reducing dose as time goes on?

[tammienorrie]

I am 53 and have been on HRT for 3.5 years, I started using it in January 2022, when I was almost 50. I had a hysterectomy in 2016 and had been suffering for at least 3 years before I finally got a GP to prescribe - hellishly long story which I won't bore you with.

Started on 25 patch, then 50, have been on 75s for about 2 years now. Because of the supply issues with Estradot, and the fact I'm allergic to the glue on alternatives like Evorel and Fem7, I have been cobbling together a dose of Estradot based on what I can get my hands on - I'm currently using a 37.5 patch and a 25 patch together, so 62.5. And feel no different, no hot flushes, no awful anxiety and panic attacks like I had unmedicated. I am wondering whether your need for estrogen decreases naturally over time and whether a switch down to 50 is what I should consider.

I am also on Estriol cream and know what I will have to keep on using that at the same dose. Any experiences?

My HRT journey has followed a similar timeline to you although I've been on Evorel patches.

At my review recently, the GP wanted to increase the Utrogestan to 2 daily capsules due to recent research on womb thickness.

She was happy to go with my suggestion of dropping to 75 patches and sticking with the one tablet.

A month on and I'm feeling no different so I would say go with it.

Thank you. I don't take progesterone as I've had a hysterectomy, it's just the estrogen. I feel very let down by the whole medical profession during this phase, the surgeon who did the hysterectomy was first rate but the level of concern and knowledge from my GP practice has been appalling.

I rely so much more heavily on the knowledgeable women on here - especially Jinglingbells. I will consider dropping to 50 then and see how things go.

Try to help you @tammienorrie
It does sound as if you've had a rough time.

Here goes....I started HRT at pretty much the age you are now (almost 53) and used 2 pumps of gel (like a 50 patch) that worked most of the time but I also needed to increase to 3 pumps for a few months at some point.

I've carried on with 2 pumps for years and recently tried to reduce to 1 pump. (I'm a lot older than you!) I notice that I'm okay with 1 pump ( roughly a 25mcg patch) but if I reduce further (I've missed a dose now and then) my symptoms come back (night sweats and flushes.)

My gut feeling is that at 53 and no ovaries you might need a highish dose for a long time and also to protect your bones (bone density if dose-related although low from 25mcgs doses still work.)