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Original poster

To stop Oestrogel

35 replies

hellno123 · 28/01/2025 07:22

I've been prescribed oestrogel along with Utrogestan and I am thinking of stopping it. One of the reasons is weight gain, I can't afford to be putting on anymore weight and a lot of people seem to gain weight on this. Also it's making me more irritable and jittery. I've been on it for 2 weeks and take one pump of the gel. Anyone had positive experiences on this. Haven't posted in the menopause forum as it doesn't seem to get much traffic. I'm 43

OP posts:
Puddypuds · 28/01/2025 07:25

I'm on it, and have been for about six months, and haven't noticed any weight gain other than what has been caused by my own diet (winter, pre Christmas etc). However the plus side - no more hot flushes - has been brilliant.

Almostwelsh · 28/01/2025 07:27

It makes me jittery too. I can manage on a low dose, but I'm 10 years older than you and presumably have much less natural oestrogen in my body.

What made you start taking it? Have those symptoms improved?

Original poster
hellno123 · 28/01/2025 07:30

Thank you for your replies. I was put on it for low mood, irritability and also I was having night time panic attacks. I kept waking up after 5 minutes of being asleep in a state of panic. It does help with my sleep

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BigDahliaFan · 28/01/2025 07:31

I loved the oestrogel,no night sweats, reduction in insomnia and anxiety. Couldn’t take the progesterone though. That made me horribly depressed. So I switched to a Mirena.

but there are lots of benefits to oestrogen, bone strength, heart protection etc. also if you do stop it look into vaginal pessaries.

overall I think there are enough benefits of it to make it worthwhile trying to find a dose that suits you. You are quite young to be stopping oestrogen.

anyways it’s up to you. I had to come off hrt at 55 after being on it since 43 and I miss it.

Almostwelsh · 28/01/2025 07:34

It's probably the progesterone that's helping your sleep

Original poster
hellno123 · 28/01/2025 07:34

That's another reason I am thinking to persevere without it is being told I can't have it as I get older. Is there only a limited amount of time you can stay on HRT

OP posts:
stormacoming · 28/01/2025 07:37

I think you need to give it time to settle down tbh, nothing works straight away. I haven't put weight on from using it.

MILLYmo0se · 28/01/2025 07:38

hellno123 · 28/01/2025 07:34

That's another reason I am thinking to persevere without it is being told I can't have it as I get older. Is there only a limited amount of time you can stay on HRT

No there's no limit to how long you can stay on HRT. If you stop the oestrogen you ll need to stop the utrogeston too, that's the one that's helping you sleep.
I didn't put on any weight, in fact the sugar cravings pretty much stopped

Almostwelsh · 28/01/2025 07:38

There isn't any limit to the amount of time you can stay on HRT to my knowledge, unless you have a medical issue that makes it unwise.

There is some evidence that it's best to start it within 10 years of your periods stopping.

Original poster
hellno123 · 28/01/2025 07:40

I'm glad I posted here. Because I was reading negative reviews. Thank you all. I will keep with it as my night time panic attacks were becoming too much. I think I was on the verge of having a heart attack the amount of times I would jump up out the bed

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DaringTurtle · 28/01/2025 07:42

I had horrendous bloating for the first few weeks on Oestrogel but it calmed down and now I feel great and have lost around a stone compared to pre HRT. I found cutting out caffeine and fizzy drinks and drinking peppermint tea helped with the initial bloat. Sleep and mood massively improved. I had a friend who had similar early side effects and I’m glad she encouraged me to stick with it. Good luck!

BabCNesbitt · 28/01/2025 07:46

I started when I was 46 and I did put weight on, but I was also continuing bad eating habits so I think with peri I’d have gained anyway. I’m making an effort to lose in earnest now (I’m 49) and the oestrogel doesn’t seem to be stopping me from losing weight. I have a family history of osteoporosis, so I’m planning to keep taking it for as long as possible.

Original poster
hellno123 · 28/01/2025 07:58

I've read it can be fluid retention. I just hope the jittery side of things die down. But it is early days, I will carry on with the 3 month supply

OP posts:
FindusMakesPancakes · 28/01/2025 08:16

Weight gain in middle age is normal. I actually lost weight when I started HRT (same combo as you) because it gave me energy to exercise again, eased aches and pains so I felt 15 years younger.
I suffered with PMDD and being on HRT has genuinely been life changing for me. I plan never to come off it, because it has made such a difference to me.

Obviously not everyone will have such a great experience, but I would stick at it for a while and if after 3 months ish, you are not convinced, you can always change your mind.

Januarybirthdaysarehardtomakefun · 28/01/2025 08:20

I gave it up after 3 months, it changed my demeanour, I became outspoken and agressive, I gained weight, I drank more alcohol - therefore double whammy on breast cancer risk. Not sure what to do next tbh, I thinking booze entirely may help and to try to find more joy in the workplace.

Legoninjago1 · 28/01/2025 08:25

Hey OP sorry haven't read all replies so apologies if I'm repeating.
2 weeks isn't enough time to have had any effect either way. I'd say 3-6 months is when I started to really feel better. I'd also say the side effects you're describing are reasons to persevere with it, not to stop it.
I lost weight on it. I'd always been able to lose weight pretty easily but that changed after 45 ish. Once on HRT it went back to being easy. I went on it for anxiety which is a million times better now. Keep going.

Original poster
hellno123 · 28/01/2025 09:05

Thank you everyone. I will see how I get on. Hopefully it will turn out to be a positive experience for me. If it doesn't, I know there are options. I don't feel as jittery after my gel this morning so hopefully this is a sign of things calming down. I am due to take the Utrogestan any day now as my doctor said to take it on my 1st day of my period as it will be easier to remember. I am looking forward to getting back to the old me.

OP posts:
BigGapMum · 28/01/2025 09:21

There are different estrogen options. Why don't you speak to your GP and see if you can try a different type of estrogen? A patch maybe? A different one may suit you better. No need to suffer unnecessarily.

Original poster
hellno123 · 28/01/2025 09:23

I've heard the patches are meant to be good. If at the end of the 3 months I don't feel 100% I will definitely go and see if I can change it. I was taken back that my doctor suggested HRT to me. I thought you needed a letter from god to have it prescribed

OP posts:
Ilovelowry · 28/01/2025 09:46

The oestrogen is amazing for me but I always put on weight as soon as I started the progesterone which caused the kind of bloating you get with PMT. Switched to the mirena and no more bloating or sore breasts.

MILLYmo0se · 28/01/2025 13:14

Januarybirthdaysarehardtomakefun · 28/01/2025 08:20

I gave it up after 3 months, it changed my demeanour, I became outspoken and agressive, I gained weight, I drank more alcohol - therefore double whammy on breast cancer risk. Not sure what to do next tbh, I thinking booze entirely may help and to try to find more joy in the workplace.

What was the double whammy on BC risk, were you on combined HRT?

Original poster
hellno123 · 05/02/2025 14:12

Just a little update so far so good. I have started taking the Utrogestan part now. However it says I have to take 25 tablets, obviously 1 a day. But reading on here many seem to only have to take 12 tablets per cycle.

OP posts:
Original poster
hellno123 · 05/02/2025 14:13

Also anyone who takes Utrogestan does it matter if it's taken orally or vaginally as I know you can take this one both ways.

OP posts:
FusionChefGeoff · 05/02/2025 14:17

If only 12 days then it's 2 tabs per day for me.

The vagina tablets are different to the oral ones - I've just had them prescribed that's how I know.

Also, 1 pump is a very low dose so you may need to increase to feel the full benefits.

Original poster
hellno123 · 05/02/2025 14:35

I do think I need to up the oestrogel definitely. I'd rather take 12 tablets as appose to 25. It's just having to remember to take them.

OP posts: