Blood tests for hormone levels and long wait for HRT?

[abouttoturn50]

My GP has said they won't do bloods for hormone levels as I'm over 45 (I'm 49), I've found several online companies but would prefer to use one I know others have been happy with so recommendations would be very much appreciated. Or are these a waste of money when I already know I'm close to menopause? Would the GP even pay any attention to bloods done this way?

I'm progesterone intolerant and had 2 failed attempts at starting HRT (Evorel Sequi/Everol 50 + Mirena), GP won't agree to prescribe me Utrogestan to use vaginally or 3 monthly use of progesterone without the back up of gynae. She had emailed for advice but lord knows how long that will take!

She has prescribed me Vagifem 10mg for to reoccurring UTIs but I'm so fed up of the interrupted sleep, anxiety and low motivation and energy!

Lots of people can tolerate the Mirena coil. Have you tried one?

@DustyLee123 yes I have and it had to be taken out after 2 weeks of serious mental health effects.

Bump

The NICE guidelines say not to bother with hormone tests over 45. Basically if you have symptoms of peri meno around that age then you are in it. Your oestrogen has prob been dropping for a while anyway.

what about trying the gel? You do need the progesterone if you have periods but there are different formulations to try and you can try a low dose?

Why don't you just ask your GP for Utrogestan for oral use but then use it vaginally? That's what I did for months. I mentioned this to my GP at my annual HRT check and she wasn't bothered at all. She just shrugged her shoulders and said lots of women use it vaginally.

@Newgirls I'm worried about trying the gel just because the patches, the oestrogen only ones, worked so well. It just goes tits up when progesterone is added.

@sunshinechaser yes I think that's what I might do actually. I've not tried the Utrogestan in any form but I react so badly to progesterone I'm scared to take it orally 🙁

I feel really down and depressed when I take Utrogestan orally but feel a million times better when I use it vaginally.

@sunshinechaser I've seen that mentioned a few times which is why I would like to go down that route. Glad you found something that works for you, fingers crossed it works the same for me 🤞🏻 I want to feel as good as I did on the oestrogen patches again!

Why not try it (gel) and see?

Some of my G.Ps we’re fucking useless when it came to HRT, one of them, a male runs a mile when you mention it. I paid privately, I am horrendously progesterone intolerant and don’t want a period every sodding month. I now take Tridestra (believe me I’ve tried lots before this and thought I was going mad with the progesterone, especially Utrogestan). Tridestra is in tablet form and basically you have a bleed once every 3 months, it’s bloody brilliant. I also take testosterone for energy and a libido.

I have also try Utrogestan vaginally, disgusting, what goes up must come down, yuck! and still caused awful PMT type issues. The progesterone on Tridestra is Medroxyprogesterone, one of the lower androgenic forms and a little more tolerable, I can manage 14 days on this quite nicely, but if I take it continuously daily the usual PMT type problems start.