Do I need body identical hormones for my HRT or doesn't it matter?

[QuebecBagnet]

Just been prescribed HRT for the first time and it's a patch which the GP said isn't body identical but synthetic but very close. She offered me body identical but I'd need a spray and then progesterone tablets and she started talking about how on day 28 of my cycle I'd need to do something different, etc and it all sounded a bit complicated.

I'm disorganised and the chances of me remembering to take two things every day, but then on some days I don't seemed too much. But now I'm worried if I've been daft turning down the better stuff.

What she ought to have said is that in patches, the estrogen is body identical, but the progestin is not. The only body identical progestin is micronised progesterone (Utrogestan.) This means you would need 2 products 1) estrogen as a patch, gel or spray and 2) tablet form Utrogestan.

1000s of women use that combination and it's not really complicated. Yes, you do need to remember to follow a cycle of 12 days of tablets per month.

It's your choice, really. The only advantage of body-identical is that if you stay on HRT long term (over 5 years) there may be less risk of breast cancer.

I started hrt 3 mths ago and was offered patches but wanted the daily estrogen gel as easier to remember daily as patches are twice a week and may not stay on. Then on day 14 take progesterone for 14 nights then 14 nights off and keep up that cycle, just put dates on my phone and always remember. My brain fog is gone already and my mood has lifted so much already and only on 3rd mth. Wish had started years ago. Good luck with yours and if you want to change to the gel just ring your doctor and they can fax pharmacy over new prescription.