Will HRT give me similar side effects to the pill?

[Decisionsdecisions1]

I’m 52, no periods for well over a year. I had various symptoms during peri (hot flushes, sleeplessness, 3am anxiety about nothing specific etc) but I seem to be through them and am now doing ok.

The only reasons then I would consider HRT are:

• my hair has thinned so much, is brittle, isn’t growing back in places etc. I’ve had blood tests and no deficiencies - iron and vit d etc all good. I’ve tried every product and supplement going (collagen, biotin etc) for over a year and no difference.
• reducing risk of osteoporosis- I’m not particularly at risk but run regularly and would like to keep doing so. I’m also quite small and small boned.

I was on the pill for years and hated the side effects, bloating, constipation, retaining water. And I was two sizes bigger (despite being younger and doing more exercise and still eating healthily).

Unless there is any concrete chance of HRT helping my hair I doubt I’ll bother, as it’s the hair is the thing worrying me most. But am guessing the oestrogen/progestorone is similar to the pill?

Unless there is any concrete chance of HRT helping my hair I doubt I’ll bother, as it’s the hair is the thing worrying me most. But am guessing the oestrogen/progestorone is similar to the pill?

Most HRT now is called body-identical meaning the chemical structure is the same as our own.

The Pill is an artificial hormone - both estrogen and the progesterone in the Pill is not the same as HRT.

You might find some online medical sites helpful, like Balance by Dr Louise Newson.https://www.balance-menopause.com/

Same position so bumping

I was never good with the pill, tried a few, always made me feel awful. Getting on really well with HRT and my hair is a lot better. All these things are personal tho, so it's a case of try it and see.

Well I couldn't take the pill as it made me a ragey mess. HRT has calmed me right down. No idea why!
I haven't put on weight (in fact have lost a stone as now more motivated to exercise / eat well).

I'm HRT patches and they have stopped the anxiety reduced the night sweats, my hair is no longer falling out in chunks but I have gained weight. I can't blame hrt for that as also suffering with ptsd and although now under control my diet was awful, I'm now getting back to eating better and going out which I couldn't at the height of it. The only negative is the dryness but that's not major as can just use a bit of lube.

Thanks all, this is encouraging.

I think the GP gave me Evorel(?) - prog and oestrogen. And as my periods have stopped I'd be taking it every day (and may start spotting again).
I may bite the bullet after the summer...