Where to start looking at HRT?

[Libre2]

So, following your advice on my other thread about whether I should go private, I made another appointment with another GP at our practice. It was a very nice male, older doctor who said I should have blood tests for iron and thyroid but that there would be no hormone tests as they wouldn't have a bearing on whether I should start HRT or not.

He has told me to go to the blood tests and to do some research on HRT and what I think would suit me before I go back and see him in 10 days. He said look at the NHS website but I thought here would probably be as good as place as any. I know literally nothing about HRT.

For reference I am having psych symptoms, not really phyiscal, am 50, relatively fit. What should I be looking at? What you would recommend? What would you
recommend avoiding?

Thank you

It really depends on what suits you.

sorry lovely, if you have a womb, you would need progesterone as well as oestrogen. I have the Mirena which also acts as a contraceptive. However, this doesn't suit some people. I started off on Evorel patches but then the glue started irritating me.

I highly recommend, if you're on facebook, joining Davina's group 'Menopausing and me' - I can't always digest or remember a lot of information but the group is really friendly.

Thank you, I will have a look at that.

I replied on your other thread with the NICE guidelines and the advice that you will probably be offered/choose to use transdermal HRT these days.

There is a wealth of information on this board, and on the menopause matters website. But as long as you don't have complicating factors, and it sounds as though you don't, it's not that complex.

If you know nothing then why not start with the NHS site? I've just had a quick look at it looks really good.

I delayed starting for ages and totally over-researched and over-thought it. I regret that now. Plus there has been further research since and transdermal HRT (patches or oestrogel plus a form of progesterone) is a pretty straightforward choice to start on.

Thanks @auntyElle yeah, I feel that's likely to be what I do - overresearch and delay. I will have a look at the NHS website and go from there.

www.menopausematters.co.uk is a really good website.

Hi @Libre2 have a think if you would prefer gel, spray or patches as transdermal is meant to be best.
have a look at https://www.balance-menopause.com/

@Libre2 there is a lot to think about.

Basically if you have a womb you will need progesterone and oestrogen. If you don't have a womb any more you just have the oestrogen.

Tablets for HRT have fallen out of general use as they have a slightly higher risk than other methods. Most women use either a patch, and these can be either just oestrogen or both hormones depending on what you need, OR gel. The gel is just oestrogen and you then take the other hormone in tablet form. There is also a spray oestrogen.

No one is "better" than any other method. It's really working out what suits you. I do really well on the patches but the gel doesn't suit me at all. It's great that you have a GP who is switched on and giving you correct information!!

Have a think about what you'd prefer to try first. Patches are changed twice a week but you will have wee stickers permanently on your bum. Gel is rubbed in daily but you will have to build applying it into your routine and you can't go swimming etc immediately after. I know plenty of women using both methods and happy.

Thanks to everyone for your advice and signposting. I am seeing the GP today at 1115 so hopefully it is a helpful 5 minutes!

Fingers crossed for you

Good luck, I use oestrogen only patches and separate progesterone ( utrogestan ) for 12 days every month as peri, easier to titrate if separate as combined patches only come in one strength x

I know literally nothing about HRT.

Did you not read your previous thread, with 72 replies, 45+ mentions of HRT, started 6 days earlier than this thread, and with many links in it that you could click on to learn more?

Is OP saying psych symptoms prevent them from reading & understanding that thread fully.

That's unfair, @lljkk. The other thread is much more general asking about menopause in general HRT in general. This is more specific - what KIND of HRT would suit her.

You might want to revisit your own HRT choices if this is your reaction to someone asking for help.

Thank you for starting this thread op. I'm the same as you so following with interest...and yes psych issues do actually prevent me from trawling lots of old threads 😬 thanks to those sharing specific info.

Can I hijack by also asking WHEN to start? I'm well into peri, periods have become unpredictable but no awful symptoms. If I'm being honest I'm largely motivated by vanity. I've missed out on a lot of life for one reason or another, in many ways I'm just starting out and want to stay looking and feeling as youthful as possible. Should I start now or wait until I'm suffering in some way?

So I saw the GP who prescribed Evorel Sequi - there was really no discussion about what type, just whether I wanted patches or tablets. He was kind but seemed pretty clueless to be honest. I have opted for patches. I guess I will give it a go for 3 months and see what happens. If it doesn't work, or makes things worse then I will go and see a specialist I think. Many thanks to all of you for the helpful advice - much appreciated.

@lljkk - apologies, yes I missed quite a few of the replies on the other thread but that was more about whether I should go private than about the actual choice of HRT.