Do I continue with HRT?

[hursty900]

Been on 2mg sandrena & utrogestran (2 tabs x 14 days) for about 4 months now. I'm 49. Still getting periods which are sporadic but prior to hrt we're v heavy. (Have adenomyosis & endometriosis to throw into the mix!) Initial symptoms mainly headaches, anxiety & insomnia. The headaches have reduced slightly, the anxiety & insomnia no change..plus I feel really heavy & bloated, have started having hot flushes & am having digestive issues around the utrogestran cycle- started taking it vaginally, which has helped a little. I'm hoping for some advice on the absence of doctors availability/ expertise - I guess my options are up the oestrogen or just stop it all all together? Has anyone any experience they can share? @JinglingSpringbells I've seen some wise words from you on this forum in the past! TIA

I hope you don’t mind but I’d like to follow your thread, I’m struggling and passed out last week from a mixture of hot flush and very heavy period, I was in an work place at the time so a tad embarrassed, I’ve not been to the DR at all yet.

I did discuss with two woman at the time who assisted and one swore to never go in HRT and the other highly recommended it!

The one who didn’t said she was on the mirena coil and her DR had said it was better than HRT?

@RoseBucket course not! Sorry to hear you've been struggling. The docs keep on about the mirena to me but I just don't fancy it.. fearful of fitting & fact once it's in it could go one way or the other.. like you have heard lots of conflicting stories. Guess we're all different!

watching with interest. I started HRT 6 months ago. Same regime as you (Sandrena/Ultogestan).

Initially it really helped with my poor sleep and anxiety, but both are back with a vengeance, along with feeling very hot at night. I also feel bloated and exhausted in the progesterone phase, worse than PMT really. Not sure what to do…

Been on the same regime for just over a year - hot flushes and sleep improved initially but been back to hardly any sleep the past couple
Of months. Plus bloating and exhaustion in Utrogestan phase. Sorry I have no answers - am watching with interest and in the vain hope that someone knows if there's anything we can try next.

Well it's good to know not everyone is experiencing a davinia-esque transformation! Maybe the patches are better?

@hursty900 You can have the option of a longer estrogen-only cycle but chat to your GP (they may not be aware of this.)

NICE prescribing guidance suggests a 3-monthly cycle for women who find the progesterone phase difficult. That means 10 weeks of only estrogen then 2 weeks of estrogen + progesterone.

You don't have to go a full 10 weeks- you could try less but more than the current 2 weeks on estrogen only.

This is more a 'tailored' regime that some consultants might suggest. The downside is you might get a heavier period.

There is a tablet form of the 3 monthly cycle - Tridestra.

There is also Femoston (tablets) where the progesterone is almost as body-identical as Utrogestan but some women find it has fewer side effects.

If you do want to try the longer cycle, run it by your GP. They may not be aware of it, or have reservations, but it is in the Nice prescribing guidance.

@JinglingSpringbells thanks so much- that's great info to have and go to docs with. Wouldnt do it without doc say so due to my gynae history.