right in that it is all water retention- but I still am feeling uncomfortable with it even if it’s only that.

OP posts:
EauNeu · 05/04/2024 19:43

Lollingabout · 05/04/2024 19:38

But nobody is coming on here and pretending to be a scientist - they’re just giving their personal experiences of being on HRT - which I think is important and what I was asking for. You may well be right in that it is all water retention- but I still am feeling uncomfortable with it even if it’s only that.

there are a bunch of posts on here saying 'HRT makes you gain weight/made me gain weight'. that's scary to read if you're considering it and I think it paints the wrong picture.

Lollingabout · 05/04/2024 19:45

EauNeu · 05/04/2024 19:43

there are a bunch of posts on here saying 'HRT makes you gain weight/made me gain weight'. that's scary to read if you're considering it and I think it paints the wrong picture.

The response to my question is 50/50 on AIBU so it’s literally balanced both ways. I wanted to know what people’s experiences were and they’ve told me. I can’t help it if that scares some people?

OP posts:
Mary46 · 05/04/2024 20:07

I got quite heavy on them too. Im off my patches now feel bit slimmer. Didnt come off for that reason they just didnt suit me. I def think hrts put on weight.

chillidoritto · 05/04/2024 20:21

This is putting me off HRT. But I have heard of people saying that because they feel better, they actually had the energy to go to the gym / eat better to do something about their weight so it can't all be bad can it?

DontBeAMeany · 05/04/2024 20:37

I feel loads loads better on HRT and have lost weight. I was carrying about 10 extra pounds and they've nearly all gone. I put it down to not having sleepiness nights, not getting migraines and generally not feeling shite.

OP, does it make any difference what the reason is for you putting on weight? I used to be able to lose weight so much quicker when I was younger than I can now but I don't think having an explanation for it makes any difference. If I want to diet I have to eat less than my body needs.

I know there are some medical issues that can affect weight gain so I know there are some exceptions.

I don't think you can cut all patches in half. Maybe some but I don't think all of them. I'd check with your gp before trying.

Pigeonqueen · 05/04/2024 20:56

Something that may be of interest is that the reason women can’t be on HRT whilst I have they have their cortisol levels tested - for adrenal insufficiency / Addisons disease - is that HRT causes a falsely elevated cortisol level. This is really complex and there’s a lot more to it in terms of what this means on a molecular level but essentially the oestrogen causes changes in the way cortisol is stored in the blood. Someone who has their cortisol levels checked whilst on oestrogen will have significantly higher levels of cortisol- this is why I’ve had to come on and off of it several times. I personally believe this is part of the reason many women do put on weight with HRT - cortisol is basically a steroid. (In adrenal insufficiency/ Addisons we take a life long low daily dose of steroids to replace the cortisol we don’t produce but others produce naturally). Anyway I know that’s a lot to get into but thought I’d share.

TheDogsMother · 05/04/2024 21:24

EauNeu · 05/04/2024 18:14

I think it's important to be clear that HRT on it's own cannot make you gain fat. It just can't.

It could make you gain weight in the form of water. What it can't do is create energy from nowhere for you to turn into fat. This can only happen if you eat more calories than you need (which can definitely happen with the additional hunger that you get from HRT).

If you don't eat more than you need (check a TDEE calculator) you cannot gain fat. It's impossible under the laws of thermodynamics.

I'm worried people will read this thread and not try HRT because they've been misinformed.

I put on weight when I started on the pill and the weight gain on HRT was similar. I was at a steady weight for 15 years and didn't start HRT until I was a few years into menopause but the weight went on (1.5 stone when I was initially 53kg). It might not suit the science but it's the truth.

Elastoslax · 05/04/2024 21:40

I started patches 5 months ago. I've put on 8 lbs. (I have always eaten well and carefully and maintain my weight fairly easily before this)

Since Jan 1st I've been calorie counting 1300 calories per day. No weight loss. Since Feb I've been walking an average of 10,000 steps a day (outside of my active job) and cut down to 1000 calories per day. I have lost 3 of those lbs (on a good day....sometimes it swings back up).

My breasts are constantly swollen and so painful. All month. I have gone up 2 bra sizes. My stomach is so bloated too I cannot bear to wear anything tight so I live in elasticated waists and loose baggy tops. Utterly miserable physically.

I went back to the doc and got upped to 75mg patches and constant progesterone and some testosterone. None of this has made any difference to my symptoms and I'm due a review next month.

I am very sorry for myself I have to say. 🥺
And so, yes, I think it is possible to put on weight with HRT

Garlicked · 05/04/2024 21:40

EauNeu · 05/04/2024 18:14

I think it's important to be clear that HRT on it's own cannot make you gain fat. It just can't.

It could make you gain weight in the form of water. What it can't do is create energy from nowhere for you to turn into fat. This can only happen if you eat more calories than you need (which can definitely happen with the additional hunger that you get from HRT).

If you don't eat more than you need (check a TDEE calculator) you cannot gain fat. It's impossible under the laws of thermodynamics.

I'm worried people will read this thread and not try HRT because they've been misinformed.

"Laws of thermodynamics" are cited so often on here that I usually let it pass. Now and again, though ... 😂 The law as cited applies to closed systems. The body is not a closed system. We're not machines, we're biochemical organisms - open systems.

First law of thermodynamics: In general, the conservation law states that the total energy of an isolated system is constant; energy can be transformed from one form to another, but can be neither created nor destroyed.

Some bodies under some circumstances want to increase fat. They can easily do this by diverting resources from other functions: the body may give off less heat, cut back on muscle or even bone maintenance, slow down digestion, reduce brain activity, limit available energy, and a multitude of other means to create matter (fat) by not creating other matter (flesh, bone, muscle, etc) while directing energy to fat creation instead of using it up.

Why do you think conditions such as hypothyroidism and diabetes make people put on weight without changing their diets? How do you explain medications like some antipsychotics causing sudden weight gain?

The converse is also true: some bodies, under some circumstances, want to put out a lot of energy as heat and activity, consuming matter (fat, muscle) to do so. This happens with conditions such as hyperthyroidism, and some drugs like amphetamines.

There are also conditions where the body wants to create loads of skin cells, for instance (psoriasis), diverting energy away from bone and muscle maintenance, and other abnormal growth situations (cancer) that can divert all the energy from everywhere to fuel cell multiplication, resulting in sudden weight loss.

Hormones are neurotansmitters - messengers. The sex hormones reach every part of the body, communicating with the brain to adjust processes going on within the body's system. It stands to reason that changes in the quantities and proportions of hormones will alter the messaging - that's why we take them, after all! We want changes. We can't yet direct them to make only some changes but not others; it isn't even clear that we should.

First-form science rant over, you might get unwanted results from medications. Try different formulations and/or different proportions. And ignore that thermodynamic crap.

To think my HRT patches have led to weight gain?
Hankunamatata · 05/04/2024 21:45

Opposite here. I started to lose weight as I'm more active.

There are lots of studys that women gain weight during the menopause. Hrt or not

It could be your menopausal and het isn't causing the gain but menopause it iykwim

Lollingabout · 05/04/2024 21:47

chillidoritto · 05/04/2024 20:21

This is putting me off HRT. But I have heard of people saying that because they feel better, they actually had the energy to go to the gym / eat better to do something about their weight so it can't all be bad can it?

Oh definitely not all bad - it’s been amazing in sorting out my sleep and mood swings - I’m definitely not anti HRT otherwise I would have just come off it and not bothered asking about it on here - it’s a dilemma because of its benefits! I’m thinking I might just reduce the dose back to what they originally put me on. Go for it!

OP posts:
Maddy70 · 05/04/2024 21:55

I put on a stone when i went onto hrt

mondaynightfore · 05/04/2024 21:56

OnDaysLikeThese · 05/04/2024 16:37

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.

I could have written this
Yes science says no weight gain but it does for me
Similar to pre menstrual feelings and gain - I think I'm sensitive to progesterone. Also felt similar to when I was pregnant and put on so much weight because I felt pre menstrual the entire time and ate absolute rubbish.
I came off it and weirdly a lot of the original symptoms like night sweats had drastically reduced so it was like it had kicked my body a bit but in a good way - my symptoms are nowhere near as bad as before the 10 week hrt

pixiesaresmall · 05/04/2024 22:14

Elastoslax · 05/04/2024 21:40

I started patches 5 months ago. I've put on 8 lbs. (I have always eaten well and carefully and maintain my weight fairly easily before this)

Since Jan 1st I've been calorie counting 1300 calories per day. No weight loss. Since Feb I've been walking an average of 10,000 steps a day (outside of my active job) and cut down to 1000 calories per day. I have lost 3 of those lbs (on a good day....sometimes it swings back up).

My breasts are constantly swollen and so painful. All month. I have gone up 2 bra sizes. My stomach is so bloated too I cannot bear to wear anything tight so I live in elasticated waists and loose baggy tops. Utterly miserable physically.

I went back to the doc and got upped to 75mg patches and constant progesterone and some testosterone. None of this has made any difference to my symptoms and I'm due a review next month.

I am very sorry for myself I have to say. 🥺
And so, yes, I think it is possible to put on weight with HRT

You could be me except I've gained over a stone. Bloods last month showed extremely low eostrogen so I'm now on Everel conti 75 to see if I absorb but my extremely sore breasts daily I'm putting down to this.
I think mine is a lot of water weight/bloating but how the hell do we get rid of it. Everything is tight on me, I've gone from a size 6 to a 10 and some trousers I can't pull over my legs to get on. Depressing but so was life with No HRT so im stuck.

EauNeu · 05/04/2024 22:18

Garlicked · 05/04/2024 21:40

"Laws of thermodynamics" are cited so often on here that I usually let it pass. Now and again, though ... 😂 The law as cited applies to closed systems. The body is not a closed system. We're not machines, we're biochemical organisms - open systems.

First law of thermodynamics: In general, the conservation law states that the total energy of an isolated system is constant; energy can be transformed from one form to another, but can be neither created nor destroyed.

Some bodies under some circumstances want to increase fat. They can easily do this by diverting resources from other functions: the body may give off less heat, cut back on muscle or even bone maintenance, slow down digestion, reduce brain activity, limit available energy, and a multitude of other means to create matter (fat) by not creating other matter (flesh, bone, muscle, etc) while directing energy to fat creation instead of using it up.

Why do you think conditions such as hypothyroidism and diabetes make people put on weight without changing their diets? How do you explain medications like some antipsychotics causing sudden weight gain?

The converse is also true: some bodies, under some circumstances, want to put out a lot of energy as heat and activity, consuming matter (fat, muscle) to do so. This happens with conditions such as hyperthyroidism, and some drugs like amphetamines.

There are also conditions where the body wants to create loads of skin cells, for instance (psoriasis), diverting energy away from bone and muscle maintenance, and other abnormal growth situations (cancer) that can divert all the energy from everywhere to fuel cell multiplication, resulting in sudden weight loss.

Hormones are neurotansmitters - messengers. The sex hormones reach every part of the body, communicating with the brain to adjust processes going on within the body's system. It stands to reason that changes in the quantities and proportions of hormones will alter the messaging - that's why we take them, after all! We want changes. We can't yet direct them to make only some changes but not others; it isn't even clear that we should.

First-form science rant over, you might get unwanted results from medications. Try different formulations and/or different proportions. And ignore that thermodynamic crap.

Please can you explain nhow does your body cannibalising its organs, bones or reducing heat output cause one to gain weight (specifically fat) in someone who's taking in the exact amount of energy they need or less. Because that's what is being implied here. You're saying the body takes energy from itself and stores it as fat?

EauNeu · 05/04/2024 22:22

EauNeu · 05/04/2024 22:18

Please can you explain nhow does your body cannibalising its organs, bones or reducing heat output cause one to gain weight (specifically fat) in someone who's taking in the exact amount of energy they need or less. Because that's what is being implied here. You're saying the body takes energy from itself and stores it as fat?

Edited

Also in terms of energy intake surely the body is a closed system? We can't get energy that we didn't put in our mouths in the form of food or drink. What system is the energy coming from

Kittycat333 · 05/04/2024 22:22

Calories in, calories out. The only thing that 'makes' you 'pile' weight on is eating too many calories!

Lollingabout · 05/04/2024 22:27

DontBeAMeany · 05/04/2024 20:37

I feel loads loads better on HRT and have lost weight. I was carrying about 10 extra pounds and they've nearly all gone. I put it down to not having sleepiness nights, not getting migraines and generally not feeling shite.

OP, does it make any difference what the reason is for you putting on weight? I used to be able to lose weight so much quicker when I was younger than I can now but I don't think having an explanation for it makes any difference. If I want to diet I have to eat less than my body needs.

I know there are some medical issues that can affect weight gain so I know there are some exceptions.

I don't think you can cut all patches in half. Maybe some but I don't think all of them. I'd check with your gp before trying.

I guess it’s just because my usual methods of losing weight aren’t working at all - like at all - and if I ate less than I do it would verge on being unhealthy if long term. It’s also where the weight itself is going - I’ve become really busty which I’ve never been apart from when I was pregnant and I don’t feel comfortable. ☹️

OP posts: