Weight gain at first on HRT

[UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme]

I started hrt in tablet form 3 weeks ago - 14 days oestrogen, 14 days progesterone.

I lost a lot of weight last year and was at the top of my healthy BMI when I started taking it and already watching my food intake and walking 5 km minimum per day.

Since starting the hrt tablets I've put on 3kg - in 3 weeks!

Because I was already being careful about diet and exercise I know I haven't changed what I eat or do.

Apparently weight gain isn't a side effect of HRT...

But can it be? Could it be water retention which is listed as a side effect?

I've gone down to one meal per day for the last few days (previously two meals and occasional fruit between meals which I was content to do forever, but one meal and absolutely no other food isn't sustainable for me) but it isn't helping as far as I can tell so far - I'm desperate not to regain the weight I'd be been successfully keeping off for the last five months

Anyone got similar experience and advice?

I'm meant to try these tablets for 3 weeks then go back. I am sleeping better already - night sweats much reduced - but the weight gain isn't a price I want to pay.

• I'm meant to try them for 3 months obviously, sorry - not 3 weeks, thats how long I've taken them so far!

What sort of hrt are you using?

If you were using gel/ patch and Utrogestan, the progesterone part is just 12 days per cycle (it's sometimes the progesterone that causes weight gain.)

I've been on HRT for over 12 years and can say, in all honesty, that I've not put on any weight at all with it. But everyone is different.

If you are using tablet form, I'd say maybe swap to gel/ patches (ideally gel as you can adjust the dose yourself and just use the minimum to get relief from symptoms.)

As a by the way, the advice from meno experts is to not use tablets and use transdermal as it's safer.

Its called femoston - Estradiol+ Estradiol/ Dydrogesteron, definitely 14 of each tablet to be taken without a break.

I actually think the prescription is for too high a dose as its 2/10 mg and a 1/10 mg exists - the packet leaflet says that patients are started on the lower dose but this isn't the case.

I wasn't expecting to be given HRT so easily and expected to have to argue so didn't think of questioning the form.

I've actually noticed a return of numbness in the toes on one foot which I used to have when very overweight but haven't had in over a year. I'm going to have to go back aren't I?

So annoying, as if women our age don't have enough to do without being prescribed what appears to be the wrong dosage/ type of medication to start with and having to wipe out another block of time with an unnecessary appointment...

I would like to try patches and gels but I’m post menopause age 58 .. I’m on tablets but doc not offered me alternative and I havnt asked as yet as there was a shortage just before covid kicked off 2 years ago … is it because I don’t have periods ?
Good luck with all your HRT !

I had terrible water retention for the first couple of months of HRT (patches) , huge sore breasts, even my thighs felt swollen. I didn't weigh myself, but I must have increased in weight. I started taking Evening Primrose and it has settled down. Although now I am putting on weight because I'm constantly hungry

I've had this. I've been on estrogen patches & micronized progesterone tablets. As I started the progesterone a couple months before the estrogen, I knew the estrogen was the issue. I cut my patch and this seems to help. I've since read that either to much or to little estrogen can cause this. Hth x

Hello, I have just completed 3 months of Femoston 1/10.
Not put on weight so far. In fact, maybe lost a couple of pounds.
My sleep improved straight away and night sweats reduced.
I do get what feels like pmt towards the end of second tablets and before bleed but was getting that really badly before hrt.
Perhaps discuss your symptoms with gp though.
Hope it all settles...

Thanks everyone! I think the dose might be too high. It has massively improved my sleep and nighttime hot flushes (which were connected) but at a cost...

I'm not in the UK and the prescription is from a gynecologist, who I'd have hoped would have known to start me on 1/10 not 2/10... I really wonder whether it was a mistake or there was a reason.

I will phone this week and go back next week hopefully - I was intending to see the three months trial out as the gynecologist recommended but I think its probably better to get it sorted sooner if only by getting swapped onto 1/10 mg.

I'd rather patches though I think. I am wondering why tablets were the first thing offered.

I'm somewhat glad others have had somewhat similar experiences as I was reading the that there's no link but the HRT literally the only thing thats changed and having lost weight and being really focused on maintaining I really am sure my eating hasn't changed yet my weight started going up by really quite a lot in such a short time...

Hi,
I’m on my first month of 50mg Estradot patches & 100mg Progesterone that I take every night. Not sure what I have been prescribed them constantly as still have periods so a bit worried. So my weight is starting to stress me out, I’ve put on 6 pounds in 4 weeks, the HRT is making me feel better but the weight gain is making me miserable. I’m not sure whether to continue and see if it settles.
Also I’ve read that you don’t have a bleed with constant progesterone, I feel like I have PMT bloat this week and my period is due so will I stay like this if my period doesn’t come?
I’m 46 and peri-menopausal.
Did anyone have weight gain settle after 3 months?

Hi ladies I had this experience at first.Oestrogel and utrogestan.
I felt bloated and puffy.
Now a couple of yrs on I've just lost a stone.
The initial bloating stopped and the her gave me enough energy to start running and do weights at home.
Hope this helps.
Oh and I gave up drinking.

*hrt not her

Hi
That’s so good to hear. Can I ask how long it took for the bloating and puffiness to subside? I’m so uncomfortable and self conscious that I don’t know whether to continue. X

I'm feeling like this.
It's when I take the progesterone..
It's making me wonder about stopping tbh.

Tbh I can't remember.I know my tummy was bloated and rings on my fingers were tight.
In my case definitely worth persisting as I had many symptoms.
I think it takes 3 months to get adjusted as I was dizzy too.

I stopped 2 days ago but now I feel awful in myself. I would persevere if I were you. X