plant based oestrogens is it possible? Do they work?

[ProperLavs]

I am 50 and up until the last couple of months my periods have been regular and normal. Recently I have experienced a couple 2 weeks apart then back to normal again.
In november I tried some hrt but the progesterone part of the cycle was so horrific I stopped after 3 months. I felt much better in the first 2 weeks of the cycle.
I am scared to try again and was wondering whether there was anything i could try that was more gentle?
I don't have hot flushes but am tired and irritable.

All HRT except those starting with Pre- (like Prempak) is plant based for the estrogen part of it. But you said the issue was the progestogen?

It's a very individual thing. I've used both Norethisterone and Utrogestan. Both make me slightly PMS-y but not so much I'd want to give up HRT.

thanks. I was thinking more of supplements/ diet really . I have been lucky so far with symptoms really.

Maybe supplements can help only for relieving some of the symptoms as hot flashes but they cannot replace the estrogen that our ovaries don’t produce. So they have no impact for our health and they don’t counteract the consequences of estrogen deprivation.

I read that they can mimic- affect the pituitary. It’s very confusing. You hear stories of people eating lots of soy and feeling better.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-14442851

This is only my experience, but agree that it doesn't seem to do much in terms of measurably reducing symptoms, as the study found. I have a diet high in soya products - I only use soya milk, spreads, yoghurt, lots of tofu etc. I'm still having dreadful sweats and sleep disturbance and all the rest, though of course I don't know how i'd be otherwise - I also have other health issues that don't help. Other people have anecdotally reported that it has helped them though, so I can't see why it would hurt to try to make some changes to your diet and see how it goes for you?

It's worth trying to get the right sort of HRT to help. There is no point faffing about with all kinds of other stuff if you want relief. I know it can be off putting to find HRT that doesn't suit, but there are various options.
There is a 30-40% placebo effect for many drugs and treatments (which applies to women using herbs, soy etc) so there will always be people who say things worked for them.