HRT Review

[MiniCoopers]

Six months ago I had a HRT Review at my Drs where the lady doctor insisted I be moved off the progesterone tablets I was on (Utrogestan) and put me onto a tablet called Slynd (which is app more a contraception than anything else). But it messed up my sleep (which was good at that point). I tried it for 6 months as requested and I had constant spotting too.

I thankfully had another HRT review today, a different Doctor has put me back on them and even said she had no idea why they took me off in the first place! Frustrating ….

That sounds really frustrating - had you reported any side effects or symptoms of the Utrogestan she thought could be remedied by Slynd? Which I know nothing about out btw. Having trialled it & given it plenty time to see any benefit/effect - I can’t see how you wouldn’t be able to request going back on Utrogestan. Good luck tho. IME GPs aren’t great when it comes to HRT. If she refuses I’d quote BMS guidelines or request a different doctor. You shldnt have to be referred to the Menopause Clinic or service for a straightforward reason like this surely - as wld be waiting a long time just to get it.

Oh gosh sorry just re-read yr post - glad you’ve been put back on - I know it beggars belief what a lot of GP’s are thinking when it comes to HRT.

Annoyingly I hadn’t had had any issues and went into that review really happy and this lady was our GP HRT expert so I did what she asked: I’m assuming there was a reason but it didn’t work for me at all. I have no idea if going back to the original tablets will sort it but I’m relieved this Dr listened to me.

That really makes no sense - hope that going back on it sorts your sleep out again. The frustrating thing is you’ve now got to wait for the effects for that one to fully kick in. They really don’t appreciate how disruptive it all can be - esp when it comes to sleep & all of the effects that come with it being messed up.
H’ever we’re all different & it might be sooner fingers x’d! I’ve got a review coming up soon - it is with the Meno clinic but even then I’m terrified of upsetting what sort of balance I’ve got atm. Heigh ho!

You should have asked why.
Doctors shouldn't change your medication (for anything) with giving you a reason and if they don't, you have to query it and not necessarily agree.

I’m cynical enough to wonder if there was a cost element in the decision to change it before.

I had my own HRT review recently, where the doctor tried to convince me to come off of it completely as I’d been taking it for so long. I said no thank you, she persisted a bit. Eventually I told her I had done my research and asked if the NICE guidelines had changed as my gynaecologist had told me that I could stay on it indefinitely. Only then did she back off.

Micronised progesterone is not expensive- about 40p a tablet.

I did ask, her explanation was that I’d been on the other type quite a while and she felt I needed to move to Slynd or my only option was patches which I didn’t want after hearing quite negative things from friends about them. I was worried I’d end up with no HRT at all. The GP y’day saw no benefit to me at all for that having happened and instantly agreed to put me back on my original ones. I felt a bit guinea pig like to be honest re the Slynd but at least I’m back again on my original ones.

Bang goes that theory then!

But that was clearly nonsense! There is no requirement to keep chopping and changing types unless you have side effects.
She ought not be prescribing HRT if that's her behaviour- it's ridiculous.
How many other poor women are being told that nonsense?