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Menopause

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Original poster

HRT and weight gain (or not)

26 replies

MarshaBradyo · 07/05/2022 20:16

I’m not feeling too bad at 47 re peri symptoms (a couple that could be helped), and still have periods.

I feel very undecided re HRT.

Has it affected your weight - either up or down, or neutral?

OP posts:
Original poster
MarshaBradyo · 08/05/2022 12:44

Wish I’d put did you gain weight on HRT ? as title now

bump ;

OP posts:
hanahsaunt · 08/05/2022 12:48

I have a Mirena coil and oestrogen patches. Weight hasn't changed since starting 18mo ago.

DinkyDaisy · 08/05/2022 12:50

My weight same/ slightly down.

GallstoneGlory · 08/05/2022 17:55

No. I monitor my weight and calories carefully and have done for years ever since I was obese and worked down to a healthy weight, which I intend to maintain. Going on HRT has not affected my weight or the amount of calories I can consume relative to my exercise habits. My weight has fluctuated more (water retention) as the hormones fluctuate and we adjust the HRT dose to compensate, but in the long term HRT has not had a noticeable effect. I've been on it a couple of years.

RosieSun · 08/05/2022 20:51

I have not gained weight on HRT. On it 5 months. I’ve actually lost weight as I’ve been trying to live a healthier life. I feel a bit better and definitely more up for taking exercise since I started it. HRT has massively improved the muscle/joint & back pain I had.

I had gained about 20lbs a couple of years prior to starting HRT though. My metabolic rate is definitely lower than in my thirties but I’ve finally learned I need to eat less and move more instead of feeling hard done by with it!

WarriorNewAgain · 09/05/2022 07:33

No I started losing it again.

I've never had an issue with weight till peri. I started to find it v hard to loose some extra pounds around my waist. It took 2-3 months but it helped with cravings and energy so I've noticed it's started to reduce again.

I'm still recovering from covid (that both brought back peri symptoms and made me put on weight again) so not full on exercising yet but I can feel the fat redistributing again.

Original poster
MarshaBradyo · 09/05/2022 07:34

This is encouraging thanks

couold be the tipping factor

A few symptoms but not too bad

OP posts:
WarriorNewAgain · 09/05/2022 07:35

Simply sleeping better helps insulin levels as does being able to go longer without eating.

It's not an overnight thing and the starting dose may not be right for you, so this can be a journey of 6 mo to a year or more.

WarriorNewAgain · 09/05/2022 07:38

I posted similar I think not so long ago but I think it was post covid weight gain. I think I may have bloated a bit when I first started.

What are your symptoms? I wouldn't wait as in my experience it started getting bad suddenly after mild symptoms for a couple of years. Still had relatively regular periods.

WhereAreWeNow · 09/05/2022 19:19

I don't think so. I don't weigh myself so I can't say for sure but I don't think I've put on any weight since starting on coil and patches about 6 months ago. If anything I might be a bit slimmer.

Newgirls · 09/05/2022 19:22

for me it was related to sleep. Poor sleep = eat loads of carbs and sugar

so when I started hrt I slept better and have managed to stop the the extra eating. I still crave dark chocolate just before periods though!

palmplantcirca1980s · 09/05/2022 19:36

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

WarriorNewAgain · 10/05/2022 07:24

I eat 70-90% dark chocolate as Lisa mosconi (one if the drs on Davina) says is v good for the menopausal brain!

Stress eating too - hrt definitely made me less stressed though I don't think I'm
On the right level yet.

hamstersarse · 10/05/2022 07:28

I did put on weight with HRT.

I think it was because I was prescribed 4 pumps of oestrogen gel….it was way too much

crosbystillsandmash · 10/05/2022 07:29

It's the reason I'm avoiding it (ridiculous I know!!) I'm very petite and just the slightest weight gain makes me look & feel awful.
I will be following this thread....

WarriorNewAgain · 10/05/2022 07:40

Crosby I felt the same but to me as we age it's bones and strength that matters most

WarriorNewAgain · 10/05/2022 07:42

@hamstersarse how did you know it was too much? Did they test? I'm wondering what the symptoms are.

I'm awaiting a test to see if my oestrogen isn't too low but I worry that if it's ok I won't be able to go up. But I'm on 50 patches with periods so there must be some of my own (though periods are even dwindling on that level.)

hamstersarse · 10/05/2022 09:35

@WarriorNewAgain

I was getting classic oestrogen dominance symptoms www.thehollandclinic.com/blog/estrogen-dominance

Swelled breasts and weight gain.

TBH I've lost a bit of faith in HRT. I get it, but what I don't like is that there is not sufficient testing to understand your own personal imbalance, it is all complete guesswork. In the US you can get much better testing to understand your profile.

I went through Louise Newson's clinic and even they just guess at your dose.

It's annoying because I know I have peri-men symptoms and would like to balance them, but the doses I was taking just weren't right (I was 4 x pumps Estrogen, 1 tablet progesterone and 1 blob of testosterone)

WarriorNewAgain · 10/05/2022 09:37

Ah ok I see, thanks. As my breasts haven't swelled since the very first patch 6 months ago I feel I'm not there yet.

You may like seed cycling. I do think it had an impact but I could t keep up with it as young family. And I definitely needed hrt on top.

hamstersarse · 10/05/2022 09:37

@WarriorNewAgain

I should add that I am really into health and fitness - I do 'all the stuff' so I do notice changes in my body a lot - and when I say weight gain, I am only talking about 1/2 stone.

I am currently investigating Dr Mindy Pelz's menopause reset programme which is essentially a nutrition based response. I am already well down the rabbit hole of nutrition so absolutely know it is connected to your hormonal responses (and weight)

Original poster
MarshaBradyo · 10/05/2022 09:39

really interesting to hear more

I do low carb so avoid stress eating, sleep is still good too so not a symptom (yet)

I had a recent late 40s general check up and weight plus blood pressure were good

I tried the pill for a month when younger and hated that feeling, might be different.

Then I read posts regarding long term benefits and do have two symptoms, really stuck on decision

OP posts:
JinglingHellsBells · 10/05/2022 09:40

@MarshaBradyo No weight gain. 14 years on HRT (gel and utrogestan mainly) and still the same weight I've been all my life, give or take a couple of pounds round my tummy. BMI 19. short in height.

It's more about the food you eat and how much you keep moving. I'm a lot less active now than in my 20--40s when I was working, moving around big buildings over a day, running around after toddlers and so on. I do a lot of exercise but it's not the same as being on the move all day.

JinglingHellsBells · 10/05/2022 09:41

Oh and your most recent post. The Pill and HRT are not comparable.
One is synthetic hormones, the other is replacement of your own. (HRT)
People often think they are the same and they just aren't.

WarriorNewAgain · 10/05/2022 09:42

Anyone interested in diet research might also like to look at what Lisa Mosconi's research has been around re diet and brain and then diet and the xx brain.

Abra1d1 · 10/05/2022 09:44

I'm on oestrogel and a Mirena and I don't think it's made much difference. There can sometimes be a bit of water retention with the Mirena and I have to be more careful about eating plenty of fibre etc to keep things moving.

I have more energy for intense exercise, definitely, on HRT.