How do I switch from one HRT type to another?

[Ella15]

Hi wise Mumsnetter's, I've been on Utrogestan (2 x 100 mg, 12 days a month) & Oestrogel (2 pumps daily) for 5 months. 46 & periods still regular hence the sequential regime. However I still feel rotten - brain fog but slightly wired, inflated sore boobs, on/off dizzyness, feeling of impending doom (given the news lately this might be totally normal) and the hair loss is crazy. SO disappointed because I know this combo is supposed to be the gold standard. GP has suggested switching to Femoston to try and wrote me a prescription but she was fairly rushed and I didn't ask how/when I should switch over. Do I literally just start tomorrow in week two of my cycle? Do I wean myself off the Utrogestan & Oestrogel gradually before starting Femoston? Should I switch on day 1 of new cycle? Does anyone know? Anyone have experience of switching between these particular two and can warn me of side effects to look out for? Advice super appreciated :)

The honest answer is it won't matter too much which you do. BUT if I were you. I'd wait until the bleed has started on your current cycle, and start Femoston on (roughly) Day 1 (the day the bleed starts.)

This will be the closest you will get to a pre-meno cycle.

Femoston is estrogen only for half the pack, then the progestin is added for the next 2 weeks.

You definitely don't need wean yourself off the current type as the two types (current and new) are quite similar.

Thanks so much @jinglingHellsBells (was hoping you'd spot this and advise ). Right, I'll swap over on day 1. Really hoping this one makes me feel better altough if they're so similar I should prob manage my expectations. Had such hopes for the Oestrogel/Utrogestan combo - first three months were decent but the last eight weeks not good at all.

Have you tried upping your gel to 3 or 4 pumps?

Thanks for the suggestion @ItsSnowJokes. I did try for a couple of weeks but my boobs got so swollen & sore and the rest of me felt super bloated too. Thought estrogen overload was to blame so this past week I've dialled it down to 1.5 pumps and feeling wired & dizzy. I obviously have no idea what I'm doing with this stuff or my body is just hyper reacting to these hormones

ella15 I've just found your post as I'm thinking of swapping from the coil and patches to Femoston. I had the coil fitted in Jan and want it taken out as I have felt even more crap since it was put in and I think tablets will be less hassle. How are you finding it?

Am considering a switch too. Feeling the same as you Ella.
Same age too.
Please let us know how you get on? Crossing my fingers for you 🤞🤞🤞

Hey @user50and & @HoliHormonalTigerlilly, hmm I'm really sorry not to have an update you were looking for. I put off switching, life stuff got in the way this past month and I was worried about disrupting hormones even more at that point. What I did do though is reduce Oestrogel to around 1.5 pumps per day which really seemed to reduce bloating and sore boobs. And followed some online advice to use the Utrogestan vaginally rather than orally which just weeks later feels a bit of a game changer in terms of not feeling so rotten, low in energy and out of body. Alongside this I've forced myself to the gym regularly and that may be having some impact here, I mean I hate going but the endorphins after are wonderful! Have had flat days and brain fog still these past weeks but not to the point where I'm super worried. Keeping an eye on things though and if/when life stuff feels quiet and stable I'll consider the switch. Would love that superwoman feel I've heard others on hrt talk about. Defo don't have that at the mo, it's just not horrendous. I wish you both luck if you switch but it might be worth tweaking the dosage of your existing regime ever so slightly first to see if it suits your body better. Please do post your experience on here and I'll report back too on how things go. Here's to not feeling crap!

Thanks so much for the reply and glad you're feeling a bit better. I went to see the Dr yesterday and had my coil taken out, since I had it fitted on the 7th Jan I've felt awful. I had that and patches. I asked for a prescription of Femoston which she was a little reluctant to give me and wanted me to go back to Utrogestan and patches I'd had prior to the 7th Jan. She then agreed and suggested trying Femoston for 6 weeks to see how I go. I took the first one last night, have woken up this morning feeling a little wired but was expecting that. After having the coil out yesterday I thought about just stopping HRT and having a break for a few weeks but then read you shouldn't go cold turkey so started Femoston immediately. Fingers crossed it works out for me 😊

Ooh good luck @user50and. I had considered going cold turkey for a bit too and read that you shouldn't so you've prob done the right thing getting straight on them. And the wired feeling should calm down in the coming days. Please do update on how you get on with Femoston. I did a fair bit of reading up on the different types and weighing up benefits & side effects and this was the one which seemed to come out best (next to the Oestrogel & Utrogestan combo which have been pretty underwhelming sadly). Crossing fingers you start to feel the benefits pretty soon