HRT and emotions

[Cookay]

I had a long time with no oestorgen and was flat, asexual and anxious. I'm now on Evorel 50 (started on 25 at first ) patches and utrogestan 100. I'm 62. My body feels so much better and my anxiety has gone and I feel like a woman and not asexual now, which is great. I feel about 22. But my emotions are like I was when I was 22 - all over the place. Great highs and lows. Gutted when I don't get many 'likes' on fb! Crushes and infatuations. Real teenage stuff. Is this normal?

I don't know about normal but I felt exactly the same! I have stopped using hrt for now and intend looking into it a bit more. I just couldn't stand the emotions. Having given up alcohol a few months ago, I had started to feel quite calm and grown up and then after a few days on patches, I was like I was when I was younger. Irrational and emotions all over the place. I'd be interested to know how you get on though as I'm a bit worried about starting again.

Thank you for writing this! I'm exactly the same - I even just started my own thread about it.

I had a hysterectomy (everything out) and felt really good mentally/emotionally afterwards - calm, controlled, rational. But I had brain fog, exhaustion and my hair fell out, so they put me on oestrogel. I am exactly like you describe - SO EMOTIONAL.

I know Menopace is great for controlling the "rage", but I don't know what helps the passion! I can't cope. I'm either in tears, or shouting, or feeling madly in love. It's non stop.

Thank you for the thread. I feel the same, I went a long time with low Oestrogen about 8 years, started HRT about a year ago. I am 45 now, and am just crying all the time. It is so embarassing at work. I am thinking of stopping it, but then again it solved the hot flushes, sweating, some of the anxiety and both my parents have osteoporosis. Not sure what to do. I completely relate to feeling like I am a younger emotionally. I cut down the alcohol too before I started hrt so was a lot calmer.

Could you possibly have too much estrogen? Do you take testosterone also?

@WahineToa if that was for me. Exactly what I have been thinking. I take Utrogestan 100, Evorel 100 & Oestrogen pessaries.

That’s a lot of estrogen? Have you tested recently? Did you just NC?

Hi @WahineToa Yes I did NC, sorry for the confusion! Good spotting! It is loads of Oestrogen isn't it?

I was having bloods every 3 months, low, so the endo kept increasing. I started bleeding quite a lot, sort of like monthly periods, but a bit more.

Most recently she has said it is fine, no need for Oestrogen bloods just Thyroid as I am decreasing Levothyroxine. Do you think it is too much?

What would I do to decrease it? Ask the GP for bloods or cut the patch so it is less. It is awful, I am so emotional it is embarassing. She is sending a blood card, but I think just for Thyroid. I did ask about Oestrogen, but she thought it was OK. I could ask the GP to check it?

If your estrogen is high on such a high dosage then you’re not absorbing. It also sounds like you really need testosterone, if on Levo then that increases your SHBG which lowers the available testosterone you have. It’s a problem those of us with hypothyroidism unfortunately have, my specialist informed me and testosterone made a huge difference to me. I think you should ask to see someone at a menopause clinic, your GP can and should refer you.

It also sounds like you really need testosterone,

Does testosterone have a calming effect, in the face of oestrogen?

I experimented by applying my HRT at night, instead of during the day. I couldn't sleep for hours, and have woken up quite anxious!

I've got a full blood test today. I'm hoping they find something easy to fix, and fix it!

Are there any natural supplements that might help these emotions? I've tried St John's Wort before and it was quite good. I might go to the health shop on my way home and ask for recommendations.

I thought you still had libido issues but I see that’s resolved? Testosterone primarily is important for sexual function, brain function, energy and muscle and bone strength. It’s balanced my moods IMO too. Doctors seem to think it’s all about estrogen.

Libido is better on oestrogen, definitely. But I'm still an emotional wreck! I could cry at the drop of a hat.

Thanks for all your replies. Glad to hear I'm not the only one! I've been reminded that it takes at least 3 months to get used to a new dose of oestrogen so I will wait that amount before doing anything. It was the endocrinologist who said I still had low oestrogen on 25, and so I'm not keen on reducing it back from 50 to 25. I also wondered about low testosterone but thought increasing it make it worse (ie more emotional and intense).

Also my progesterone was not increased when the oestrogen was, the pharmacist at the GP said that wasn't necessary. Does that sound right?

I had results of a blood test and my testosterone is really, really low, the GP won't prescribe testosterone, though, as I'm within the "normal range" - albeit on the very very bottom of normal?

I'm seriously considering buying Androfemme online. It's a women's testosterone cream, made on Australia but you can buy it online from a pharmacy. But it's £129 for 3 months' worth!

Can you just get it online? I can get it prescribed from my private doctor for £100 plus prescription fee. Which is a rip off. The stuff the NHS prescribe is much cheaper. Is it your total testosterone or your free testosterone being looked at? FAI- free androgen index is also what’s it called. That’s the important reading. That should be between 2-5%.

My FAI is 0.4%

That’s so low.

Is it? Is that why I'm so flat, yet tearful? I honestly feel SO weird, inside my head.

No, not weird. But tearful, with zero motivation to do anything. Totally overwhelmed by life!

What is the normal range?
Just had mine tested.

You want the actual free testosterone, called the free androgen index, which takes into account your SHBG levels. Mine are high because I take thyroid medication so that reduces my available testosterone and my FAI was only 1.4%. Even on testosterone it’s only 1.9%. The aim for women is to have a FAI of 2-5%. So always make sure you get total testosterone, SHBG & FAI is determined using those two but is usually worked out for you.

@DoingJustFine could you have either too low or too high oestrogen? Weepiness could be estrogen related.

Just to let you know that once the three month settling in period (with my new dose of HRT) had past I am significantly calmer and less emotional. I made patches last an extra day a couple of times to try and reduce the dose a little. I also got to know my 'crush' a bit and was less infatuated after that! Phew! I didn't make a fool of myself!

Thats good then. What dose are you on now @Cookay ?

@FayeGovan
Evorel 50 patches and utrogestan 100. (Patches had been 25 initially). I am still somewhat emotional but not nearly as bad as I had been!