Sore boobs on HRT - do I have to stop?

[SquidGaming]

I've been taking a single pump of oestrogen gel and 100mg every night of Utrogestan (no cycle, as have Mirena). I'm 45.

In almost every way, I feel far better. Less anxiety, better sleep, better general mood, better functioning. But my boobs are REALLY sore and a cup size bigger (like they used to be before my period, when I had a cycle, and like they were when I was on combined pill years ago). I've also put on a bit of weight, but that's fine (still healthy range). I can live with these changes for the benefits listed, but is it OK to keep taking the HRT? Does anyone else find it gives them perpetually sore boobs?

TIA

Oh, I've been taking it for about 2/3 months, by the way. It's not clearing up with time.

My GP prescribed Evening primrose capsules for this exact same problem.
She put them on prescription because you have to take a lot..
Obviously you can buy them..I'd look into it.
This was many years ago for me.

I just started HRT 3 months ago and I had the exact same issue. I even had to wear my bra to bed as I couldn't tolerate my boobs moving to the side etc when trying to go to sleep.

Stick with it - 3 months on, they're no longer sore. Still bigger though, which for me is weird as I'm used to small boobs.

My gynaecologist also suggested Evening Primrose. I just got some off the shelf and it started working straight away.

Mirena + Utrogestan are both giving you progesterone - you shouldn’t need both, so maybe your hormones are out of balance (too much progesterone)? Your estrogen dose is pretty low. I’d go back to your GP and ask them to review your HRT regime.

Thank you all. This is really useful.

@CortadoPlease I think it was the progesterone I really needed - I felt immediately better when I started it. My Mirena is 8 years old so probably not producing much progesterone (and I believe it's mostly local release?).
But yes, perhaps I need to up the oestrogen to get some balance??

Will definitely get some evening primrose oil - thank you

I agree that you shouldn't need the Mirena and Utrogestan- it's overkill in theory although your Mirena won't be doing much good either way. Does it not need replacing for contraception anyway?

The sore boobs are most likely the Utrogestan because you're on a very low dose of gel.

I'd suggest you try to get the HRT right before using supplements.
If your Mirena is so old, how do you know if you're still having natural periods?
Sorry to complicate things but at 45 unless you've had an early menopause you'd normally be using 200mgs Utrogestan 12 days a month on a cycle.

This really needs discussing with your clinic. I had to have my mirena replaced every five years and was not allowed extra progesterone when I had it in, just taking oestrogen tablets. You do need this overseeing by a medic to keep you on the best approach for you. Unfortunately, even though I attended regular appointments, I didn’t get the sort of reviews that would have helped my current condition as the expertise seems to have left my gp clinic.

I had to cease hrt and have the mirena removed urgently when I was recently diagnosed out of the blue with hormone sensitive breast cancer. The consultant said the hrt and mirena were feeding my tumour. I wish I had stopped sooner but I was never given that advice and was 58 and in menopause by the time this happened.

Thank you all again. This has been very useful and I'm making a GP appointment to discuss it.

I had to stop utrogestan cos of the same reason sore boobs. Instead I now have a patch. It's combined oestrogen and progesterone. Problem sorted

Interesting - thank you. Do you think you still feel the benefits of the progesterone to the same extent? I feel like I really benefit from it, so scared to stop...

They normally stop feeling sore after 3 months or so

Oh, that's promising....