HRT Progesterone problems

[jlegs]

Hi, I hope this kind of question is allowed as I can't seem to find any info about it. It is quite personal so I'm not sure if anyone will want to answer but here goes. I have been on anti depressants for about 10 years and have had a lack of libido in all of that time, I'm 48 years old and have also been suffering with awful night sweats so my GP pot me on HRT patches called evorel sequi and it was brilliant. Literally had the first orgasm i'd had in 10 years, sorry it's getting personal but this was obviously putting a strain on my marriage too as I never, ever wanted to have sex. The thing is for the 1st fortnight I'd have sex and orgasm but when I changed to the other patches for the next fortnight my breasts were so tender even wearing a bra hurt. Anyhoo I had high blood pressure so was told to come off the HRT straight away. My GP rang me about a month ago and said I could try something different which is now I am on everol but I also have to take take 1 utrogestan 100mg tablet every night. This has put me back to square one in that I have no libido again and my breasts/nipples are so sore I can't even touch them properly even just to get washed never mind being touched by my husband. I feel embarrassed to say outright to the GP about it as I never get to speak to the same one half the time. Last time I spoke to her I just said my breasts were sore all the time, I didn't mention my sex life in case she thought it wasn't really important, it is yet again putting strain on my marriage as I don't want to have sex at all. She said I should go on the mirena coil so my question is does anyone know if that would make a difference, ie not having to take the utrogestan tablet every night and having the coil instead. I can't see how it would make a difference if the coil will be giving off progesterone constantly. Thank you to anyone who read all the way through, I really hope someone could advise me or hoping someone else may have had the same problem and got it sorted out. Thanks in advance.

I'm sorry you are having such a grim time. Is your BP under control now? Controlled high blood pressure isn't a barrier to HRT and I don't see why your GP wouldn't put you back on Evorel Sequi. Also your new HRT doesn't make an awful lot of sense as it would appear to be a continuous regime, unlike the Sequi you were previously on. Are you still having periods?

Hi. Thank you for the quick reply. My blood pressure is still high so she said I could not stay on the other ones. I think I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself too as at last something was going right and now I feel back to square one.

Your dr doesn't seem to know what to do.

You need treatment for your high BP_ either drugs and / or lifestyle changes (diet and exercise.)

There is no difference in risk with the patch you were on and using Evorel plus Utrogestan. If there is a risk with HRT and high BP or blood clots, it's more likely to be tablet form of estrogen, not a patch.

You need to go back to your dr and discuss your BP and ask why they have changed your hrt type. Don't just accept what they do unless they explain the reasons and even then, do your own research and check it out online.

You also should be able to discuss libido with your gp as it's a valid issue which can be affected by many meds, especially anti depressants, so maybe you could ask about coming off them? An awful lot of women are using them unnecessarily when the solution is the right sort of hrt.

Hi, I am in 10mg of ramapril to try and get my blood pressure under control. I just think I was expecting to feel the same again when she said I could go back on the HRT but I don't and the GP told me the stick on patches of estrogen are exactly the same as the everol sequi, so the only conclusion I come to is that instead of just using the ugesteron for 2 weeks in patch form i'm npw taking it everyday. Thanks for replying.

Utrogestan every day is a continuous regime, whereas your Evorel Sequi was a sequential regime. If you are still having periods, you ought to be on a sequential regime with a monthly bleed I think?

I am taking cerezette so I have not had a period tor donkeys.

Also in regards to libido, worth asking for a blood test to check testorone levels as you may need that added i to your hrt

Hi, I had no idea that I needed testosterone too. I seem to have semething wrong, just wish I knew what it was. Thanks very much for the in put.

@Flapjak

Also in regards to libido, worth asking for a blood test to check testorone levels as you may need that added i to your hrt

@Flapjak The NHS does not prescribe testo to women. Only on a private prescription from a private consultant.

Does it not, that's a shame if that is what I'm missing. Just don't think the progestron tablets are whats dissagreeing with me.

I managed to get the NHS to prescribe testosterone following a letter from the Newson Clinic.

I got testosterone from my GP by asking. It's meant for men but you take a smaller amount.

NHS and formulary needs to catch up with the times.

I highly recommend this Facebook group. Tonnes of info

www.facebook.com/groups/384849495215750/?ref=share

Thanks so much, I will look at the facebook page now.

Sorry but you can get testosterone prescribed without a private prescription. Although i cant day if different gp oractices might operate differently. Mine was prescibed by the practice nurse who specialises in womens health following a blood test to confirm it was needed

One other suggestion to add to the great input above- are you taking your utrogestan orally? Because you can also insert it vaginally at night (exact same tablets) and for some women the side effects may be lessened by doing this.

Also if you were to go with the Mirena it would mean you could stop the cerazette, as the mirena will cover for contraception as well as the progesterone bit of HRT; so would likely mean your overall progesterone intake is lower.

Hi, I take it orally so you may be right about trying the pessary. I'm a little bit concerned about the GP saying I should try the coil as I have had that once before and apart from the bloody agony of having it put in place I then pretty much bled every day for 6 months till I asked for it to be removed. Thanks for the advice, it is all welcomed.