My HRT belly

[YorkshireMandy]

I'm 48 and initially started HRT in May 2022. For the first 3 months I felt great but then came the random bleeding and the increasing prego style belly. I was growing and growing and by September I was huge around the middle with puffy fingers and toes. I commenced a water retention preparation which helped a little with the hands and feet but not with the belly. By the end of October 2022 I'd gone from a sz 10-12 to a 16! I felt awful as I'm only 5'3". I stopped HRT altogether and, seeing little improvement, I decided to start a diet and exercise programme in Jan 2023.

By the end of March I had seen a very small result and bought some smaller jeans but my energy was flagging. At this point I tried a half dose of my Evorel 50 patch along with the 100mg Utrogestan. After 6 weeks I returned to my 50 patch as I was feeling fairly good but still a little listless. Up to end of May/start of June I was doing okay, still exercising 5 times a week and watching my calorie intake but suddenly I began to balloon again. During July I adapted my diet further with higher protein and lower carbs along with the continued exercise. No results at all on belly and breast fat and I was looking rather square with a moon face. Last Sunday night, I ripped off my Evorel patch and ditched my utrogestan. Over the last 5 days I have been peeing like a racehorse and my belly is beginning to shrink back although typically this is mainly in the upper abdominal and waist area. The lower abdomen I will just have to wait and see but it is looking marginally smaller.

My conclusion is that the water retention and bloating that is stated as part of HRT regimes side effects is far more extreme than you might expect. Also it is stated that around 10% of women "may gain weight" on HRT. I believe I am in that 10% and have only stabilised somewhat at a sz 14 because I've really been pushing the exercise and diet regime. HRT side effects are clearly very individual and I've heard of the opposite happening for some women so good on you if that's your experience.

I won't be returning to HRT any time soon and, once the excess is gone around my middle, I'll be seeking a natural alternative but only if I need it. I'd like to hear your experiences good or bad

@YorkshireMandy The only suggestion I have for you and other women who use continuous Utrogestan or a patch, is to consider sequential regimes.

The downside is you will get a withdrawal bleed each month.

I'm many years post-meno and have used HRT for a long time.
I've not gained weight, but I have always used a sequential regime out of choice.
This is partly because I didn't feel great on continuous (tried for around a month, which isn't long, I know) but there is also possibly a slightly lower risk of breast cancer with sequential if using it long term.

A lot of women seem to think they have to change to continuous but that's not so. It's really your choice.

You might find Stacey Sims' writings on exercise and menopause interesting - lots there about the importance of managing cortisol though I'd say that's not so much about avoiding running but about avoiding exercising fasted, and shifting the balance of activity towards high intensity cardio and heavy lifting rather than endurance cardio. Her position that HRT/MHT is right for some but others may find it doesn't work for them and lifestyle and adaptogens may be more appropriate.

For the sample, I've been on HRT (mirena/gel or spray estrogen) for nearly 2 years now, no weight gain, indeed my weight has been on a gradual downwards trajectory since I started running 3 years ago (lost about 8kg). No real dietary changes and I don't track calories, though I do try to eat healthily, recently focussing on keeping my blood glucose stable by eating high quality carbs with lots of fibre and protein, and timing less healthy carbs around exercise. Symptoms (insomnia, mood, night sweats) are much better; that said, with a family history of osteoporosis, protecting my bone health is my main reason for taking HRT.

Have you gotten your thyroid and cortisol levels tested?

I have just done the same today OP as I’m wondering whether HRT is really helping me. I’ve gained over half a stone and now am classified as obese. All the weight is on my stomach and it will not go despite exercise and following a low carb diet. I am interested to see if coming off HRT could be the change I need

I’m in the same boat. And I know it’s mainly fluid retention and not just fat. I’m on Sandrena, initially on 0.5, then upped it to 1 mg. I gained nearly 3 stones and it shows no sign of easing. I’m not eating more, or exercising less. I had the same symptoms in pregnancy, I feel like I swelled up. Thyroid tests show nothing untoward.

I am peri and my meno belly is growing steadily. This is quite a shock for my as I have always been naturally slim and never had a problem with my weight. I'm so conflicted about HRT, I just don't know if it would make matters worse.

It seems that HRT makes some worse and others better. My thyroid is absolutely fine and I have no other ailments apart from peri menopause.

Coming off HRT for me has been a no brainer. I am losing tummy and now thigh volume although this appears to be mainly water at the minute. I'm peeing like mad but also sleeping much better without HRT. My legs don't ache anymore and my (excuse if TMI) bowel movements are back to normal. On HRT they were "gassy" and loose some days followed by constipation on other days. I'm given to understand that the latter may be down to progesterone intolerance.

The side effects of HRT have outweighed any benefits for me personally and I've concluded that hormone treatment doesn't really help me. I gained 2 stones on the contraceptive pill years ago and now I've gained on HRT. My doctor says that this does happen to some women and it's a case of the weight or the other symptoms. Many of my symptoms were more anxiety related which I have had separate talking therapies for due to a massive mental breakdown earlier this year. Apart from the hot flashes, my other symptoms could simply have been down to MH issues. I'll see how I get on over the next few weeks but right now I'm feeling so much better and lighter so I'll stick with staying off.

Thanks so much for your input and experience ladies. I know I'm not alone x

Same here. I’m peri, not on HRT and my stomach, which was one of my best parts as I was pear shaped with a small waist and stomach no longer looks like my own. I’ve been eating less and I exercise every day (weights/ cardio/ pilates) but nothing is helping.

@YorkshireMandy not to scare you, but have you had a scan of your ovaries, and womb?
you don’t say you’ve been to have your bloods done or have had a scan.

id go to my GP and let her know what you’re experiencing. It could be that you have a fibroid, or cyst, or that you’ve developed endometriosis… or even god forbid, cancer.

for medical things, the wise ladies of mumsnet all have limits, you know?

Jesus Christ scare the shit out of us why don't you ! . Part of perimenopause is health anxiety ya know .

I have agreed with @YorkshireMandy as I have experienced the same as her. My weight gain and bloating has been because of HRT . Yorkshire Mandy has stated she has no other ailments apart from Perimenopause .

Tbh many women including myself know more about Peri/menopause and HRT than many GPs .

I didn't say they were wrong . I Just stated that health anxiety is a terrible part of peri/Menopause . I wasn't speaking for anyone else , but thanks anyway.

@ocs30 @LaJoconde @Wiccan to reassure you, I'm in regular conversation with my GP. In my early 30s I was diagnosed with ovarian cysts. A further screening later in life shows that these have diminished to the point of no concern. At any point where I have anything worrying me, such as a sudden breast discharge back in May, I see my GP and request a screening. The breast issue turned out to be mammary duct ectasia, yet another joy of peri menopause.

For a 48 year old female I'm pretty healthy. Many of my friends are already on BP tablets and statins. Not me thankfully ❤. I'm sure that staying active, watching alcohol intake and following an 80/20 rule over healthy food vs the eating out and less healthy options does help.

As for HRT, right now I'm happy enough without it. I'm still shrinking back but not as dramatically as week one. A few more weeks of consistent exercise and nutrition should hopefully undo this weight gain.

Friend and I started HRT about the same time. She put on a significant amount of weight in a short time (about 10 lbs in a few months) and had water retention, a bloated stomach and increased cellulite.

She came off HRT and got back to her normal weight quickly. She has decided it's not for her.

I have seen no significant weight gain but do get slightly bloated towards the end of the oestrogen phase of my patches and about 10 stone 5lbs. I then pee a lot on the progesterone patches for the first few days and end up at my slightly lower weight with in my normal range - 10 stone 3lbs.

I couldn't give up HRT as my symptoms involved hot flushes when talking in public (a massive part of my job) and chronic lack of sleep.

Sorry - meant to also say that prior to taking HRT I was becoming very bloated and had myself checked out for possible ovarian cancer as I knew it was a symptom.
When bloods etc all came back clear I was advised to start HRT. Less bloating on HRT in my case.

@Gingerwarthog interesting side by side comparison with you and your friend. Just goes to show that we are all different with varying needs health wise

??? I'm not sure sure why you think I need reassuring. I agree with everything you're saying .

Sorry @Wiccan . Didn't mean to include you in my response. Anyways, the weight/belly loss continues. Still mainly upper abs and waist but any win is a win right? 🙂All the blooming diet and exercise I've been doing for months and months and all along it was the HRT exacerbating the issue. My 'transformation' has definitely been more Moomin than Davina

"More moomin than Davina " 😂 that made me chuckle . It's exhausting isn't it. After working out this morning I was stood in my walk-in thinking , what shall I wear that will cover my bloated tummy ?. Never thought that would be one of my major early morning dilemmas. How life has changed 🤔.

Works great for some. Im off patches feel better in my clothes. This weight gain was annoying. Felt bloated at times. I felt too many side effects on it.. no thanks