What HRT are you on?

[TwentyFourHoursToTulsa]

I am 59, and just getting round to thinking that I might benefit from some HRT. (I had a Mirena coil, so never really noticed menopause because I didn't have any periods anyway). My main/slight problem is vaginal, everything else feels fine.

So I am dipping my toes in the HRT pool, and just wondered what everyone else is on? And for what particular reasons, if any?

Thanks in advance!

I use oestrogen gel, progesterone tablets and vaginal oestrogen. If your main symptoms are vaginal, you could just use the vaginal oestrogen cream on its own, although there are long term health benefits to being on systemic oestrogen, like reduced risk of heart disease, bone problems and dementia

Also been on testosterone for the past month

I'm 56 and just started on this exact regime (except the testosterone) and really feeling the benefits I have to say.

Thanks! Aside from the bone/dementia stuff, how does HRT make you feel differently/physically?

I’m on oestrogen gel and progesterone tablets. Might have to increase the dosage as it seems to be not as effective 6 months on. It’s been great for my memory and fuzzy head but I still can’t hold my bladder.

If your issues are vaginal, then the easiest thing is to probably request some oestrogen cream (e.g. Ovestin, Estriol). It's a game changer if you are suffering from vaginal atrophy, itching, dryness, soreness, etc.

I'm on Mirena, Oestrogel and Estriol cream. The combination means I barely have any menopausal symptoms at all - it's great!

I'm on Progesterone tablets and Oestrogen patches and have been for around 4 years, I'm 57 now.

I was getting terrible night sweats and daytime hot flushes which went completely within around 10 days of starting. I actually cried the morning I woke up and found I had slept through the night as my sleep had been so broken by the night sweats previously. The relief was immense as I still work full time in a demanding job and the lack of sleep plus frequent flushes whenever I was in a stressful situation at work were debilitating.

The only thing I don't think HRT has really helped with is the brain fog. I make lists for everything now as I'm so forgetful.

I sleep well, I'm not irritable (or not often!), no night sweats, no hot flushes, anxiety is under control, have plenty of energy, skin not dry, aches and pains are MUCH better, I think I look better - people noticed when I went on it and said things like 'You look well'.

I'm on patches and progesterone tablet. I started off on the gel, but it wasn't absorbing with me, so I moved to patches in December and so far, so excellent.

I also take vaginal oestrogen twice a week, which has changed my life (and sex life)

Some symptoms have completely disappeared - rage, insomnia, confusion, memory problems, clumsiness, frozen shoulder, anxiety. Some are still there but a whole lot better - joint pain, fatigue, dry eyes. No unpleasant side effects at all. Vaginal oestrogen is helping to reduce the frequency of needing to wee and the urgency of needing to wee

Early days for testosterone but I think my confidence and focus are better

I highly recommend HRT. Nutrition, hydration, sleep, exercise also huge parts of feeling optimal

This is all so interesting. Thanks for replying!

Because I never had hot flushes, brain fog, etc, I never really thought about HRT. But now I do have one physical symptom, but maybe HRT would help with stuff I just thought was me? Little bit of joint pain, esp my hips. Maybe energy? Although not binge-watching might help with that 😆

I didn't start HRT until I was 58. I have a Mirena, oestrogen gel and localised vaginal oestrogen. I'm 61 now and I feel like a new woman, I thought I'd sailed through menopause until I started HRT and realised how much better I felt. The joint pain has pretty much disappeared, for example.

I'm on Evorel 50 patches, progesterone 100mg tablets daily, and vagifem (pessaries).

This is working well atm

I was previously on evorel conti (combines estrogen and progesterone) but I was getting bleeding- hence the move to the daily progesterone tablets.

Ooh! This sounds great. Why do you still have your Mirena in? I'm just getting around to having mine removed, it's way past its Sell By date and I'm assuming I won't be getting any periods when it's removed.

Oestrogel (1 pump), Mirena and testosterone 2 or 3 days a week. Feel fab.

@TwentyFourHoursToTulsa I had the Mirena put in two years ago, specficially as the progesterone part of HRT. It's my second one, the first went in during peri in my mid-40s when my periods went bonkers.

I was using Utrogestan tablets for the progesterone component at first but started spotting after a few months, so the gynaecologist recommended a Mirena instead.

I thought it was a bit odd getting a Mirena again when I was definitely postmenopausal, but it's working very well - no more spotting.

I am now furiously looking up the difference between progestin and progesterone!

SO!!! Today I heard back from the practice nurse. And this thread has been so helpful to help me understand what happens, and why.

We are going to take out my old Mirena (it's from 2013, apparently 😳) and put in a "shiny new one" as she called it 😆for the prgestin/progesterone, which I immediately understood thanks to PP's replies.

Gonna get a pessary for the vag. No risks associated with either coil or pessary, as strictly localised.

Then we are going to put me on some oestrogen, because I said 'some people' 😉 had explained that I might be having symptoms/effects I didn't realise were due to menopause.

So thank you all so much! I felt better informed, having spoken to some 'real' women about what they're on and how it affects them 💐

I’m 56 and started HRT 4 years ago. Like you I have a Mirena, so don’t know exactly when my periods ‘stopped’ but my Mirena was over due to be changed and I suddenly started to get intense hot flushes, so my GP gave me oestrogen patches and I got a new Mirena fitted. I’m now on 75mg patches and my flushes are virtually non-existent. I do struggle with fatigue and brain fog but that’s possibly linked to another health issue that I have.

The nurse talked me through patches, gel and spray for the oestrogen. I'm going to go for the spray. Vaginal pessary starts tomorrow.

But we're going to wait for the big oestrogen guns until I've had my Mirena extraction/smear test/Mirena insertion appointment. Which will be fun! 😬

Sounds like you've got a good gp practice there.
Ours doesn't come across as knowledgeable about menopause.

Yes I didn't know there was a spray what are the benefits of the spray did they say? because I'm finding the gel takes ages to absorb and you're not supposed to rub it in are you?

I wasn’t sleeping well and had sore joints, waking frequently with a stiff, painful back and hips and struggling to go back to sleep. Also dry, itchy skin and trouble fully emptying my bladder. Terrible memory and general brain fog. No libido. Tearful. Rage!

When I started having hot flushes it came on all at once, so one of the first flushes was a whole evening of 10 minute cycles of hot and cold. Omg that was the last straw, I went on Utrogestan and patches. Over time adjustments were made and I got a Mirena and tried Sandrena and testosterone. Back on Estradot with Mirena now.

Flushes, sleep, dry skin, tearfulness/rage and sore joints improved or resolved almost immediately, everything else is the same.

I'm on all of it.

Mirena, 100mcg oestrogen patch, vaginal oestrogen cream, testosterone.

Plus magnesium, probiotics, high strength vitamin D and a lot of yoga 😂

She (the nurse practioner) chatted with me (on the phone, it was a callback appt) for ages! Really talked me through it all, looked at my notes, really got into it.

So the nurse told m that for oestrogen the options are the patch, the gel, or a spray. You spray the spray on your forearm, then wait for it to air dry. Like, having a cup of coffee time. That sounded good to me, so that's what I'm going to start with (in a few weeks when I've done all the coil/pessary stuff and had my blood pressure taken). I don't know what it's called.