trying a friends oestrogen/hrt - yes or no?

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I am considering booking an appt with the Newsom clinic - my friend did this and was suggested some oestrogen/progesterone gel. This was done on zoom call

She has some overstock and has offered me to try some - are you allowed to do this?
another friend contacted GP and was offered this on a phone consultation. I've always been a real scaredy cat with medication and never taken anything not prescribed for me- what do you guys think?

Don't ever take prescription medication not prescribed for you.

Ummm...no! Book an appointment. What's the point of trying it?? Will you then tell the doctor you tried it and it worked/didn't work?

Yeah , I guess I hadn't thought that far, ust wanted to see if it would work

No - what you may think is the same medication may have different dosages of the active ingredient. There maybe risks/side effects that are specific to you related your own medical history, family history or medications you take etc.

This is a terrible idea. Do NOT do it. Typically dosing is prescribed based on an individual's "numbers," which are devised from detailed tests that measure estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.

What your friend is suggesting is similar to saying to you, "oh, I hear that you have an infection. I have some leftover antibiotics you should try."

And then you take them not realizing that type of antibiotic will do nothing for the type of infection you have. It's not the right type or right dosage.

Take the time and spend the money to do it right.

Medic here
🤣🤣🤣
you’re an adult obviously you can do what you want!!
But there’s no excuse for stupid, whatever your age!

If you’re of the age to be having meno symptoms, your GP will prescribe HRT. It can take a few months to get the dose right and see the benefit. Trying your friend’s spare isn’t going to be enough - and why is it ‘overstock’? She’s taking it for the long term so it’s hardly ‘overstock’. Newson will charge her another pretty penny when she needs the next prescription!

Silly question, really. Are you allowed - of course, not. Does it happen - yes, of course.

Thing is - HRT takes some time to work. So - "trying" it has little point, really.
And you should really discuss your personal risks with a medical professional.

That said - I have shared my testosterone with a friend on HRT, who didn't have time to get to the doctor for a prescription. But she is medically trained, and was already on HRT. So - a slightly different situation.

So - my conclusion is - if your symptoms are bad enough that you are considering HRT - get yourself to a doctor!

No

• you may not be recommended the same products

• it's not an 'I tried a few days' product, finding the right dose can take months
• she'll probably want her extra product back when there's the inevitable shortage

Ooh I hope you don't call your patients stupid

Nice

Pretty much this...!

Unless you're planning that your friend will supply you from her "overstock" indefinitely, then get your own consultation and prescription. Dont' be daft.

Taking someone else's medication IS stupid.

Thanks for the head wobble advice, of course this is a silly idea!
I don't think I am thinking very clearly or being very resilient in perimenopause 🤣

Have you previously tried your own GP practice? Are there any reasons why you could not just get an appointment and request HRT through the NHS? Take a look at the latest NICE guidleines on menopause and HRT - they were updated in late 2024 I think.
Prescriptions are made for individuals based on consideration of the possible benefits and risks. Should not be taken by others.

Of course not! If they’ve done something like this…..I don’t need to say anything!

It took 6 months for my HRT to settle, so unless your friend has a very large overstock, youre not going to really know its effect from a sample. During the settling period I had symptoms that included bleeding. I wouldn't have wanted to experience that without access to proper health advice. I found getting HRT prescribed for me to be very straightforward via the GP.

What’s the gain here for you? Either it works and great you need to make an appointment to go through your symptoms to get your own supply. Or it doesn’t work and you you need to make an appointment to go through your symptoms to get something else.

if somethings offered to you on a plate I can see why you think it’s something you want. But really there is no benefit here for you.

Thanks all. I was not thinking logically about this at all!!

A lot of symptoms take months to be impacted by HRT. Some are quick but others take months, so you may try it and think ah useless... when you've not given it enough time.

There are many different types, depending on your situation.

No don't try it.