Break from HRT?

[HoHoHoliday]

Background: had a lot of perimenopause symptoms for a couple of years and really had to badger GP over multiple appointments to give me a prescription for some HRT.
In April I started two pumps of oestrogel every day, and two utrogesten tablets each day for 14 out of 28 days. For approx the first month this was life changing, I felt so well, like a totally new person.
After a month and ever since, I feel dreadful. Much the same symptoms as I had before, and I just feel "wrong" in a way I can't describe.
GP continues to be useless about what I could do with this. I'm moving house later this year and thought I'd be able to try a different doctor with hopefully a more helpful approach then.
If I just stop both gel and tablets for a while will there be any side effect or damage? I'm not opposed to HRT, but if it's not actually doing anything I don't see the point.

It might be worth trying patches or spray maybe your not absorbing the gel. I know women have noticed. A difference with different types of bottles maybe it is that ? X

I was quite like you. Advised to increase Gel, felt worse. I just stopped after 18mnths on hrt. I wasnt benefiting from it, or so i thought. Now 3 months on every bone, joint and muscle hurts, yet i have more energy than i did on hrt, so i have to choose between the both. Think im going to ride it out off hrt, started collagen & glucosamine for aches and hoping for the best. I have had a virus in this short space to so may be that hasnt helped 🤷🏻‍♀️

Unfortunately, GPs have been provided with a dosage guide which isn't completely accurate.

The Patient Leaflet for Utrogestan says 12 days (not 14.)
The 14 days is supposed to 'help' women remember the 'complexity' of 12 days and do it for 2 weeks instead.

It's also more common to use 12 days per calendar month, which means 12 days in 30/31 days.

This means you have less of it, and you may feel better.

There is also the option of a 3-month cycle on it, which means 14 days every 12 weeks.

I've left a thread for this some while back which is further down the page.