Evorel at 41. What to expect?

[wheretolivecannotdecide]

Hi all. I’m only 41 but have started my HRT journey today thanks to worsening symptoms over the last couple of years. Main ones for me were fatigue, low mood, brain fog, irritability, weight gain and PMDD. (When I say irritability I mean rage)

I’ve today put on my first Evorel 50 patch and have progesterone tablets to start taking on day 15.

I just wondered if anyone had started this relatively young and I’m hoping for positive stories! Im nervous that it’s going to make everything worse rather than better, but desperate to try.

I’ve had lots of blood tests but nothing abnormal found to account for how I’m feeling. My mum was all done with menopause by 47, so guessing it’s perhaps early for us!

I started on the patches about 1 month ago, basically due to bad sleepless nights - waking up feeling cold and booking hot- hot flushes and sweet thaT made me feel terrible the next day. I still haven’t felt irritanted or anything but I thought I could give it a go since I’m 46.
I’ve read a lot about my options and was happy with the patches decision but unfortunately that age me unstoppable headaches for the 3 days I used and decided to stop by now.
Actually I came here today to see what other woman are taking, especially regarding testosterone, as I have been feeling extremely tired, no energy for gym and no libido at all. My GP advised me to buy private, which I have no problem with, but wonder if other women use and what they use, and most importantly, does it help ? :)
I suppose that according to your mums age you might also follow the same path having an early peri and menopause.
I hope it works for you as I know it works for so many woman. I think that also it needs some time to start making effect but I wasn’t too bothered yet to continue . I will certainly let start again when I feel ready for it .

I started at 41, last year, and like you I wondered if I was going on it too early as most women seemed to start in their 50's. But perpetually having low mood, inexplicable rage, sleepless nights and extremely heavy periods was not worth it. I started on the lowest dose of Evorel and oral progesterone and have recently had to up the dosage slightly. My mum was also done and dusted with menopause by 45ish so I reckon I will follow a similar timeframe. I'm trying to stay positive by telling myself that I will not have to faf about with periods for too long.

I am two months in.
This might not all be correct- as I am an idiot and didn’t understand the system- so got the order wrong to start with!
But- positives: instant mood improvement. Felt like myself again. No more awful debilitating headaches. No more hot sweats.
Negatives: got a flurry of spots- these seem to
be going now, proper periods back again and half an extra stone!!
So- am fat and happy.
Will give it another month or so to see.

good luck with it.

Thanks everyone. Unfortunately I’ve come down with a nasty virus on day 2 so I think it’ll be hard for me to unpick initial side effects! I have had a few pangs of anxiety, difficulty switching off for sleep, but that could be viral. My symptoms before didn’t really include hot flushes or night sweats and were mainly neurological symptoms like brain fog, forgetfulness etc but also mental health like low mood, PMDD and just no drive or enthusiasm for anything at all. so I guess if HRT doesn’t work, I’ll be asking for antidepressants 😭

I went to the BUPA menopause service and they prescribed testosterone (andofemme) but it was expensive (like £100 for 3 months and the cost of a private consultation also). Not sustainable.

So I got the BUPA doctor to diagnose total lack of libido (there is a word for it can’t remember) and we tried tostran which is available on the NhS and only £55 for 8 months supply and tbh just as good.

The GP has agreed to do the repeats. So I did pay for a year of the BUPA menopause service alongside a tube of andofemme and the first tostran prescription. But now on the nhs. As an aside Tostran is not on the HRT prepayment but a canister lasts 8 months so not a big deal.

Oh yes, I forgot to say that my first 3 day trial also lowered my imune system and i got a slight flu . I felt really ill but like I said, I believe that it must be only our system getting used to it. Other women who tried for longer can maybe say if they felt the same ?
it’s all so complicated and exaustive to understand. Especially because every woman is different as well ?

Thank you.
So you will try two types of testosterone ?
have you felt any side effects ?
I looked up on Bupa and it’s £299 for the consultation 🫣
can I buy the £55 without going through a doctor ?

sorry for so many questions :)

Sorry to hear that.
it might be that the virus disrupted your treatment. Have you continued taking HRT ?

I tried antidepressants many years ago, and it was an amazing feeling of happiness that I couldn’t feel for along time! Down side for me is that I got too scared of becoming too dependant on it, so I stopped.

i know that my mum used to take them when she was menopausal, it must be normal to have and helps with the low mood.

I am still trying to ride along, but very unhappy!
the night sweats is making my life very unpleasant !

worth a try :)
good luck !

No, you £55 is the price of a private prescription and it lasts for 8 months. You also need a doctors consultation, the bupa £300 covers 2 appointments.

but once your GP gives tostran it’s just £9.90 on the nhs.

it’s the same medication just andofemme is a cream and tostran is a gel.

side effects - more energy / lifting more weights in the gym / libido now exists 😀

any more questions?

I just went to the GP- very easy to get.
I subscribed to a years prescriptions for £19.
I think that I will carry on for a bit and see how it settles.
I still don’t fully understand it- which irritates me- it’s another thing to organise on my life!!

Testosterone is not included in the £19 HRT prepayment you have to pay the £9.90 prescription charge. Don’t get caught out there are big penalties if you get caught trying to use the HRT prepayment.

Also, my GP would not give me without a specialist input. If your GP was happy to give you that’s very lucky 😀

I recently started the same regime and am 41. The progesterone has been amazing for my anxiety which I didn't realise how much it was impacting my life. I sleep better (not completely fixed). 2 months in I recently noticed my joints feel better. I get a bit of a headache on the patch change days but hoping that's going to sort itself out a bit over time or if I get a review. No real negatives for me!

What testosterone and what dose are you taking - if you are getting acne the dose may be too high? Is your GP doing regular blood tests to check this?

@Watercooler thanks, that’s really helpful. I haven’t noticed any negative side effects so far. I am feeling brighter and less tired, which seems strange as I am full of cold and virus?? Haven’t had any progesterone yet as I am only day 8 or so of my cycle. I’m worried about weight gain but I’ve been piling it on recently due to inactivity because of my fatigue. I’ve had no sex drive for years so hoping for some improvements