Are HRT Estrogen and Progesterone patches safe? safe

[NewPlumCat]

Hi,
I just want to know if the patches are safe to take long-term?
I'm a very anxious person and am worrying about them causing me complications.

Have you been prescribed them by a doctor? And that doctor has recommended you have them?

Your doctor has your medical history in front or her/him and has prescribed them - he knows far better than any randomer on MN.

And FWIW I am on estrogen patches (no progesterone as I have had a hysterectomy) and for me the benefits have been life-changing. They are safe.

Everything has risks.

your healthcare provider should talk through them with you how they apply to you and help you work out the benefits too.

Gently OP you posted this over on the menopause board before and have been told repeatedly that there is no way to guarantee that any treatment is 100% safe and that you need to talk to your doctor. Many thousands of women happily & safety take HRT and lots of women shared their experiences with you but that has not reassured you

im sorry that you’re struggling so much but honestly no one on MN can give you what you need xxx

Thank you for replying. My GP said its safe for me to take them but also said there's a 1% risk with taking them so it's not very reassuring x

Thank you for your reply and letting me know. I'm happy to hear you are feeling better 🙏 xx

Yes there's a miniscule risk but you have to weigh up the benefits v the risk.

I'd rather have no menopause symptoms and take the risk compared to struggling with the hot flushes and all the rest of it.

You do get monitored. I have to have a check up every six months to get it prescribed and I'm reminded to check for breast lumps etc., which I was doing anyway. If anything looks wrong on your check up, you'll be told to stop it so hopefully if the worst did happen, it would be caught early.

I would happily kill anyone that suggested that I stop having my HRT patches.

They have been life saving and life changing to how I felt before.

There's a 1% risk of whatever happening, but what's the alternative? NOT taking HRT will come with an increased risk of other things including osteoporosis, mood swings etc.

1% chance of issues in my book is far far better than the DEFINITE bit of me having brain fog, depression, dry brittle vag that had constant infections and burning pain, dry skin, thinking hair etc etc. Getting rid of all that is a brilliant trade in for just a 1% risk.

No, they're not 100% safe but have a lower risk than alot of other commonly prescribed medications.

Each woman taking HRT needs to weigh up the benefits/risks & advice of their doctor

For the overwhelming majority of women the benefits outweigh the risks.

You have more risks from not using them than the 1%. Try to focus on the 99%

Thank you for replying. My GP did explain that there is a 1% risk if I go on HRT thats what's made me more anxious.

Thank you for your message and kind words. I really appreciate it. I understand what you are saying but I'm too anxious to go on HRT. I know that this is the only option for me as I've tried everything else and it hasn't worked. xx

Thank you for your kind message. I Really appreciate it. I am suffering with vary severe anxiety and depression and getting horrible intrusive thoughts. I can't deal with it anymore. I've been dealing with this for the pasta 3 year's and it's really affecting my emotional health and physical health xx

Thank you xx

Thank you xx

Put your trust in the ones with the medical degree not the Internet.

I'm glad you are feeling better 🙏 I wish I can also feel better. I am suffering with severe anxiety and depression and mental health and horrible intrusive thought's. x

Thank you xx

Thank you for letting me know and all your support. x

No medication is 100% safe but for me the benefits outweigh the very, very small risks associated with HRT. I have got my life back since being on the patches, they have been amazing for me personally. If you can maybe focus on the benefits they may bring to you.

If a 1% risk is not reassuring then the problem is your inability to understand risk. Getting in a car is significantly more dangerous.

Have you had any support with this? I was literally just crying all day, every day, and had extreme paranoia, and couldn't sleep. I was waking at like 3am every morning and just couldn't sleep, yet spent all day yawning being utterly exhausted. Started HRT and the sleeping resolved literally overnight. More, and better quality, sleep - it made me realise how lightly I'd been sleeping for years without realising. After about 6 months the regular tears returned so my GP suggested anti-depressents (which I'd been on previously) to see how they went, or an different dose of HRT.

If your struggling this much then please please get some support. You're currently trapped in a vicious cycle. You've been given good medical advice in prescribing HRT which will help resolve your anxiety, but your refusing because you're anxious. It's a vicious cycle and only took can choose to break that. Why not give it a try, and in a couple of weeks see whether it's all it's cracked up to be.

I'd also consider some talking therapy type support in addition to whatever you're offered medication wise.

Please give yourself a chance to climb out of the hole you're in. HRT will help.

Thank you so much for your message it really helped me to understand what you went through. I am glad to hear you are feeling better 🙏 thank you so much. God bless you 🙏
I will give it a go xx

The HRT may well help with your MH and depression/anxiety. Often women are fobbed off with anti-depressants instead of being prescribed the hormones they need, so it’s good that your GP has realised that HRT is the most useful medication here. Give it a go. 1% is a minuscule risk, and the anxiety and associated symptoms could well end up causing you more harm than the medication.