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)

Thanks. I’m going to up my reformer Pilates classes to more sessions to build more muscle and up my walks to everyday. I don’t drink so can’t cut any more calories there unfortunately. To be honest I would still be considered in the healthy weight bracket for my age - so I’m not talking about being unhealthily overweight- it really is more about sudden onset of weight in unusual areas for me and feeling uncomfortable- ie. big boobs where I used to be small chested etc. big hips and bloated feeling etc.

Sounds like loads more research needs to happen on this. If GPs tell us ‘it doesn’t cause weight gain’ do the GPs write down what they are being told? Anyone keeping track? Surely it can all be coincidence

It really is the menopause that does this, not HRT. Look at women's body shapes throughout history and they changed over 50. Not for every woman, but for many.

Lack of oestrogen does strange things to our bodies. HRT doesn't make up for the full amount we have lost.

I only need to eat 1400 calories to maintain my weight these days. No wonder I put on 3 stone.

🤣 ha ha! You’re right there! (Although my husband would argue otherwise as he grunts and sweats and ‘hoofs’ and sounds like he’s going to have a heart attack through his daily workouts!)

@Movinghouseatlast its definitely HRT that caused weight gain for me. I have been off and on it three times, it’s very clear. Different for everyone.

It’s so frustrating isn’t it!

Don’t despair, it’s not inevitable. I haven’t gained weight on HRT, I’ve still got a waist, BMI 23.

I’ve GOT a waist since going on HRT but only because my hips have bulked up. And my BMI is 21.5. But I’m a 12-14 now and when even coats you’ve had for years don’t fit it’s depressing. I was a 10. I didn’t change. I look like I’ve been blown up, even my face is bigger. A steroid sort of look.

It depends on so many things, doesn't it? I have lost weight on HRT because HRT gave me the "oomph" to actually do something about my weight rather than sitting on my arse and eating doughnuts. Also, some women can't function without their HRT, before I started it I was suicidal, an anxious mess, not sleeping and quite unwell, mentally. I would rather be 2 stone heavier than go back to that shell of myself.

Also people on this site have such an unhealthy attitude to weight in a lot of ways, if you're not a size 6 and fitting into the same wardrobe as you did when you were 14 you're a total failure. People talk about "putting on weight" without saying how much - if you're 8 stone and have gone to 8.5 stone then that's obviously a different conversation than if you started off at 9 stone and have gone to 15 stone, isn't it?

Also to add another variable into the mix - HRT is not one thing. I just use estrogen as I've had a hysterectomy. Others have progesterone too, some have testosterone. Patches, gels, sprays. Different doses.

Do you lift weights? Eat high protein? Testosterone? They may help if you want to change your shape. I do both, the weights really heavy/progressive overload/close to failure so I’ve got more lean muscle than I’ve ever had.

But I wouldn’t have the wherewithal or the energy to do that without HRT inc testosterone.

No, I don’t do any of those things. I want the body I had before HRT without any effort, just like pre-HRT!

That might be true for you but look at all of the evidence on here from lots of us saying otherwise. It’s definitely not just the menopause causing my weight gain given that my weight kept increasing when I was on it. As I said within a week of stopping it, I lost a pound and since stopping it around 7 weeks ago, I have lost close to 2 stones and am back to my pre HRT weight now. I am eating exactly the same as I was (following WW) and have not increased my exercise. I’m definitely still menopausal so how exactly do you explain my weight loss if nothing else has changed except stopping the HRT? It affects people differently, weight changes is listed as a side effect on the information leaflet. I also gained weight when I was on the pill when I was younger too. There are some people who have that side effect when taking artificial hormones. You can’t dismiss other people’s experiences just because you didn’t have the same side effects!
I do agree that the menopause definitely makes weight loss harder but it isn’t generally responsible for people gaining stones in a short period of time.

So you tell me not to dismiss other people's experiences then you do the same to mine!

I'm not dismissing people's experiences actually. I explained what my menopause specialist explained to me.

I put on 2 stone in 6 months in perimenopause. It happened to me. I changed nothing, exercise or diet and kept putting on weight. I ended up nearly 4 stone heavier, no HRT. It was lack of oestrogen according to my menopause specialist.

People have different reactions to menopause but I would hate for women to be put off HRT because of putting on weight as it can be a total lifesaver.

@Movinghouseatlast

Maybe try reading my post, it’s clear I’m not dismissing your experiences. For some women the menopause does cause weight gain and women experiencing this should not be dismissed.
Neither should women be subjected to the bullshit that HRT isn’t the cause of their weight gain when it clearly can be! I see people’s experiences dismissed on here all the time especially when it comes to weight when they are judged for weight gain when they are doing everything they can to prevent it.

Just to add to my previous post.

15000 steps a day
2-3 x weight training/ body weight training a week
For example 20 - 30 full press ups etc

I could not lose any weight! My diet was OK. I wasn't restricting but eating fairly well.

I was 9 stone before HRT. I put on a stone quite rapidly - within a few months. I put on another stone and half after a couple of years. I then halved my dose and lost a stone. I then came off the patches and lost another half a stone. I am now on 2 pumps of gel and am a stone over my original weight. I haven't changed anything apart from my HRT dose.

For some people it does increase weight. It is mainly on my stomach, bottom and chest.

Yes people do add weight during menopause but there is no doubt in my mind that if I stopped everything tomorrow, I would lose a lot of weight but I will continue because my joints are much better and I can now exercise and have a lot more energy so will take a stone over for that benefit.

I think as PP said for some people our bodies do not tolerate the hormones as well as others do.

*also the mirena made me gain quickly which I believe was water rention causing bloating etc. Unless this is removed my weight will not drop.

I came off HRT in January, for various medical related reasons, I'm 54, and I am finding it easier to lose weight than when I was on it. I put on about 2 stone while on it. Thought life was also fairly crap at the time which had something to do with it.

I'm doing more and eating less now so it should be shifting anyway, but it seems a bit easier and I've lost a stone. That's my experience.

On the other hand I was much happier being a bit heavier than being the utter mess I'd have been without HRT at the time I really needed it.

Also even with what I'm doing it is still much harder to shift weight than it was in my 40s regardless of hrt for me.