Weight gain on HRT

[LewisStewart]

I started on 2 pumps of oestrogel and continuous progesterone on April 1. I have put on over 1/2 stone in one month and my breasts have increased in size and are constantly sore. Has anyone experienced this. Nothing else has changed in the month to explain the weight gain as my weight has been relatively constant during menopause. Does the weight gain and breast size increase as I am currently feeling very uncomfortable and my clothes are very tight and my bras don’t fit with the extra growth.

Yep

I was taking estrogen spray continuously and progesterone ten days each cycle.

put on half a stone and could not shift it.
ive come off it now and the weight is starting to come off.

I take citalopram for anxiety, works fine.

My GP told me to halve the dose if using it vaginally 😱

I agree with this too. When I was on patches I put on a lot of weight. Now I take the gel and Utrogestan I have actually lost a bit of weight. I think it’s finding what’s suits you that is the answer.

I had a full hysterectomy at the end of last year in my early forties and have put on nearly two stone. 😭 I am on Evorel 100 patches and Utrogestan. My joints hurt, I'm exhausted all the time, AND I'm now fat. What is the max dose- does anyone know? I'm wondering if I need a higher dose?

I gained weight during peri menopause due to the drop in hormones. I couldn't shift it. Replacing my hormones with HRT enabled me to lose that weight.

He's wrong @FatGirlSwim If you do a search on MN for topics, or Google for BMS statement on progesterone/HRT you will find the document. Think it was published jan 2022.

@Nightynightnight Why are you using Utrogestan if you had a hysterectomy? It's only for women with a womb (unless you had endo and they didn't remove it all.)

Who prescribed it for you? If it's your GP it's a pretty shocking error.

I had endo. They believe they removed it all but to account for any left in any sneaky places they want me to take it until I'm 50.

And it was my prescribed by my consultant at the hospital immediately after the op.

That's fine. Obviously I didn't know about your endo from your first post.

Had a meeting with the nurse at my GP surgery today and I'm on the highest recommended dose of everything. They've taken bloods and will send the results to the specialist team at the local clinic who can apparently email back a plan. Possibly moving to gel or tablet. I'm ok with gel but want to avoid the pill. 😫

No of course. I totally appreciate your concern. I think I've been lucky so far with fairly knowledgeable medical professionals but it is clear that others aren't so lucky so you're right to check. 👍🏻

If they feel the dose is too high why don't they simply offer a lower patch- 50 or 75mcgs?

The type of estrogen in gel is the same. And in most tablets.

They don't think the dose is too high. They just can't give me anything higher. I'm still experience low mood, joint pain and all over body aches, insomnia, exhaustion and have put on so much weight, even though I'm on the highest dose.

She said in her experience, although anecdotal , women absorb the gel better than when using a patch. She did say it was a complete faff though. Shes also testing iron and thyroid to see what they are like just in case.

Came off HRT due to the weight gain and everything went back to normal and maybe I lost weight as I went back to doing my yoga most days but …….. I am now seriously struggling with hot flushes and in particular brain fog and I’m struggling with that. I hated the weight gain and breast engorgement but I think I may have to try with the HRT again to function. Any tips. Would starting on 1 dose of oestrogel make a difference in the weight gain? Or it’s just my body’s reaction. Has anyone had weight gain/swollen breasts from HRT that settled after a period?