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Menopause

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Original poster

Weight gain HRT

28 replies

hagathachristie · 06/09/2022 23:26

I know the official line is this doesn't happen.

But I have gained over a stone now and I'm really unhappy with it.

I'm taking tablets , but still getting fatigue , brain fog , night sweats . And on top of this I've gained weight- from 9st 12 to 11 st 3 ! None of my clothes fit . I feel frumpy.
Nothing has changed diet wise .
Would you discontinue or keep going ?

OP posts:
StellaGibson2022 · 06/09/2022 23:30

I’m in the same boat so watching with interest

(I’m also now tracking calories, and doing exercise everyday - this is hard for me but feeling very demotivated about it all)

i have a Mirena coil and estrogel - my bloating went but has come back which isn’t helping although my brain fog seems to have lifted. My horrendous periods are under control which I am happy with but the weight gain is awful and getting me down - sorry to derail but you aren’t alone!

Original poster
hagathachristie · 06/09/2022 23:35

Thank you !

I'm wondering if the benefits are worth it

My horrendous periods are still horrendous.

Sleepi with a fan on every night .

Memory and brain mush .

OP posts:
GetOffTheTableMabel · 15/09/2022 10:48

It’s possible you need a bigger dose of oestrogen. All the symptoms you describe are menopausal symptoms not HRT side effects. Some people need quite large doses to feel the positive effects. I experienced weight gain until my dose was increased when it stopped and my appetite went back to normal and my aches and pains and insomnia went away so I could exercise again.

StellaGibson2022 · 15/09/2022 10:56

GetOffTheTableMabel · 15/09/2022 10:48

It’s possible you need a bigger dose of oestrogen. All the symptoms you describe are menopausal symptoms not HRT side effects. Some people need quite large doses to feel the positive effects. I experienced weight gain until my dose was increased when it stopped and my appetite went back to normal and my aches and pains and insomnia went away so I could exercise again.

What is your dosage - hope you don’t mind me asking!

stillvicarinatutu · 17/09/2022 04:08

Hey thanks

I'm taking ellest duo

16 tablets of estradol
12 tablets of 2 mg estradol 1mg horethisterone acetate .

stillvicarinatutu · 17/09/2022 04:09

Estradol 2 mg I meant first then the other one !

FredrikaPeri · 17/09/2022 09:15

GetOffTheTableMabel · 15/09/2022 10:48

It’s possible you need a bigger dose of oestrogen. All the symptoms you describe are menopausal symptoms not HRT side effects. Some people need quite large doses to feel the positive effects. I experienced weight gain until my dose was increased when it stopped and my appetite went back to normal and my aches and pains and insomnia went away so I could exercise again.

What dose are you on?

lljkk · 17/09/2022 09:19

There's a long thread somewhere on MN, people saying they gained weight while on HRT. All sorts of doses, no obvious solution. Has your current HRT improved any symptoms for you ,OP?

Flamingmentalcats · 17/09/2022 10:10

I was just saying to my husband this morning I have put more weight on. I have put half a stone on since starting HRT and still have the aches, brain fog, forgetfulness and sweats when my patch changes. I am only on it as I am only 48 so want to protect my heart and bones. It sucks

StellaGibson2022 · 17/09/2022 23:15

@GetOffTheTableMabel

Please come back and share your dose - your post is giving me hope!!

Stressybetty · 17/09/2022 23:32

I don't think I've put on weight with it but boobs have gone up from 32HH and now fluctuate between 36HH and 34J

NEWarONwomen · 18/09/2022 06:05

Oral oestrogen can affect thyroid levels if you're likely to have that issue so it's worth asking to have that checked. Transdermal doesn't so perhaps ask if you could try that?

itsnotdeep · 18/09/2022 06:08

I had the same experience (not quite a stone) - couldn't shift it at all - I tried from Jan-March. My boobs, bum and thighs were all bigger. I did stop HRT and lost the weight really quickly, within a couple of weeks.

I don't actually have any menopause symptoms though apart from insomnia so I can deal with that at the moment and am still having regular periods. When I need to I'll go back and try to work out how I can take HRT and not put on weight (I also had horrendous symptoms with the progesterone, so might wait until I don't need that anymore - when my periods stop).

WarriorN · 18/09/2022 06:14

You can take progesterone vaginally which can help with the symptoms. I do this.

itsnotdeep · 18/09/2022 06:43

I did, they were still awful!

WarriorN · 18/09/2022 07:00

Oh no! You must be v prog sensitive, I'm sorry

EBTR · 18/12/2022 18:05

I put on 5" round my bust measurement and 5" round my waist within three months of HRT. No noticeable improvements in anything else. Felt like monster. Came off and have reduced

belowfrozen · 19/12/2022 23:46

HRT for two months. I'd say weight has gone up 2kg. I'm tiny so that's a lot

Flockameanie · 20/12/2022 20:29

I put on half a stone in 3 wks. And I felt so bloated. Couldn’t do my trousers up. It was making me miserable so I came off the HRT (after 3 months in total, by which time I’d gained more weight). Weight came off very quickly and I felt like myself again.

But the HRT wasn’t having any discernible benefits for me, so it wasn’t a hard decision to stop. I was on the gel + progesterone pill

RestingMurderousFace · 22/12/2022 13:09

I put a bit on initially, made me feel older and a bit matronly looking. Slowly increased Oestrogel to 4 pumps a day, too k the Utrogestan vaginally and I’m slimmer than I have been in years. I no longer seem to crave cake and carbs in the same gluttonous way, not sure if HRT controlled that or if I’m happier now and making better food choices.

Took a good 6+ months though.

gracijela · 18/02/2023 13:50

As we can't get a response from @GetOffTheTableMabel I wonder if anyone else has managed to lose/control weight by increasing the dosage of estrogen and reducing progesterone, or taking it not-orally?

JinglingSpringbells · 18/02/2023 16:12

gracijela · 18/02/2023 13:50

As we can't get a response from @GetOffTheTableMabel I wonder if anyone else has managed to lose/control weight by increasing the dosage of estrogen and reducing progesterone, or taking it not-orally?

The only way to reduce progesterone is to take it sequentially (12 days per cycle) rather than every day (if post menopause.)

You can also possibly work on a longer cycle, if using it sequentially.
NICE has updated their meno guidance and are saying now that even post-meno women can try 3- month cycles if they are progesterone-intolerant. (I've used a long cycle for years but with a private consultant.)

Having said that I think it's possible to underestimate the lower energy output some of us have 50+. There is no way I'm using as much energy as I was in my 20s when working and moving around a lot all day, or in my 30s when chasing toddlers. I just can't indulge in the same way now and am pretty strict with myself 80% of the time.

It's also very common to over-estimate calories used during exercise.

SybilWrites · 18/02/2023 16:21

I wonder whether the weight gain is peri menopause symptoms rather than HRT. I did try HRT and put on weight so came off it (I did have regular periods). I was fine for about 9 months and then started missing periods and put on weight again during a period free 3 months- for no discernible reason at all! I think you need to be really strict with your diet.

I wonder if weight gain when using HRT can be controlled more easily by getting the quantity of oestrogen right.

GetOffTheTableMabel · 19/02/2023 15:02

So sorry, I turned off notifications and forgot to check back. I am on a pretty substantial dose of oestrogen now and, while oestrogen levels in blood tests only provide a snapshot of that day’s level, if they’re done every few months, you can get a relevant picture. I now use 5 of the 1mg sandrena sachets per day - 2 in the morning and 3 at night and I have a Mirena coil.
My doctor refers to me as a ‘poor absorber’. I do tend to need the maximum dose of any medication for it to take effect.

Abra1t · 19/02/2023 15:10

itsnotdeep · 18/09/2022 06:08

I had the same experience (not quite a stone) - couldn't shift it at all - I tried from Jan-March. My boobs, bum and thighs were all bigger. I did stop HRT and lost the weight really quickly, within a couple of weeks.

I don't actually have any menopause symptoms though apart from insomnia so I can deal with that at the moment and am still having regular periods. When I need to I'll go back and try to work out how I can take HRT and not put on weight (I also had horrendous symptoms with the progesterone, so might wait until I don't need that anymore - when my periods stop).

You will still need progesterone when your periods stop.