Can HRT start working this quickly?

[Ihatehealthanxiety]

I started cyclical HRT 4 days ago. I don't start the progesterone until day 15 so have just had 4 days of 2 pumps of oestrogen gel. Already I feel calmer, less anxious, sleeping better, not hot & sweaty! Is this even possible or is it just a placebo effect??

I was exactly the same, I just started to feel more “me” everyday and by 2-3 weeks I was flying!

Mine worked within 2 days, so yes!

It took me 9 days for it to work. Just enjoy the magic of it, it did feel like magic to me! Just realised I’m now taking it for granted and will be grateful again!

Yup (just my personal experience)

My GP said I know within the week if I needed HRT because of the improvement of symtoms.

Yes, absolutely. It’s the falling oestrogen which causes the majority of your symptoms. The progesterone is there to protect the health of your uterus from the effects of the additional oestrogen, so it isn’t vital to the relief of your symptoms - though many women find it solves the perimenopausal sleep problems they’ve experienced, me included. I hope you continue to feel better and better over the next few weeks!

Yes. Mine was the same

Yes I felt so much better in a couple of days. Hot flushes and brain fog seemed to disappear instantly
and then low level anxiety was next. I missed a patch a couple of weeks ago and felt my anxiety come back. It's amazing stuff!

I’m pretty sure I felt better almost immediately and within 7 days remember feeling that the clouds had parted and the light was coming in.

That's great news! I thought it might be psychological as the info I'd read suggested it would take several weeks. The brain fog has also lifted both at home & work. I've been more efficient this week that I have in years - instead of flitting from task to task, procrastinating and forgetting what I'm supposed to be doing, I'm actually getting things done!

I've had just 2 hot flushes since I started 5 weeks ago, down from perhaps 5 every day/night. Sleep is better (though still not great).

I was skeptical about HRT before, I could become evangelical about it now...

Yes mine worked within days. Hot flushes (which I was getting every half an hour at night) went very quickly. Mood stabilised. Sleep improved. I hadn’t slept properly for years. It was amazing.

I am just annoyed I waited so long..!

I think maybe it's a combination of psychological and quick relief for some people.

I remember feeling really good about the thought I'd actively taken a decision to do something which was for my own wellbeing, after a long period of feeling awful and at the mercy of my own hormones.

I also had severe nausea and giant boobs for 2 weeks, so it wasn't that great, but psychologically it was good!

Can't see why if you get instant side effects you can't get instant positives too.

Yup I was transformed after a week

I would say about a week.

I was on HRT for a month and didn’t feel any benefit. In fact I started bleeding again so have stopped it. I didn’t fancy increasing my dose as really didn’t want the hassle of periods again. I’m now eating much more cleanly (cutting out refined sugar has cleared my brain fog) and fingers crossed, feeling much better. I want to come back as a man next time, as couldn’t cope with this sh** again!

2 pumps? No.
But you feel better and thats the whole point of HRT.

But could it depend how low your oestrogen was in the first place? I've a feeling mine was VERY low

I started with one and a half pumps and I know it worked as it gave me headaches almost straight away. Lasting 2 or 3 days. It’s been the same every time I've increased the dose. I don’t normally ever get headaches.
It took about 3 months for the aching joints to stop which was my main symptom. Was only thinking today how lovely it was to have no aches and pains!

It works very very quickly. Similarly, when hormones are taken away, it works very quickly. For example if you go through surgical menopause, unless your HRT is lined up, it’s like hitting a brick wall within 24 hours

HRT is amazing for me. It kicked in very quickly but I’m not sure how long. I think it was less than a week. When I tried coming off it the symptoms came back very quickly. Being able to sleep is life changing. I know that sounds dramatic but the difference in sleeping awfully and sleeping well is massive.

I started HRT for joint pain 2 years after last period. My joint pain went after 3 days of taking it (patches) and has never come back. I love it 🙂

Yes, totally. I was having hot flushes every hour and my first application of gel gave me 7 hours flush-free then everything just improved from then on.

That’s not true. Low progesterone causes symptoms too such as anxiety and even thyroid issues.

I slept better the first day I took oestrogel!