Just been prescribed HRT - have a few questions if anyone is able to answer

[Archieforever]

So after several years of going back and forth seeing different GPs who have all said I can’t be in peri as I have a regular cycle (this started at 45, now 50), I have today seen a lovely GP who looked at my list of symptoms and said that I most probably am in peri and has given me a prescription.

However, whilst I have educated myself on all of the symptoms of peri, I find all the info on the actual HRT a bit confusing.

My biggest fear with HRT is the potential (even if slight) risk of breast cancer. I appreciate that having a family history, being over weight, drinking and smoking all raise the risk and I don’t fall in any of those categories but as someone with very overwhelming anxiety (obviously made worse by peri) and in particular health anxiety, this is a biggie for me and not helped by a GP last year telling me not only was I not in peri as I still have a cycle but the risk of bc was real and so not worth taking hrt for (all said whilst trying to push antidepressants my way knowing full well they don’t suit me and will do little for my peri symptoms).

So upon doing my own ‘research’ I came to the conclusion that body identical hrt was probably the safest option and therefore, Utrogestan tablets and Oestrogen gel?

However, the GP today said she would like to prescribe me Evorel Sequi patches as there is less risk of blood clots with this as opposed to the tablets/gel combo.

I’ve taken the prescription form but am not sure now. I was hoping for body identical and didn’t really want synthetic progesterone. Although I have read that Utrogestan can cause digestive issues and I have had years of awful IBS which is terrible at the moment so obviously I don’t wish to exacerbate that at all.

Tbh, I’ve never taken any form of hormones my whole life so no pill, mini pill, injections etc and maybe I’m wrong to be disappointed, I don’t know, it’s just that my body has never had synthetic hormones and I thought body identical may be a more gentle way to introduce the hormones to my system?

Can anyone advise? Is there a higher risk of bc with the synthetic version or do they come with the same risk?
Are the patches a good place to start?

Oh not another badly educated GP.

There is no risk of blood clots with Utrogestan.
The blood clots occur with oral (tablet) estrogen and even then it is far far less than the risk of the Pill.

Micronised progesterone is the same as our own. It's also used in huge doses (600mgs a day) in fertility to help prevent early miscarriage.

I'd see another GP or do some searching online (try the website of Dr Louise Newson) and print off some info for your dr.

Thank you JinglingSpringbells, I’ve had such a hard time with NHS GPs and their poor advice over the last 5 years that I think I may just take the plunge and see my local Menopause specialised, she has been practising for decades and although I can’t really afford to go privately I think it will save me faffing about with these GPs who all seem to tell me something different.

I’ve not had any digestive issues on ultrogestan, I personally love it as I can finally sleep again!

I’ve recently started 25mg patch and the progesterone tablets, I was against taking any HRT as I thought my symptoms weren’t that bad, slight insomnia and the odd flash. My daughter suggested otherwise ! My moods!! So I researched and spoke to lovely Gp and have now started them. Feel so much better!! The only side effect I have is I feel dizzy after about an hour taking the progesterone which I will be going back to the GP to talk about.

I have diagnosed ibs which I’ve had since 19 - I’m now 42, and it’s very severe. I also have lots of other issues which I won’t bore you with - lupus and all sorts- but utrogestan has made absolutely zero difference to any of those.