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Menopause

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HRT Weight gain, actually cried this morning

58 replies

Gemzee · 21/08/2025 07:27

I know the official line is HRT doesn’t cause weight gain, but I’m honestly in tears.

In 2023 I lost nearly 2 stone with diet and exercise, kept it off for 2 years (I was 40). I’ve had peri symptoms for 3 years, and in May finally started HRT. Progesterone tablets bloated me so I had the coil fitted instead – that helped the bloat, but since then my weight has crept up, boobs up a size too.

I’ve upped workouts (cardio + resistance 6 days a week, plus walking), no change to diet (healthy weekdays, wine/carbs at weekends like always). Despite this, I’m now over a stone heavier than last year – 3lbs in just the last 5 weeks (in which I've switched up my exercise routine!).

I feel like what’s the point? I’m doing more than ever but still gaining.

I could obviously completely cut out wine and not eat carbs at the weekend, so I guess if this is the choice I'd be miserable but I'm miserable now.

Should I come off HRT, will the weight even come off if I do? Thanks for reading.

(Ps: I have an underactive thyroid and take levothyroxine but dr says results normal in Feb so no test required till next year).

OP posts:
EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 24/08/2025 10:38

HRT certainly does cause weight gain. I put on a stone pretty much immediately and that stone only came off with the help of Wegovey.

Holluschickie · 24/08/2025 10:44

Any more non-WLI solutions?🙂
I have begun weight lifting and may get a personal trainer ( so expensive though). Also rowing.
Reduced my calories to my TDEE but not to 1000, that seems way too low.
Upped protein ( very hard as I am veggie but eating tons of Greek yoghurt, eggs and lentils).
Got rid of my car in the pandemic so have no option but to walk everywhere.

Springtimehere · 24/08/2025 10:53

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Twoshoesnewshoes · 24/08/2025 14:00

Hmmmmm those two links are from companies very invested in getting women to have HRT.
it’s indisputable for me that I put on weight with HRT, but every woman is different.

caringcarer · 24/08/2025 14:03

I'm on Levothyroxine and put on lbs on HRT. It got so bad it was worse than symptoms of menopause for me so I came off of it and lost the additional pounds quite quickly. I think it made me retain water.

JinglingSpringbells · 24/08/2025 14:09

Twoshoesnewshoes · 24/08/2025 14:00

Hmmmmm those two links are from companies very invested in getting women to have HRT.
it’s indisputable for me that I put on weight with HRT, but every woman is different.

They are medical sites that offer all kinds of support not just HRT.

However, if you search you can find research papers on it and also the NHS website saying the same.https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/side-effects-of-hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/

Twoshoesnewshoes · 24/08/2025 18:53

Thank you
im sure for the majority, HRT does not cause weight gain.
however, for some women including myself, it definitely does.

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