Help please! Breast swelling and soreness on HRT?

[MapleSyrupOnToas]

I've been on Oestrogel (two pumps) and two progesterone tablets for 14 days now. I'm finding my breasts are swelling and sore! Heavy too. I really don't want this, as I'm already overweight.

I'm starting some weight loss dieting (old fashioned way). Is this breast swelling normal, is it likely to stop or keep going? Perhaps I should ask the GP to half my HRT dose?

The good news is that the hot flushes are already much reduced on the HRT. Just not sure about the breast swelling, it's very uncomfortable.

Mine calmed down. Stick with, it if you can.

it will settle.

Thank you! I will keep on with the healthy diet/weight loss as I really don't want breast expansion.

You can drop to 1 pump and it doesn't need permission from your GP.

It's often best to start low and move upwards because the amount needed for relief of symptoms varies for everyone. There's no 'harm' in dropping to 1 pump and if that sorts your symptoms you can stick with that.

The dose for gel is from 1 to 4 pumps.
With higher doses 3 or 4 pumps) sometimes more progesterone i s needed.

@JinglingSpringbells thanks, I will drop to one pump and also reduce the progesterone from 200mg to 100mg? So both are halved?

No, the dose for Utrogestan is the same regardless of 1 or 2 pumps.

For women using a lot more (4 pumps) it sometimes needs increasing but this would be discussed with a dr.

Can you reduce the dosage?

Dosage of what?
The info was for OP and her query.

I was replying to op

surely you can simply apply it less often and see how you go? I sometime skip a patch if I get sore boobs (I’ve been on over a year so beyond getting used to it)

Thanks, yes I can reduce to one pump of oestrogen gel. I was hoping to reduce from 2x100mg progesterone tablets to one as well. Sounds like that's not usual though.

I’m on a combi patch no tablets so not sure. Achy breasts come and go which is weird - related to our own cycle? I’m not sure

You’re better off pushing through if you can, it settles down after three or four weeks if I recall.

My breasts increased in size to 42ff on HRT!

I’ve just started and I’ve got sore boobs and bad cramps

You can't reduce the progesterone to 100mg a day unless you are post menopausal and using it every day.

I was about to start but I’ve only been told to take one Progesterone? (Yes obvs I need to do what the GP says not mn). Slightly concerned as I’ve recently put on weight and certainly don’t want even bigger boobs.

Thanks for all the help and thoughts! Having reduced to one pump now, it seems more of a dull ache/tenderness, which I can cope with. I've been given a GP appt next week to discuss - it has been great having less hot flushes and night sweats, my sleep has been much better.

Breast growth and pain isn't what I want though - oh what fun it is to be a woman!

There are 2 types of HRT

• For women not yet post menopausal
• For women who are post menopausal

The doses are different for progesterone.

• 200mgs for half a cycle
• 100mgs daily.

Thanks @JinglingSpringbells I’m peri and have been told to take it daily.

Would I be on the same amount of progesterone if I upped the gel eventually?
100mg daily plus mirena plus 1 pump at the minute (endometriosis, peri)

This was what the GP told me too - the oestrogel can be reduced to one pump but the progesterone must remain 200mg for 14 days (I'm peri with regular cycles). I'll see how it goes over the next week or so, the breast soreness seems to have improved a bit already on the lower dose.

@modernminimalist why have you been given utrogestan AND a mirena coil?
The Mirena is the progesterone part of HRT- it thins the womb lining.

You don't need both because even though a Mirena is in situ in the womb, the hormone in it still gets into the blood stream and will help endo.

well, you shouldn't have unless by peri you mean the very occasional period maybe 2 or 3 a year and you are over 50.

Maybe do some research online and ask your GP why?
There's plenty info on this and it's very basic so your GP ought to know. (Unless there are special reasons why you are using a post meno dose.)

You need to take a high dose of starflower oil. This will ease the tenderness. It will settle down and you won't have to take it forever. It's very common when you first start HRT

1 pump on gel.is a very low dose. My menopause specialist always starts women off on 2 pumps.

It can vary.
Different drs have different opinions.

I was advised to start on half a pump by my consultant and work upwards. I did eventually use 2 but now, many years post meno, one pump works for me.