Sore boobs on oestrogel

[MercianQueen]

Hi all - thread title says it all.

I'm 46, thought I was perimenopausal due to brain fog, lack of motivation etc. Dr thought I was too young, but blood tests put me firmly into definite full-on menopause territory (been o the coil for 8 years so no periods for years anyway).

I'm on Oestrogel - one pump each leg a day, and Utrogestan every day, no break. Impact was a immediate on mood, motivation, sleep and a little glimmer of hope on the sex drive front.

However, coming up to 2 months, I'm finding a) I have super-sore boobs - finally have the motivation back to run but IT HURTS!!! b) strange joint pain in my hips and c) although I'm sleeping better than I have for years, I also really, really need an afternoon nap.

It takes weeks to get seen by my medical practice. But I suspect my oestrogen dose is too high. I'm nervous to play with it due to the progesterone balance, so rather than cut the oestrogel dose down, I did a one day on, one day off trial this week. Sure enough, boob and joint pain vanished, but I still had the benefits of motivation etc etc.

So, is this a recognised thing? Would it be ok to alternate days until I finally get in to see my doctor some time in 2025? Or am I imagining it?

I’m assuming it’s not a mirena coil that you’ve got ?

It is the Mirena, but it's ancient and the progesterone is no longer active. Hence the Utrogestan. I'm waiting on a separate appointment to remove the coil, which is a whole other story!!!

OMG my sore and heavy boobs since starting HRT. I know. On month 5 now and taking matters into my own hands as the GP just says to ride it out. I originally put it down to the progesterone part (Urtogesan makes me super tired all the time too) because I'm still on cyclical HRT and when I stop the progesterone part and bleed, lose 2 kg in water weight and the breasts carry half of that! I also cut down the oestrogen to 1/2 - 3/4 of the normal dose as I have read that It's hard to know which part is causing it and plan to only take a half dose of progesterone (via patch) later this month. So far it's much better - I think I am just sensitive to both tbh. However, you say that you have a coil and no periods, is this a Mirena? If so, that IS the progesterone part of your HRT and you shouldn't need the Utrogestran. I would not worry about a bit of tinkering around for a few months until you can see someone. It takes longer than that for any serious endometrial lining issues - and that's due to too much oestrogen, not too little. Good luck!

Yes, I think I will do a little tinkering and maybe halve the Oestrogel. My Mirena went in in 2016 so no progesterone's active anymore, hence the Utrogestan. But I definitely felt a difference when I missed a day, without losing the other, more positive effects

Hi, I started Oestrogel a few days ago due to awful low mood and anxiety. My dose is 2 pumps. I am absolutely zonked out for most of the day. I can talk and converse but I'm half asleep. I get moments of clarity but get knackered again. I suppose it's better than feeling all knotted up and anxious but wonder anyone else has had this? Should I reduce the dose or does it get better?

I had this with the gel - extremely painful, swollen, sore and lumpy breasts. They were too painful to run. I switched back to patches and my breasts returned to normal.

My menopause doctor told me that you know when you are taking too much if your nipples/boobs are sore.