Which HRT makes you slimmer, sleep well and have an increased libido?

[PhyllisDietrichson]

LOL, just kidding! But if it does exist - do lemme know :P

[Kar11]

Hi. Just started hrt patches 2 days ago. Evorel Conti. Feel so bloated. Any advice to alleviate this. Also feel slightly spaced out.

[NickyNora]

Is that a tablet or patch @TJHA1 ?

No HRT has helped improve my labido not even testosterone.

[TJHA1]

The best all round is the Evorel50 which is fantastic for all symptoms, particularly with regard to one's libido. It is remarkable, actually....

[DanielHarvey]

Been going round the bend trying 12 different types of HRT Premique helped for while but nearly year with no period feels worse than ever have my gp up the wall trying everything with no joy just want my life back lots put weight on me which was so uncomfortable trying Tridestra any information would be great Thankyou xx

[cherrybrown]

Hi, this sounds like a positive outcome. Do you mind if I ask which HRT you are on? Thanks.

[Zazu44]

I take Tibolene for libido problems and it has really helped. I'm over 2yrs period free although still sometimes have the odd night sweat. The worst is weight gain and joint ache, which I do put down to the Menopause and feeling knackered! It really helps to have a good GP mine is fantastically supportive.

[DocMcFanjo]

No need for hormone testing tass. If you're period free for that long you're post-menopausal (though may continue to have all the other delightful symptoms).

Just in terms of the Mirena, if it's been in for 5+ years it doesn't provide endometrial protection anymore so you would need another progesterone if using HRT.

The reason doctors advise leaving the Mirena in for longer than that around the menopause is that even when the hormonal component of it it more or less gone, it can still work as a contraceptive in that its presence in the womb helps minimise endometrial proliferation (needed for implanting foetuses) and that alone is sufficient in conjunction with the much declined fertility of peri-menopausal women.

[tass1960]

Has anyone else's GP said that there is no point in doing blood for hormone levels. I had loads of bloods done recently after asking about HRT but not for hormone levels - She said because I had not had a period for more than 2 years there was no point. I would usually trust her to do the necessary but am not really sure about this.

[PollyPerky]

Evidently it's only a fraction of what is in the Pill.

[HormonalHeap]

Very interesting- didn't know hrt gives you only a fraction of what you'd normally have- thank you.

[PollyPerky]

when you are young you need to top up what would be there naturally. HRT gives you only a fraction of what you'd have normally so in peri the need is usually greater to compensate for the fall in your hormones which is erratic from day to day.

[HormonalHeap]

i agree I probably need 3 pumps. Curious to know why it is that as you get older you need less oestrogen. I'll be taking mine to my grave!

[PollyPerky]

As I said, not everyone finds Utrogestan makes them sleepy- sometimes the precise opposite. You maybe need to check with your dr but the simple answer would be to increase the oestrogen to 3 pumps and see if that helps. You're still quite young and might need more than us older women! I'm in my 60s and use 2 pumps.

[HormonalHeap]

It is definitely worth knowing about, thank you. She's a consultant gynae specialising in the menopause. I don't think it was her intention to leave me permanently on both,

As for self help measures, we all react in our own way to symptoms of menopause, and my own sleep deprivation was/is so severe that it's way beyond self help.

[PollyPerky]

The Mirena plus Utrogestan is 'overkill'. You don't need both and tbh it's a bit shocking you have been given both. I can't quite get my head round why a dr would would prescribe a powerful hormone like Utrogestan for sleep issues? Has she suggested 'sleep hygiene' and self help measures re. sleep? Utrogestan doesn't help everyone with sleep anyway; the first couple of nights or more that I use it I tend to feel very hot and am restless. It makes no difference to me being able to sleep longer or more deeply.
Just for information, atrophy of the endometrium can show itself as spotting- I've read about this on other forums. The lining becomes so thin it can bleed. Doubt you have this if you've not been on Utro very long, but worth knowing about anyway!

[HormonalHeap]

I don't think my lining can be that thin as I still have the odd period! It could explain my bloating though.. think she wanted to keep the mirena for contraception but I'm going to ask her to take it out. To be honest though, I don't like being dictated by the pill by what time I have to eat, eg on holiday one tends to eat later. Hardly drink at all as just seems to give me a headache now. Thanks again for your advice.

[PollyPerky]

Sorry but that's really weird.
What's your consultant thinking of, doubling up a Mirena and Utrogestan? That's simply not done, nor necessary!
The risk is you will think the lining too much and end up with an atrophied endometrium- worst case!

From what you've said, I'd not have much faith in her. Prescribing two types of different progestogens- one is synthetic (in the Mirena) plus natural progesterone is really not on.

Utro should not be used as a sleeping aid! You'd be better off getting something herbal like valerian if you need something to help sleep!

Also- not sure how much you drink- but alcohol does cause poor sleep .
Have you tried cutting it out altogether, and also caffeine drinks?
Have you tried eating earlier? How long after having dinner are you going to bed? It could be simply that you are not allowing enough time between eating and giving your food time to digest, and going to bed. I know that if I eat later than 8pm I sleep badly, and that's when I go to bed around 11pm.

Re the time difference- surely all that happens is you will miss or double up on one dose until you get into the new time zone?

[HormonalHeap]

Thanks so much again Polly for your advice. I also have the Minera coil so wondering if my gynae advised me not to take Ustrogestan with food as that would be too much progesterone altogether. She simply prescribed it to help me sleep, not that it's working!

Unfortunately can't keep to uk time as away for 3 weeks and not practical, so will literally have to sweat it out. Thanks again and sorry for hijacking thread!

[PollyPerky]

If you read the info on Utrogestan, it says ' taking with food increases the bio availability'- that means more is absorbed.

Here www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/19895
Under 'Precautions' it says :
. Concomitant food ingestion increases the bioavailability of Utrogestan 100mg Capsules.

This means you will absorb more, not less, which is not necessarily a bad thing when its role is to act on the endometrium.

My consultant says it's fine to take it either way and makes little difference.

A slightly higher dose of oestrogen won't raise your breast cancer risk- it's synthetic progestogens that are linked to breast cancer, not oestrogen. And at 49 your risk doesn't 'start' with HRT until you reach the age of the average meno- 52.

The 'occasional' drink is ok but it depends on what you mean by that! Ie one glass of wine a week would be fine but one glass or more a day is going to increase your risk, regardless of HRT or not.

If you are travelling then isn't it best to keep to UK time and use when you'd normally use it?

But if you can't do that, just miss one dose or apply one extra that day and apply it later or earlier- whichever works.

[HormonalHeap]

Thanks Polly. Nearly 49, no peri spring chick here. My meno consultant was adamant Ustrogestan wasn't effective unless an empty stomach. As we don't eat till 8.30 it's not great.

I'm just loathe to take an extra squirt as I like the occasional drink and don't want to push up my odds for breast cancer.

What do people do regarding gel timings when travelling somewhere with an 8 hr time difference? Gradual change or short sharp shock to give the jet lag a boost?

[PollyPerky]

The beauty of the gel is that you can adjust the amount you need- but not on a daily basis! Read the instructions that come with it- they tell you the dose is from 2 -4 squirts. Use what you need to control symptoms. You need to stick with a dose for a good couple of weeks or more , not chop and change too often, until it's built up in your system. Most women get on fine with 2 squirts, but during peri if you are young you might need 3.

Utrogestan- the taking on an empty stomach is not that critical- I asked my consultant. Taking it with food actually increases the absorption rate, not lowers it. I don't find it a problem because dinner is 7-7.30pm then I tend not to eat anything more that evening and take it at 11pm. A tiny snack maybe an hour before using it is fine.

To be honest, there is no point and no need for blood tests. I've never had any except the very first time I saw my consultant. Your oestrogen levels will vary during peri but the point of using HRT is to try to stabilise them by giving you a standard amount.

[HormonalHeap]

Thank you Dorje so much, sounds like you have the right balance. Problem is as our levels fluctuate, what's the right balance one week may not be the next! I increased to 2 squirts around 3 weeks ago. Have started splitting the dose am/pm but still no sleep. The one thing I don't like about Ustrogestan is that you have to take it on an empty stomach- so no food for 2 hrs which means no snacking after supper!

I guess it's another round of blood tests for me- I know you can have up to 4 squirts but I'm worried about taking too much. Thanks again x

[Dorje]

HormonalNeap, I use two squirts of the gel in the morning, and take the progesterone capsule before bed.

I have a white noise / fan going on low and now I'm not having night sweats, I have got lovely new silk nightclothes in TKMaxx. I sleep through the the night and wake in the morning ready to go.
It's been years since I had a full night sleep before hrt.

My oestrogen levels were low, and FSH high that's why I'm on two pumps a day. One thing I've noticed now is that my skin looks fantastic, and my boobs look perkier.

I would say that it might take some time to get your levels up if they were very low, and even longer if you're only using one pump, I'm not sure though about info that so maybe get back to your meno doctor and ask her for advice.

I'm not a doctor, and I amn't qualified to give you advice about your dosage.
Do you know your blood test readings? Was your oestrogen low like mine?

I think I read that you can have up to four pumps a day if needed. Contact your doc and see what she says?

[HormonalHeap]

Dorje I'm also on Estradiol gel and usteogestan and although my skin's looking better i'm still waking at 5am and knackered. How many squirts do you use a day?

[PhyllisDietrichson]

Agreed and I do know really, I was being flippant. The whole meno business has been draining and not fun at all so wanted to laugh in it's face just this once!