Tell me your HRT story, particularly if you had endometriosis

[ScalyLectrics]

Tell me your HRT stories. I’m thinking of taking the plunge after 5 years of worsening symptoms and procrastination about whether to do it or not. Did it work for you? Did you feel better or did you have a bad experience? I’m already on vaginal estrogen. But I have a list as long as my arm of the other symptoms, which are just getting worse and worse. You know the score, I can tick off all the ones usually listed. The worst of which at the moment are brain fog, low mood and joint pain.
If it helps, I had endometriosis, so I’m particularly interested if that applies to you and which type of HRT you went for considering this.
Oh, and I’m early 50s and 18 months post menopause day.
Tell me your best and worst! :)

No story of my own but a great question that you are asking!

I have experience. My endo symptoms had mostly died down before I started. I got a mirena initially and waited a while before adding oestrogen patches (just seemed to make more sense to me to do it this way). I started on the lowest dose oestrogen and only had a very slight increase in endo pain. I have increased the oestrogen further now and do have more endo signs now but on balance think it’s better than the menopause signs.

Stage 4 endo, took HRT and felt amazing within days. Still needed hysterectomy for ovarian cysts, adenomyosis, fibroids etc but continued on HRT at a higher dose post op and zero issues. If anything surgical menopause for me has been easier than peri because my hormones are more stable. I wouldn’t say that without HRT though.

you can only but try. And take sufficient progesterone as a coil and utrogestan. And lifestyle also really matters. Anything like stress, alcohol, shitty diet plays havoc with sex hormones so give yourself the best opportunity by taking a balanced approach. HRT isn’t the answer if you’re guzzling wine, burnt out and leaving on ultra processed crap.

Initially started on gel and the mirena (2 pumps a day). When my mirena expired and post surgery I switched to utrogestan and used it vaginally. And switched to patches and now on 100mg ones. Doing amazing and no recurrence if any endo in the past two years. Zero joint pain, mood good and brain fog is minimal. Those were my worst peri symptoms along with utis. Which I never get now. I also sleep really well and zero hot flushes. Best decision I ever made and my recent dexa scan showed exceptionally good bone density too. I’ve been on HRT at least 6 or 7 years. In mid 50s and wish I’d started years before but my GP wouldn’t entertain it with my endo. A gynaecologist gave me it and saved my sanity, career and possibly my life.

Just to add, I’ve had no bleeding or endo symptoms at all since actual menopause, so I’m wary about any potential bleeding etc coming back if I start hormones, as I am very happy at not going through all that every month. But the other menopause symptoms have been getting worse and worse and I’m barely functioning any more with the flat feeling, low mood, inability to focus, memory problems, poor sleep and all over joint and body pain. Better the devil you know, or take the plunge?

Id say take the plunge based on my experience. But consider using utrogestan vaginally. My life improved in a matter of days and I recorded my symptoms on the balance app. I did not expect all to disappear within two weeks. I did need an increase after a few months and again post op. But I feel brilliant!

I was actually given HRT via my Endo clinic at 51. I just assumed I could never take it.
It certainly helped with menopause symptoms.
Had a few hiccups - I’ve had a few instances of post menopausal bleeding and the Endo pain returned each time. Been investigated each time nothing of huge concern, no cancer.
On balance in staying on it. I take quite a low dose of oestrogen and progesterone every day.