HRT and weight gain

[MarieInternette]

I’m due to have bloods tested with a view to possibly starting HRT. I’m 50, still having relatively regular periods ( albeit much heavier these days). I’m having night sweats occasionally and I think my hair is shedding more. None of these things in themselves are unmanageable but I had a very tragic and sudden bereavement 2 years ago when I lost my daughter in an horrific way and since then my mood is understandably changed. I take an antidepressant since then which has helped me cope. I don’t expect to ever be happy again, those days are gone, but I do wonder if maybe HRT would help me feel a bit better. I do get very overwhelmed by things now which is maybe grief related or maybe age/ hormone related. I don’t recognise myself any more.

I was thinking about trying HRT but it all sounds very complicated and very much trial and error until you get the right prescription. I don’t want to make things harder for myself. Also, due to age, anti depressants and not caring about what I ate or whether I exercised I put on nearly 2 stone in weight since I lost my daughter, which made me feel crap. I have now, through sheer hard work and determination, managed to lose the weight (took 4 months) and I don’t want to take HRT if it is going to undo all my hard work.

Does anyone have any advice for me? Should I try HRT and if so any idea what format, or just accept this is life for me now?

I was so sorry to read your story - I can only imagine how heartbroken you are. Sending you thoughts and love. I don’t know much about HRT despite being older than you - I’ve heard Davina McCall’s programme was interesting. There are also clinics which offer a bespoke bio identical regime but I suspect they’re private - you need to be ultra gentle on yourself so a hit and miss approach sounds too risky, IMO. I really am so sorry for your loss.

I am very sorry to hear about your daughter, OP.

You are already on an anti-depressant which may also be controlling your hot flushes and making them less severe than they would otherwise be.

If you are having heavy periods, sequential HRT might help. There was an interesting article in the Guardian this week www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jul/22/there-will-be-blood-women-on-the-shocking-truth-about-periods-and-perimenopause about bleeding at menopause, which suggested that a HRT with a progesterone element each month, or continually like the coil, can be useful.

As for weight, I put on 3.5 stones in 2 yrs without HRT and since I started it, I have lost about 1.5 stones because I now am able to do more exercise, wake earlier and generally feel better. I think HRT is inclined to reduce your testosterone level further which may lead to weight gain around the middle. Some doctors are more open than others to the idea of giving women a little supplementary testosterone, it helps with mood and confidence too.