Starting HRT, advice please

[Begby6789]

I am peri and have a few months between periods. Thought I could cope with the symptoms but they are getting really bad. Anxiety, sleeplessness, brain fog, hot flushes which give me headaches and wierd feelings in my chest, awful mood changes, constant weeing... You get the picture. Thinking of going on HRT, but not sure what the process is like. Are GPs readily prescribing HRT, or will there be barriers? Also, what is your experience of how long until it works or the typical process e g trying lots of doses/patches or pills. Thanks

no advice OP but I am going through same thing. Waiting to see what gems of wisdom mumsnetters can offer here

I found the starting HRT process very easy and I started age 43 so quite young. I was fairly straightforward and direct with my GP though so maybe that helped. I didn't go in with a whole host of vague symptoms. I simply said I'm having night sweats and feel quite depressed so I wonder if I'm peri menopausal and would like to try HRT. As I was young my GP checked my bloods and my hormone levels were low so I started HRT straight away. I had no resistance from my GP.
I didn't love the first one I tried so at my 3 month review I asked to change and my next formulation was great.
I had switched formulations quite a lot over the years and each one was better than the last so it's just a question of finding out what suits you best. Everyone different.

I can't help with the GP issue but what I do know is that consultants tend to be far more relaxed about it than some GPs because they are more knowledgeable.

My experience was that I was already seeing a consultant gynae for something else, but it was around the time of peri meno (I was early 50s.) I wanted to try HRT as my flushes were hourly and I wasn't sleeping well.
I said I wanted to try it and they were 100% supportive, suggested what they thought was best, and said start with a 3-month trial on a low dose. That was gel with a separate progesterone.

I've been horrified at the experiences of some women here who seem to come up against barriers with some GPs but that's not to say that all experience that.

I think it's best to be assertive and say what you want to try, why, and also do some reading beforehand so you're knowledgeable about the types of HRT so you have an idea of what you want to try (ie patches, tablets, gel, spray etc.)

If you struggle to find something that suits you, and you can afford it, a private consultant can offer more options off-licence. eg the mini pill can be used as a progesterone (in larger doses) which some GPs might not be aware of.

Hopefully it'll all work out fine for you.

If you are over 45 and experiencing hot flushes and low mood GPs will prescribe as that is the NICE guidelines. Mostly patches or gel which are the bio-identical products. No need for blood tests or anything unless you want to rule out other issues.

under 45 they might suggest a wait and see approach

Thanks for your insights. Over 45 so sounds like it should be straight forward.

Yes, I agree with being direct. I was 47, I said I’d like to try HRT - these are my symptoms- I had a long list! GP checked my blood pressure and gave me a prescription there and then.

Had patches to start with but couldn’t get them to stick so switched to gel within a few weeks, and tablet progesterone. Even on a fairly low dose symptoms improved really quickly. Just recently increased dose as symptoms had returned.

I was scared to try it, but knew I had to as my rage was off the scale. I decided on a 6 month trial, and never came off it!
i went for a Mirena due to heavy frequent periods, and gel as it’s easy to change the dose.

My GP surgery asked me to complete a questionnaire before the GP appointment. You sound like you will tick lots of boxes for HRT and a GP will make a recommendation based on your circumstances.