Any HRT experts?

[IAAP]

I started HRT about 3years ago at 45. At the time it was the hot flushes. Drenched every night all night.

Given the patches which I was allergic to and then on femoston 1/10 tiredness eased a little but the hot flushes stopped totally.

GP rang for a review. My hot flushes are back (came back 6 months ago) she suggested femoston 3/10 and said my prescription will give me the new strength. I can’t find femoston 3/10 online so did she mean 2/10?

I stupidly didn’t ask - to I finish a whole pack and then Start the new pack - I googled it and can’t find any info.

Has anyone done this - increased strength of hrt. I still have heavy periods even with the hrt normally for the first pack of a new cycle. I’m now 48 and I hate periods is there a form of hrt that gives no periods? I don’t need a contraceptive and I’m not having sex. Thanks in advance.

Have you considered gels rather than tablets? Most friends who take HRT ( lucky to be near Stratford on Avon where there is a fantastic menopause clinic) have found gels are much more effective. Many GPS are just not experienced enough and don’t have the time to explore menopause with each patient.

There is only 2mgs Femoston, not 3mg.

It depends where you are with the pack.

You need to swap like for like in the cycle. So if you are on day 14 of a pack, you could start the new higher dose on day 15 of the new pack (Not the first tablet). This is because the 2nd half of the pack contains the progestin in each tablet as well as estrogen.

As PP says, you might get on better with Oestrogel, then you can adjust the dose yourself from 1 to 4 pumps per day until you get the right dose. You would need to take Utrogestan alongside it for the progesterone part.

And lastly, if you are still having periods and are only 48, you don't 'qualify' yet for the no bleed type of HRT (only after 12 months of no periods of your own.)

Thank you she’s given me 2/10 I’ve just picked it up - I’ll ask about the gel. As I get a withdrawal bleed how will I know if my periods have stopped? Thanks

You won't know, unless you take a break for about 3 months from hrt.

Or, the medical guidance says over 54 to start continuous.

Average age of meno is 51 but can be sooner or later.